Chapter 2: The WIC Participant Experience, in the second in a series of three reports on the Review of WIC Food Packages, summarizes evidence of complex behavioral and environmental factors that influence participation in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and redemption of WIC foods. Research suggests cultural variation in infant and child feeding practices, which may affect participation in WIC and redemption of WIC benefits. For example, Latinos have lower breastfeeding prevalence than Whites and Asians. Additionally, one study in Maryland found that Latinos preferred beans over peanut butter and they disliked frozen and canned vegetables. Cultural variations, like these, as well as administrative barriers, affect Latino mother's and ...
Working mom, Graciela knows that time and money count when it comes to family meals. She is one of many Latina moms that prove that home cooked meals are best and that there are many time-saving tricks you can use in the kitchen to provide healthy family meals throughout the week. Graciela is part of a network of Champions under the organization, Champions for Change where mom's who take the time to make sure their kids are healthy, are noticed and promoted to "champion moms". Similar to SaludHeroes, these individuals in California take healthier choices to the next step and ensure that their families are making the healthy choice, the easy choice. Champions take notice of the resources at hand, in order to encourage healthier choices within their family, neighborhood or workplace. ...
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is accepting public comment regarding proposed changes to street design requirements. Instead of requiring roads to be designed like highways, the new standards would allow greater flexibility and less red tape for streets designed for speeds below 50 miles per hour. These proposed changes will make it easier for cities to implement safer designs for walking and biking, which could positively influence active transportation on city streets. Public comment for this proposed change closes on December 7th. Tell FHWA what you think, NOW! Transportation for America has generated a letter for you here. Tweet: Tell #FHWA what you think! Less red tape & more flexibility for safer, #walkable streets. http://goo.gl/Tvhrt2 #SaludAmerica ...
In October,2015, The World Bank Global Practices Vice President, Kieth Hansen, provided a highlight of the Seventh Annual Summit on Breastfeeding, First Food: The Essential Role of Breastfeeding in "The Power of Nutrition and the Power of Breastfeeding," published in Breastfeeding Medicine. "Children who escape undernutrition are much more likely to survive and stay in school, and they're much more likely to escape poverty—about 33% more likely on average," Hansen said. "And their wages are anywhere from 5% to 50% higher than their peers who were not able to escape." In regards to undernutrition, overall health, and the economy, Hansen says that breastfeeding may be the single most effective investment a country can make. He discusses prioritizing and financing ...
The City of San Antonio and Pre-K 4 SA are offering San Antonio area schools and licensed childcare centers the opportunity to apply for competitive education grants befitting four-year-olds across the city. From now until Dec. 18, applications are available to support “innovative ways to expand and enhance existing access to high quality prekindergarten education.” Public school districts, charter schools, accredited private and parochial schools, and licensed childcare centers can apply for support including, but not limited to: improving curriculum, increasing professional development, decreasing class sizes, and reducing teacher-to-student ratio. “By moving forward with these competitive grants, our board is delivering on the promise to tax payers that funds would be ...
Food policy Action, a non-profit based in D.C has created a National Food Policy Score Scorecard: 2015 Progress report. This report helps voters understand which legislators are voting for issues that impact the food system. The report includes a scorecard that evaluates the members of congress based on the house votes taken on food-related legislation. It reveals who is more involved and scores members on action taken, giving the highest score of 100 to Legislators with the most action toward healthy food system change.There is also a map (picture shown above) that shows the House of Representatives in regards to districts and food-policy voting. This resource breaks down various bills related to agriculture, GMO's, free meal assistance and current 2015 acts like Farm to School ...
Research demonstrates that walkable neighborhoods are good for resident's health and good for the economy. They connect people and businesses and generate strong tax revenues and have lower municipal costs per capita, which increases economic activity. Smart Growth America is coming out with a new guide, (Re)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization, to be used by any community to build vibrant, walkable downtowns. The guide will lay out in straightforward language seven main steps to take, with specific tasks and ideas to consider along the way. Smart Growth America will host a webinar to discuss the new guide on December 14, 2015, at 1:00 PM EST. Learn more about the guide and the webinar ...
According to a new study, Objectively-Measured Sedentary Time and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in U.S. Hispanic/Latino Adults: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), time spent being sedentary is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease in Hispanics, regardless of physical activity. Researchers used accelerometers to objectively measure time spent being active and sedentary and found that "prolonged sedentary time was associated with decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (P=0.04), and increased triglycerides, 2-hour glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR (all P<0.0001). Even among individuals meeting physical activity guidelines, sedentary time was detrimentally associated with several cardiometabolic biomarkers (diastolic blood ...
Early education prepares children for school and gives families an opportunity to get ahead. According to the Center for American Progress, roughly only 34% of preschool-aged children are enrolled in schools in the United States. One of the main prohibiting factors is the rising costs of child care, which prohibits many American families, including Latinos. The Center is launching a new social media campaign, #WithinReach. In many states, high-quality child care is more expensive than the median rent payments. It is also more expensive than the average tuition and fees for a four-year public university in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The goal of the #WithinReach campaign is to unite national and state leaders, advocates, and the general public in a coordinated effort to ...
