WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub WIC Research, Policy and Practice Hub

Month: November 2017

The Habit-Forming Effect of Subsidies: Evidence from WIC

WIC vouchers change purchasing decisions consistent with the nutritional guidelines of the program. However, we find that households exposed longer to the revised package are generally not more likely to continue to purchase these items after eligibility ends.

A randomized controlled trial of nutrition education to promote farmers’ market fruit and vegetable purchases and consumption among women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): rationale and design of the WIC Fresh Start program

WFS participants consumed more fruit (2.7 cups/day) but less vegetables (1.4 cups/day) than did women nationwide (1.1 and 1.4 cups/day, respectively; P <0.01). Although participants consumed recommended amounts of fruit, their vegetable intake was below recommended levels.

Changing WIC Changes What Children Eat

These findings demonstrate that positive changes in dietary intake and reductions in obesity followed implementation of the USDA-mandated cost-neutral revisions to the WIC food package for the hundreds of thousands of young children participating in the NYS WIC program.

The Effect of Revised WIC Food Packages on Native American Children

Overall, the survey results for Native American WIC children indicate a shift toward healthier eating patterns, including increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat/fat-free milk. Significant changes were observed for milk and grain products.