Alignment of California WIC Participant Preferences With Proposed WIC Food Package Recommendations

Lauren E Au; Lorrene D Ritchie; Marisa Tsai; Hallie R Randel-Schreiber; Catherine Martinez; Patricia H Gradziel; Susan M Sabatier; Shannon E Whaley

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.014

Alignment of California WIC Participant Preferences With Proposed WIC Food Package Recommendations

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2021 Jan;53(1):60-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.014. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Authors

Lauren E Au¹, Lorrene D Ritchie², Marisa Tsai², Hallie R Randel-Schreiber², Catherine Martinez³, Patricia H Gradziel⁴, Susan M Sabatier⁴, Shannon E Whaley³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition, Meyer Hall, University of California, Davis, CA. Electronic address: leau@ucdavis.edu.
² Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Oakland, CA.
³ Division of Research and Evaluation, Public Health Foundation Enterprises WIC, Irwindale, CA.
⁴ Department of Data Analysis, Research, and Evaluation Section, Women, Infants, and Children Division, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA.

PMID: 33144073
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.09.014

Abstract

Objective: Assess alignment of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participant preferences with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine WIC child food package recommendations and compare differences by race/ethnicity.

Methods: Cross-sectional examination of survey responses collected between January and May 2019 from 2,993 California WIC families with children aged 1-4 years.

Results: Over half of WIC participants (56.1%) wanted an increase in the amount allocated for fruits and vegetables. Many WIC participants (69.6%) thought the amount of juice offered by WIC was just right. Overall, the majority (91.0%) wanted to substitute more fruits and vegetables for juice. Most were satisfied with the amount of beans (78.4%), peanut butter (78.7%), and milk (88.3%). Preferences differed by race/ethnicity.

Conclusions and implications: Preferences of California WIC participants are highly aligned with the proposed National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine changes for increasing fruits and vegetables. Notable differences by race/ethnicity suggest the need for more flexibility.

Keywords: WIC; ethnicity; federal nutrition assistance programs; maternal and child health; race.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary Supplements
Fabaceae*
Food Assistance*
Fruit
Humans
Infant
Vegetables