What is WIC?
WIC stands for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides access to counseling, nutrition education, supplemental nutritious foods, breastfeeding education, and referrals to other services in order to improve the health of pregnant women, infants, and children.
Click the following link to learn more about the WIC program: English
For more information or to see if you are eligible for WIC services, follow this link: WIC Services
Breastfeeding
WIC offers breastfeeding education, resources, and promotion. Breastfeeding a child is beneficial to the child’s health because they receive antibodies and immunities that will protect them from many illnesses. It is recommended that the child be breastfed for at least the first six months of their life. Children that are not breastfed are at greater risk for certain illnesses. Not only is it great for your child’s health, but it’s cost efficient too!
Breastfeeding benefits the mother as well by using extra calories which makes it easier to lose post pregnancy weight they might have gained. It also produces a hormone called oxytocin which stimulates uterine contractions that reduces blood loss after delivery.
For more information on breastfeeding, click the following link: Breastfeeding
Healthy Bites
Healthy Bites is an online interactive educational tool. The website provides informative videos on nutrition as well as healthy meal ideas. If you participate in the WIC program, you can now get your nutrition education credit using this website: www.HealthBitesVA.org