Racial/ethnic differences in dietary intake among WIC families prior to food package revisions

Abstract

Objective: To compare the diets of African American and Hispanic families in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) prior to the 2009 food package revisions.

Methods: Mother-child dyads were recruited from 12 WIC sites in Chicago, IL. Individuals with 1 valid 24-hour recall were included in the analyses (n = 331 children, n = 352 mothers).

Results: Compared to their African American counterparts, diets of Hispanic mothers and children were lower (P < .001) in percentage of calories from fat, added sugars, sodium, and sweetened beverages, but higher (P < .001) in vitamin A, calcium, whole grains, fruit, and total dairy. However, no groups met national recommendations for percentage of calories from saturated fat, fiber, sodium, whole grains, vegetables, and total dairy.

Conclusions and implications: There are racial/ethnic differences in dietary intake, and future research is needed to determine whether diets improve as a result of package revisions and whether uptake of these changes varies by race/ethnicity.