>philosophy behind the special Food Package for Exclusively Breastfeeding
>Women.  If a woman is exclusively breastfeeding her infant she will receive
>the following IN ADDITION to the food package for pregnant/breastfeeding
>woman.  She will receive 1 lb. of domestic cheese, 1lb. beans, 46 to 48
>ounces of approved juice depending on strength, 26 oz. canned tuna, and 2
>lbs. fresh carrots or 2 14-16 oz. canned carrots.  How and why were these
>particular foods selected for this package?

Beans and tuna would increase the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in her
breastmilk, so important for the retina of the eye and the cerebral cortex
of the brain (hers and her baby's).  Beans are very healthful; there was a
press release a couple years ago about their atherogenic-lowering effect,
and a scientist came on the radio and scoffed, "Well, beans may save lives,
but one CAN'T eat beans every day!"  But of course, one can, and in other
cultures, one does.  So it's an appropriate move to make in changing our
cultural dietary habits.  Carrots?  We know that eating FOODS rich in
carotenes lowers the risk of different types of cancer (where carotene
supplements apparently do not).  Carrots have perhaps 500 different
bioactive components, which work together to increase quality and quantity
of life.  (And if carrots can do this, one can see how breastmilk can
affect a child's life.)

WIC is an education and food program, and that is the reason for its
success.  Just giving money would not be as effective in changing attitudes
and lives.

Arly in Northern Utah                [log in to unmask]
MS, CLE, IBCLC