by Hannah Haynes
hhaynes@cherryroad.com
In a move aimed at bettering the nutritional quality of food available to participants, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has presented significant updates to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. These changes, rooted in scientific research, prioritize fruits, vegetables, seafood, and whole grains to address crucial nutritional gaps.
Under the revamped guidelines, WIC recipients will benefit from increased options aimed at ensuring they receive essential nutrients vital for healthy growth and development. The adjustments also aim to strike a better balance to meet key nutritional needs and foster healthy dietary habits.
In addition, the updated provisions offer participants a greater flexibility and variety to accommodate personal, cultural, and dietary preferences, while also providing enhanced support for breastfeeding goals.
One of the most notable changes involves the allocation of fruit and vegetable benefits, with monthly allowances set at $26 for children aged 1 through 4, $47 for pregnant and postpartum women, and $52 for breastfeeding women. Additionally, the revisions will expand access to whole grains such as quinoa, wild rice, and millet, introduce seafood options for children, and reduce or eliminate monthly allowances for juice.
Chris Furner, the director of Utah’s WIC program, emphasized the positive implications of these changes, noting that they afford greater flexibility in tailoring food packages to meet the diverse needs and preferences of participants. Furner emphasized the potential for these adjustments to promote healthier eating habits and yield long-term benefits for health and well-being.
Sydnee Lamb, TriCounty Health’s Public Relations and Communication Specialist, acknowledged the challenges of implementing the new rules within the two-year time-frame.
“WIC state agencies will have two years to implement the new rule, and with this being announced so recently, it’s difficult to say exactly when basin WIC participants will see these changes,” said Lamb. “While we don’t have a definite timeline yet, we are excited to offer new food packages that can be tailored to individual participant preferences in the future.”
With a two-year implementation timeline, WIC state agencies have the opportunity to collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and optimal customization of the updated food packages.
Currently, Utah boasts 46,328 participants enrolled in the WIC program, all of whom stand to benefit from these impactful nutritional enhancements.