It is obvious carrots, beans and tuna were chosen for their nutritional
benefits-the entire focal point of the WIC program is healthy mothers,
infants, and children. (Perhaps, I didn't make my point clear.)  There are
other choices within the wide spectrum of the food groups that could
accomplish these same health benefits.  Why not give our breastfeeding
mothers a choice?  How about broccoli or greens in the place of carrots?
Instead of canned tuna, how about a voucher for a certain quantity of fresh
fish, chicken, or even more beans?  It is all nice and good that tuna and
carrots contain these wonderful vitamins and nutrients but  remember they
have to be ingested before Mom or baby can reap the numerous health
benefits.  In the pregnant and Breastfeeding Women packages, cheese can be
substituted for fluid milk.  Low fat or skim milk, evaporated, or non-fat
dry milk can be substituted for whole fluid milk not to mention being given
a nice big list of approved cereals to choose from.  Peanut butter may be
substituted for beans.  Influencing changes in cultural dietary habits is a
slow educational process that does not occur by simply denying one
choices-they still have the choice to slam dunk it all in the trash.  Making
some concessions in this package could not only help us attain our overall
goal toward healthy women, infants, and children but could help in our
overall promotion of breastfeeding. This package IS one of the very few
weapons we have toward not only promoting optimum health but in promoting
breastfeeding.  We don't have the budgets to buy all these little bags, key
chains, and plastic toys to lure women.  One would think just being armed
with the facts would be enough but those of us in the trenches know
otherwise.  If changes can't be made in the choices offered in the Food
Package for Exclusively Breastfeeding Moms, it certainly  would not be a bad
idea to give money since food one can not use certainly will not change
attitudes or lives.
 Am still interested in who makes these decisions on these food packages,
and how to put forth our ideas that may make the appropriate changes.

Laura H. Ehrenzeller,BA, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and proud!