Nutrition & Wellness – Biology 50

What Cereals Can I Feed my Child? Healthy WIC Approved Cereals

This week’s release of the report by Consumer Reports may have parents wondering what cereals they should be feeding their child/children.  One way is to see what cereals are recommended by the WIC program.

WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children.  WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.

What makes a cereal a WIC Approved Cereal?

WIC-approved cereals are ones that are low in sugar and have a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in them. Two of the vitamins included in many of the cereals:

• Iron
• Folic Acid

List of WIC Approved Cereals in California for Children

All of these cereal are low in sugar and high in nutrients like iron and folic acid. Any cereal specified on the food instrument Box or bags – 12 oz. package or larger except for brand Instant Oatmeal which may be an 11.8 or 12 oz. box General Mills

• Cheerios (plain)
• Kix (plain)

Kellogg’s

• Corn Flakes (plain)
• Frosted or Unfrosted Mini- Wheats (Big Bite or Bite Size)

B&G Foods

• Cream of Wheat (1 minute, 2-1/2 Minute, 10 minute)

Post

• Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roast)

Quaker

• Life (plain)
• Crunchy Corn Bran Store Brands (See list of authorized labels)
• Crisp(y) Rice
• Instant Oatmeal (Regular unflavored, in 11.8 oz or 12 oz. box of individual serving packets)

Cereals that Can not be Bought on WIC Programs

• Brands or labels not specifically listed on WIC Authorized Food List and California Shopping Guide WIC Authorized Foods
• Individual serving packets, except for store brand Instant Oatmeal – Packages smaller than 12 oz., except for store brand Instant Oatmeal
• Honey (except for Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Roast), frosted, cinnamon, or fruit flavored
• Cereals with chocolate, fruit, nuts, marshmallows, or yogurt clusters/pieces

California WIC Sources

PDF File of California WIC Authorized Food List.

California WIC Program Website.

Additional Sources:

Minnesota Department of Health. WIC-Allowed Cereal.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Maine WIC Program Approved Foods List.

Image Source: Annette Gulick. Cheerios. Royalty Free Use.

Add comment October 4th, 2008

Queen Latifah – My Weight is “Healthy”

I like the Queen Latifah ads because the focus isn’t so much on the numbers as it is losing weight to get to a healthy weight.

I’ve lost 20 pounds and my cholesterol is down 20 points.

I joined Jenny Craig to learn hot to make healthier choices and I’ve never felt better.

According to Jenny Craig’s vice president of marketing Scott Parker “Queen Latifah joins forces with Jenny Craig to communicate the importance of how small lifestyle changes, in the areas of diet and exercise, can have positive effects on overall health.” These are the messages that need to be getting across to people.

In a separate section of the Jenny Craig site, Queen Latifah, her friends and family talk about what is working for them on their journey to an “ideal size.”

Add comment October 4th, 2008