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Participant utilization and satisfaction with fruits, vegetables and jarred baby foods in the new Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) food package
Author(s) -
Kim Loan Pham,
Whaley Shan S.,
Harrison Gail G.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.391.3
Subject(s) - ethnic group , environmental health , medicine , vietnamese , infant feeding , pediatrics , breastfeeding , linguistics , philosophy , sociology , anthropology
In 2009 the WIC program made a major revision to the food package, representing a significant change in the resources available to improve diet quality for 50% of all infants born in the United States and their mothers. This study extends findings from a state‐wide survey of WIC participants which found the addition of fruits, vegetables and jarred foods to the infant food package was well received overall by participants. As babies got older, however, caregivers preferred the option to choose between jarred baby foods and cash value vouchers (CVV) for fruit and vegetable in order to prepare their own baby foods. The present study further examined cultural variations and preferences using qualitative methods. One‐on‐one interviews were conducted with participants from 5 ethnic groups (n = 47). The narratives revealed variations in feeding practices among latino, Vietnamese and Chinese participants, and thus caregivers’ utilization and satisfaction with the fruit and vegetable CVVs and jarred baby foods. We will suggest that ethnic group differences in infant feeding practices should be considered with regards to the new WIC food package.