BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. – Healthy food choices can make a big difference in the life of a family, ensuring that babies, children and their families have the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Buncombe County Health and Human Services wants people to know that they may qualify for a program called WIC (Women Infants and Children) which provides support to families to help make ends meet while buying healthy foods for their family.
The WIC program helps pregnant mothers, breast feeding mothers, and children under the age of five by providing nutrition education and vouchers for healthy foods. WIC gives parents easy to understand information on meal planning and nutrition so that parents know what healthy foods to buy. A family of four…show more content… “WIC is so much more than people realize. The nutrition education, breastfeeding support and healthy foods that WIC provides gives children a healthy start in life, which is so important for their future development.”
It’s easy to apply for WIC. Busy caregivers only have to come into the office four times a year for services and to receive food vouchers. We have worked hard in Buncombe County to reduce appointment times to less than an hour which saves valuable time for mothers and fathers who are busy getting to work or caring for children. WIC currently serves around 5,387 participants in Buncombe County every month.
The Buncombe County WIC Program has trained staff that can assist moms with decisions about what types of foods to feed their babies and they are available to answer questions about their child’s diet and eating habits. Healthy food items are provided to pregnant mothers and young children who participate in the program including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and foods rich in protein. Breastfeeding support is also an important part of the WIC Program and WIC staff can help teach moms the basics of breastfeeding. In the event that a woman is unable to breastfeed, infant formula is
