With the woman was a three-year old boy and she was shopping for both her child, herself and for her unborn baby.
Unlike the previous years, the woman had more choices in fresh, frozen and canned food items with the revision of the food packages. She now has access to better meet her nutritional needs and the needs of her child and her unborn baby.
She is not alone.
All over the nation, thousands of participants in the Women, Infants and Children program are now enjoying the same privilege of having more nutritious foods on their tables.
October 1st spelled new improvements to the food packages for over 5,000 participants of the program for women, infants and children not only in the CNMI but throughout the nation.
It took 30 years for the WIC food packages to be revised, but although considered to be “long overdue”, positive feedbacks had been pouring in from the participants with just a week after its implementation.
WIC-certified stores on Saipan, Tinian and Rota are now carrying more food items on their shelves and freezers intended to meet the specific needs of pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants and children up to five years old.
WIC clinic manager Dianne C. Esplin earlier said that the new food packages have been customized to fit the local needs of the participants.
Esplin said the approved foods guide had been in use since its creation in the 1970s but the menu or food guide had remained the same despite the clamor for changes over the years.
“The revision is a long-awaited move because we know best what we need here, what food items will benefit the participants the most,” Esplin said. She added that this also applies to each state and territory.
The previous food packages for the different groups include imported fruits and vegetables. The revised package includes cash value vouchers to be exchanged with locally-produced vegetables and fruits.
This will spur economic development as local farmers in the CNMI will be also benefit from the program.
CNMI WIC program nutrition services coordinator Erin Angela Camacho said the food packages for WIC beneficiaries amount to about $60 a month.
Background
Aligned with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, an interim rule revising the WIC food packages was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 6, 2007.
Designed to better meet the cultural food preferences of each state or territory, the new food packages now better promote and support the programs of the WIC.
A comment period on the interim rule will end on Feb. 1, 2010, after which the United States Department of Agriculture will issue a final rule.
With the new and improved food packages is a message for the participants to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, lower the saturated fat, increase one’s intake of grains and fiber, drink less beverages and juices, and that babies are to be breastfed.
WIC-authorized stores
Currently, the program has nine authorized vendors on Saipan, two on Tinian and two stores on Rota.
On Saipan, the participants can get their food packages at I-Mart in Tanapag, Kagman Market, Joeten Dandan, Joeten Hafa Adai in Garapan, Han Nam Market at Koblerville, Payless Supermarket in Chalan Kanoa, Sara Market II on Capital Hill, San Jose Market in San Jose, and Super Fresh in Chalan Kanoa.
Tinian has two WIC authorized vendors—Fleming Store and San Jose store. Rota has also two WIC authorized vendors—Sinapalo Safeway and Lucky Store in Songsong.
The new food packages for the specific groups contain the required quantity of grains, vegetables and fruits, dairy, and protein.
For more information, call tel. (670) 664-4084, fax (670)664-4069 or visit www.cnmiwic.org.
