showed that WIC households acquired significantly more whole grains in bread than did WIC-eligible households that were not participating in the program. “These include offering 16- to 24-oz packages of 100% whole wheat bread and other whole grain options to all participants who receive this benefit, which would relax regulations that effectively require stores to stock 16-oz packages,” the E.R.S. In 2017, a committee formed by NASEM offered a number of recommended changes. asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) to help conduct independent research looking at the WIC food packages and to make cost-neutral recommendations for changes that would better align the packages with the nutritional needs of the WIC-eligible population. Additions in 2009 included a 1 lb of 100% whole wheat bread and other whole grain options, such as brown rice and whole grain tortillas, to WIC food packages for pregnant and breastfeeding women and 2 lbs to the WIC food package for children 1-4 years old.įive years after the changes were incorporated, the U.S.D.A. Beginning in 2005, the dietary guidelines began advocating that at least half of grains consumed be whole grains. Those changes, in turn, followed a 2005 report from the National Academies advocating adjustments to WIC food packages in line with changing Dietary Guidelines for Americans. made to the WIC food packages, incorporating whole grains. The study explored the effects of 2009 changes the U.S.D.A. Foods in the program include infant formula and infant-food fruits, vegetables, and meats fluid milk vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice eggs, cheese, peanut butter, dried and canned beans/peas, canned fish, whole grains, and iron-fortified cereal. During the first five months of fiscal 2018, about 7 million participants per month were indicated. program providing low-income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to 5 years of age, with food assistance and nutrition counseling.

economists Hayden Stewart, Jeffrey Hyman, Patrick W. In addition to commenting on consumption patterns, the researchers suggested a rule allowing only 16-oz loaves to qualify for redemption with WIC benefits to be overly restrictive and possibly counterproductive.

Whole grains on wic