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Good Outcomes with WIC Continue
From JNEB Good Outcomes with WIC Continue The May, 2010 JNEB supplement was focused on research within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.1 With 5 Research Articles, 1 Research Brief, 2 Reports, and 2 GEMs, the issue provides compelling reasons that the WIC program is successful and moving forward to be even better. This issue includes 2 additional Research Articles describing improved outcomes for WIC families as a result of the revised food packages.2,3 Hillier et al describe the association between more healthful food after the revised food packages became available, as well as provide a tool, the Nutrition Environment Measure Survey for Stores, that has promise to be used in many evaluations of groceries in the future.2 Whaley
et al's results show that the new food packages have an impact on healthier food intake as well, specifically whole grains, lower fat milk, and fruits and vegetables.3 We can continue to be proud that not only does WIC work, it works well. In addition, we should be proud that WIC continues the evaluation process to become even better, and to conduct that research well enough to be published in peerreviewed journals. Emphasizing the positive results of our federal programs is how we can influence food and nutrition policy in the United States. In doing so, we also become a global public image for how things can run well and make an important impact on the health of our children. As educators, nutritionists, researchers, and policy makers, we
can all learn from the framework of WIC. Karen Chapman-Novakofski PhD, RD, LDN Editor-in-Chief
REFERENCES 1. Reicks M, Richardson C. WIC Supplement. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2010;42:S1. 2. Hillier A, McLaughlin J, Cannuscio CC, Chilton M, Krasny S, Karpyn A. The impact of WIC food package changes on access to healthful food in 2 lowincome urban neighborhoods. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012;44:210-216. 3. Whaley SE, Ritchie LD, Spector P, Gomez J. Revised WIC food package improves diets of WIC families. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012;44:204-209.
et al's results show that the new food packages have an impact on healthier food intake as well, specifically whole grains, lower fat milk, and fruits and vegetables.3 We can continue to be proud that not only does WIC work, it works well. In addition, we should be proud that WIC continues the evaluation process to become even better, and to conduct that research well enough to be published in peerreviewed journals. Emphasizing the positive results of our federal programs is how we can influence food and nutrition policy in the United States. In doing so, we also become a global public image for how things can run well and make an important impact on the health of our children. As educators, nutritionists, researchers, and policy makers, we
can all learn from the framework of WIC. Karen Chapman-Novakofski PhD, RD, LDN Editor-in-Chief
REFERENCES 1. Reicks M, Richardson C. WIC Supplement. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2010;42:S1. 2. Hillier A, McLaughlin J, Cannuscio CC, Chilton M, Krasny S, Karpyn A. The impact of WIC food package changes on access to healthful food in 2 lowincome urban neighborhoods. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012;44:210-216. 3. Whaley SE, Ritchie LD, Spector P, Gomez J. Revised WIC food package improves diets of WIC families. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012;44:204-209.