WIC Program (Barely) Increasing Access to Fruits & Veggies
Posted by Rachel on January 17, 2008
The WIC program to improve low-income women and children’s nutritional status is being revised, and it is finally going to cover produce (other than carrots – did you know that baby carrots were explicitly excluded?). What’s the big improvement? A whopping $8/month in produce coverage. Read more in my post at Our Bodies Our Blog.
Abby said
Didn’t Bush Sr. say that ketchup could be counted as a veg on school lunch menus? It is about time. You can’t cut coupons to save on fresh fruits or veg. Farmers markets are the best place for fresh produce.
I grew up on a limited income and oranges were a special treat. Rice and pasta are fillers that low income parents feed their children because they are hungry but they understand how important fresh fruits and veg are; they just can’t afford them. I wish that the people who make the rules had to live by them for a few months and then see if they have any revisions. I bet that they would.
Rachel said
Abby, indeed. I try to be a smart shopper. I read per ounce prices for various sizes, shop with lists, mentally calculate how much I’m spending, etc. I still accidentally bought $9 worth of grapes last week because I didn’t pay enough attention. These items are expensive, and I don’t buy that giving $8/month is going to improve people’s nutritional status – they simply cost too much. It’s a token move. A good start, but not at all realistic as to how people actually live, as you point out.
As for ketchup, I believe it was Reagan. Apparently pickle relish counted, too.