Addressing Hunger: Women, Infants, and Children
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and food vouchers for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five who are below 185% of the poverty line and who are at risk of poor nutrition. The program was started in the 1970's and it underwent few significant changes until recently.
Although some experts point out significant problems with the program, the underlying purpose and goals of WIC are very much in line with progressive values. In short, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By helping improve nutrition of at risk children during their first years of life, the program aims to promote healthy child development and teach good eating habits that will benefit children long after they reach their sixth birthdays and become ineligible for the program. The nutritional counseling taught to WIC mothers can also last long after WIC mothers participate in the program.
More coming soon...
More information
Government Program Makes Healthy Food a Viable Option (article) June 20, 2008.Philpott: Michigan WIC Whacks Organic: Evidently, women, infants, and children in need don't deserve organic (article) May 28, 2008.
