Longer WIC Participation Is Associated With Higher Diet Quality and Consumption of WIC-Eligible Foods Among Children 2-5 Years Old.

Background: Few studies have evaluated trends in diet quality across early childhood, including the extent to which foods and beverages available in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Package contribute to children's diets.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the following across ages 2 through 5 years: (1) trends in Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) total and component scores; (2) differences in mean HEI-2020 scores by WIC participation duration; and (3) contributions of the top 5 foods or beverages to HEI-2020 component scores by WIC duration.

Design: This was a secondary analysis of a nationally representative sample of the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 conducted between 2013 and 2019.

Longer Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participation Duration Is Associated with Higher Diet Quality at Age 5 Years.

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental healthy foods and nutrition education to children under age 5 y in low-income households.

Objectives: We aimed to identify characteristics associated with duration of WIC participation and assess how participation duration relates to household food insecurity (HFI), child diet quality, and child weight status at age 60 mo.

Methods: This analysis of the WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2, a prospective cohort of WIC-participating children enrolled in 2013, included children with complete baseline-60 mo data (n = 836).

The Relationship between Breastfeeding and Initial Vegetable Introduction with Vegetable Consumption in a National Cohort of Children Ages 1-5 Years from Low-Income Households.

Compared to other food groups, vegetable intakes are lowest relative to recommendations. Breastfeeding and initial introduction to vegetables may help infants establish long-lasting taste preferences. We examined the relationship between breastfeeding and initial vegetable introduction and vegetable intake in early childhood (ages 13-60 months).

Shifts in Sources of Food but Stable Nutritional Outcomes among Children in the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), State governments, and school districts took unprecedented steps to mitigate the pandemic's impact on students' nutrition.

Support for Breastfeeding Employees: Assessing Statewide Worksite Lactation Support Recognition Initiatives in the United States.

Background: Although the reasons for discontinued breastfeeding are multifactorial, an unsupportive work environment is consistently reported as a barrier to continued breastfeeding. In the United States, several state breastfeeding advocates have taken a distinctive approach to promote worksite lactation support by developing statewide recognition initiatives aimed at incentivizing employers to support breastfeeding employees by offering public recognition for the worksites' efforts.

Research Aim: To identify and describe statewide worksite lactation support recognition initiatives in the United States.

Comparison of Food Intake Among Infants and Toddlers Participating in a South Central Texas WIC Program Reveals Some Improvements After WIC Package Changes.

In 2009, WIC began issuing revised food packages with the intent of improving dietary practices such as breastfeeding, delaying the introduction of complementary foods until about 6 months, limiting juice intake, and increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and baby food meats as appropriate for age. This observational study investigated whether dietary intake and feeding practices of a sample of majority-Hispanic infants and toddlers participating in a WIC clinic in south central Texas improved after the package changes. Feeding practices data and 24-h recalls were collected during telephone interviews with 84 caregivers of infants (4-12 months) and toddlers (1-2 years) in 2009 before the package change and with 112 caregivers in 2011 after the package change.

Differences in energy and micronutrient intakes among Central Texas WIC infants and toddlers after the package change.

Objective: To assess nutrient intakes after the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) package changes within an at-risk, majority Hispanic population of WIC infants and toddlers in Central Texas.

Methods: For this cross-sectional observational study, Nutrition Data System for Research was used to collect 24-hour recalls of infants and toddlers from a sample of caregivers in 2009 and 2011. Usual nutrient intakes were estimated and compared with Dietary Reference Intakes using the National Cancer Institute method.