WIC in a Click Brings Nutrition Information to Families

by Leslie Horton, Director, Yavapai County Community Health Services
The Yavapai County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is now making learning about healthy eating habits more accessible through video conferencing technology. 
The new program, WIC in a Click, allows people to participate in follow-up appointments in the comfort of their home, on a break at work, or anywhere they have access to the internet. They simply need to download a free app and call to request a virtual appointment. Once the virtual appointment is requested, they have the flexibility of meeting one-on-one with a WIC staff member or participating in a group session with other parents.
The Yavapai County WIC program serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. Providing nutritious foods to supplement diets and education on healthy eating tailored to the needs of the participant is a cornerstone of the WIC program. We also encourage and support breastfeeding along with referrals to health care. 
WIC-authorized foods include infant cereal, baby foods, iron-fortified adult cereal, fruits and vegetables, vitamin C-rich fruits or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, soy-based beverages, tofu, peanut butter, dried and canned bean/peas, canned fish, whole wheat bread and other whole-grain options. At each WIC appointment, families receive education to make knowledgeable decisions about their health and nutrition that can have a lasting impact on each family’s lives.  
Every family has unique questions and concerns regarding their family’s health and nutritional well-being. Our nutrition education specialists are trained on common questions and concerns including: picky eating, family meals, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, limiting sugary drinks, whole grains, weaning from a bottle, and many more.
We encourage all families to eat at least five fruits and vegetables each day to receive important nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, E and K. All of these nourish growing bodies and help them develop healthy and strong. 
Our philosophy encompasses not only consuming whole foods but to be physically active. Adults should be physically active for at least 30 minutes per day and children one hour per day, at least five days a week. Eating whole foods and being physically active are important components of a healthy lifestyle and encourage the prevention of illness and disease. Through health education resources, we can set the framework for a lifestyle that empowers families to make the best choices for each member of their family. 
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, and WIC offers the support to help each family with individual goals. To meet the demands of today’s busy lifestyle, WIC in a Click provides a unique option for families to receive services, support and health education. Through virtual services, we minimize the hardships of time spent driving, expense of gas and save time for our families to do what is most important, to be a family.
As the common African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We want to be a part of that village to help families thrive and get the support they need.
To learn more about WIC in a Click please call 928-771-3138.