Eating right is vital to healthy living. Proper nutrition is one of the strongest building blocks during pregnancy and through a child’s infancy, toddler and preschool years.
This year, Women & Infants’ WIC Program (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children offered by the Rhode Island Department of Health) is participating in Eat Healthy RI 2014, a celebration of health and wellness sponsored by The Picture of Children’s Health.
Working in collaboration with the South Providence Library, there will be interactive reading sessions in Women & Infants’ WIC Office (2 Dudley Street, 5th Floor) throughout the day on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, featuring “Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?” by Joy Feldman, a children’s book about healthy eating.
“Proper nutrition is so important to put babies and children on a healthy path for life,” said Doreen Chin Pratt, RD, director of Outpatient Nutrition at Women & Infants Hospital. “We want to talk about nutrition for children in a fun and interactive way. This will help to reinforce the importance of eating right, from the start.”
To help meet the needs of pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, as well as children up to five years of age, the Rhode Island Department of Health offers the WIC Program. This preventative health program provides nutrition education, advice, and referrals to health care providers and breastfeeding resources for eligible participants. Benefits include assistance to purchase fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, low fat milk, eggs, and other nutritious foods to help families make healthy food choices.
For more information about one of the many WIC sites in Rhode Island, contact the Department of Health at 1-800-942-7434 (English and Spanish) or at www.health.ri.gov. For WIC services at Women & Infants Hospital, call (401) 274-1122, extension 42768, or visit www.womenandinfants.org, keyword WIC Program.