The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) needs to evaluate appropriate nutrition education for its at risk audience, including Five-A-Day for Better Health educational material that promotes consumption of five servings a day of fruits and vegetables. An evaluation was conducted of a Five-A-Day recipe booklet for use with mothers having a child or children enrolled in WIC. Three clinic sites in eastern Washington State tested the booklet using a pretest (n = 225)/post-test (n = 167) design and an intervention protocol based on preliminary focus group data. The booklet featured information on fresh produce and was accordingly tested over the summer months. Participants were on average 28 years of age and mostly White (77%). After receiving the booklet, many WIC mothers reported feeling more confident about choosing good quality fresh produce (70%) and storing fruits and vegetables appropriately (68%), and also felt that it was easier to include fruits and vegetables in their family's meals (74%). Many mothers reportedly served more fruits and vegetables to their families after receiving the booklet. Notably, this occurred at numerous meals and snack times with both fruits and vegetables, and was independent of a reported trend to consume more fruits and vegetables in the summer. Mothers also favorably evaluated the format and content of the booklet. However, mothers' barriers related to fruits and vegetables did not change, and their estimated intake of fruits and vegetables decreased slightly over the intervention period. Adjustments to the protocol are suggested that may enhance the booklet's effect on WIC mothers' attitudes and behaviors.
A survey of low‐income mothers of children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was conducted to identify barriers and other factors influencing the frequency of fruits and vegetables served to children and consumed by the mother. Barriers related to adults not liking a wide variety of fruits or vegetables and adults' lack of interest in trying new fruits or vegetables significantly related to mothers serving and consuming fruits and vegetables less frequently. Cost and convenience barriers related more negatively to mothers' own intakes than to what they served to children. Fruit and vegetable intakes were lower among mothers reporting indicators of household food insecurity. Recommendations for WIC nutrition education are discussed.
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