The United States Department of Agriculture approved an increase to the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for the purchase of fruits and vegetables issued to participants receiving an eligible Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package. In order to understand satisfaction, perceptions, and the overall impact of additional benefits for fruits and vegetables at the household level, a qualitative study consisting of structured phone interviews was conducted with families served by WIC in Southern California from November to December 2021 (n = 30). Families were selected from a large longitudinal study sample (N = 2784); the sample was restricted by benefit redemption and stratified by language and race. WIC participants were highly satisfied with the CVB increase, reporting increased purchasing and consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Respondents noted the improved quality and variety of fruits and vegetables purchased due to the increased amount. Findings are expected to inform policy makers to adjust the CVB offered in the WIC food package with the potential to improve participant satisfaction and increase participation and retention of eligible families with benefits from healthy diets supported by WIC.
Objective:
In 2019, California and Wilmington, Delaware implemented policies requiring healthier default beverages with restaurant kids’ meals. This study assessed restaurant beverage offerings and manager perceptions.
Design:
Pre-post menu observations were conducted in California and Wilmington. Observations of cashiers/servers during orders were conducted pre-post implementation in California and post-implementation in Wilmington. Changes in California were compared using multilevel logistic regression and paired t-tests. Post-implementation, managers were interviewed.
Setting:
Inside and drive-through ordering venues in a sample of quick-service restaurants in low-income California communities and all restaurants in Wilmington subject to the policy, the month before and 7-12 months after policy implementation.
Participants:
Restaurant observations (California n=110; Wilmington n=14); managers (California n=75; Wilmington n=15).
Results:
Pre-implementation, the most common kids’ meal beverages on California menus were unflavored milk and water (78.8%, 52.0%); in Wilmington, juice, milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages were most common (81.8%, 66.7%, 46.2%). Post-implementation, menus including only policy-consistent beverages significantly increased in California (9.7% to 66.1%, p<0.0001), but remained constant in Wilmington (30.8%). During orders, cashiers/servers offering only policy-consistent beverages significantly decreased post-implementation in California (5.0% to 1.0%, p=0.002). Few managers (California 29.3%; Wilmington 0%) reported policy knowledge, although most expressed support. Most managers wanted additional information for customers and staff.
Conclusions:
While the proportion of menus offering only policy-consistent kids’ meal default beverages increased in California, offerings did not change in Wilmington. In both jurisdictions managers lacked policy knowledge and few cashiers/servers offered only policy-consistent beverages. Additional efforts are needed to strengthen implementation of kids’ meal beverage policies.
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