Nutrient Adequacy of Children Participating in WIC

by Katherine Ralston

USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods to participants, in most cases through vouchers for retail purchase of foods designated as approved by the program. WIC food packages were initially designed to include foods rich in nutrients that were lacking in the diets of low-income participants. This brief summarizes two recent ERS-sponsored studies that provide new assessments of nutrient intakes of WIC children, income-eligible children not participating in the program, and children ineligible for the program.

Keywords: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, food assistance programs, nutrient intake, diet quality, CSFII, NHANES, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, protein, calcium

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