Platte County WIC Program

NEW PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE

2012-02-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Bureau of Genetics and Healthy Childhood (GHC) previously announced the release of the “It All Counts” Facebook page made available through the Department of Health and Human Services’ First Time Motherhood grant. The page provides information on the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle to promote preconception health, healthy pregnancies, healthy birth out-comes, and health in general throughout the lifespan. The page provides tips on health-related issues including topics of exercise, nutrition, folic acid, and much more and gives “friends” the opportunity to ask questions or comment and get answers. GHC now has “scroll pens” available for local public health agencies and other healthcare/social services providers to use at health fairs or in their agencies for women of childbearing age to promote the Facebook page and provide a health factoid. For information on obtaining a supply of these pens for your event, contact Karen Schenk or Leslie Seifert at 573‑751‑6266.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

2012-02-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Children need to have regular dental cleanings and exams, the same as adults. But for many resons, not all children are able to recieve regular dental care. This may prevent minor problems form being corrected, and may result in small problems becoming larger ones. No one wants this to happen, but it frequently does. In February, attention is drawn to this situation to remind parents to do something about it.

Start your kids on the path to proper dental hygiene, and this month is as good a time as any. Help them achieve good oral health, and you'll be helping them ward off diseases and conditions.

New Year's 7 Best Resolutions

2012-01-12T14:58:00.000-08:00

Take small steps to create healthy eating habits for your family.

Choose one, two or all seven of these New Year's resolutions:

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
Make at least half your grains whole grains
Switch to fat-free (skim) or low fat (1%) milk
Eat a variety of protein foods
Start your day with breakfast
Eat with your family
Drink water instead of sugary drinks

Make 2012 your healthiest year ever!

2011-12-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

· Have you gotten your FLU SHOT yet? PCHD is now offering flu shots for $10. Come down today and give yourself a healthy present this year!

World Breastfeeding Week 2011

2011-07-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

August 1-7 is designated each year as World Breastfeeding Week by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the entire month of August is designated Missouri Breastfeeding Month. The theme for this year is “Talk to Me, Support Me!” The objective of this year’s theme is to draw attention to how communication is an essential part in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months of life. This means your baby needs no additional foods (except Vitamin D) or fluids unless medically indicated. Babies should continue to breastfeed for a year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. Breastfeeding should be supported by your physician for as long as it is the right choice for you and your baby.

June is Dairy Month

2011-06-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Dairy Group includes milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified soymilk

Provides calcium, vitamin D, potassium, protein, and other nutrients needed for good health throughout life
Choices should be low-fat or fat-free - to cut calories and saturated fat

How much is needed?
Older children, teens, and adults need 3 cups a day
Children 4 to 8 years old need 2 1/2 cups
Children 2 to 3 years old need 2 cups

What counts as a cup in the Dairy Group?
1 cup of milk or yogurt
1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese, or 2 ounces of processed cheese

Try these Recipes:

Easy to Please Breakfast Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients:
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup crunchy low-fat cereal or granola divided
1/2 cup fresh fruit, sliced (i.e. strawberries, blueberries, bananas)
Preparation:
Spoon half of the yogurt in the bottom of a bowl or tall glass
Add 2T. cereal and 1/2 cup fruit
Spoon rest of yogurt and top with remaining 2T. of cereal
Substitution Idea:
Use any favorite flavor of yogurt as a base. Can also substitute canned fruit (drained) for fresh fruit

Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Shake
Ingredients:
1 cup of fat-free or 1% low-fat chocolate milk
1/2 cup banana slices
1T. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth and creamy.
Serve in a tall glass or on-the-go drink container

From MyPyramid to MyPlate

2011-06-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

June 2, 2001 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the federal government's new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek information to help do that by going to http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.

2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans -

Guidelines Messages Include:

Balance Calories

Enjoy your food, but eat less
Avoid oversized portions

Foods to Increase
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk

Make at least healf your grains whole grains

Foods to Reduce

Compare sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose foods with lower numbers

Drink water instead of sugary drinks

Recipes and nutrition information for National Nutrition Month!

2011-03-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

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nutmessageweek3

National Nutrition Month Recipe and update

2011-03-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Tropical Green Smoothie

1c. green seedless grapes
1c. baby spinach leaves
1 (6oz) container low fat vanilla yogurt
1 frozen banana sliced into chunks
1/2c. crushed pineapple

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serves 2 people.

Calories 232
carbohydrates 49 grams
vitamin A 76% daily value
vitamin C 52% daily value
fiber 4 grams or 16% daily value
This recipe is courtesy of University of Missouri Extension
Enjoy!!

nutmessageweek2 _2_

2011-03-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

March is National Nutrition Month. The 2011 theme is Eat Right With Color. Each week we will be sending a message that will highlight the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables of a specific color and offer a healthy recipe. In honor of National Nutrition Month, our WIC staff challenges everyone to try and make just one positive dietary change this month.

The PCHD WIC Staff

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February is Dental Health Month

2011-02-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Your Child's Smile

Nothing is sweeter than your child's smile. This smile starts with healthy teeth.

Help your child brush and floss teeth until 6 or 7 years old.
Brush teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime.
Offer water between snacks and meals.
Don't let your child go to bed with a bottle or sippy cup.
Don't let your toddler walk around the house with a sippy cup.
Wean your toddler from the bottle by 1 year of age.
Have 2 to 3 planned snacks during the day. Snacking all day long is not good for your child's teeth and can cause cavities.

February is American Heart Month

2011-01-25T15:22:00.000-08:00

Have you taken care of your heart today? Cardiovascular diseases are the biggest killer in the United States and February is American Heart Month. February is declared to be American Heart Month in order to draw more attention to cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Part of taking care of your heart includes eating healthy foods and watching your weight.

Ten Foods for a Healthy Heart:
Dietary advice for reducing heart disease risk includes eating a balanced diet with less saturated fat from red meats, more fresh fruits and vegetables, more fish, less sugar, more fiber and for many people, fewer total calories. Then you can make your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system even healthier by adding more of these foods:

Salmon                                Red Wine (In moderation 4-8oz/day)
Olive Oil                              Whole Grains
Oats                                    Green Leafy Vegetables
Apples                                 Tomatoes
Almonds                              Soy

Surgeon General Issues Support for Community Breastfeeding Initiatives

2011-01-25T15:04:00.000-08:00

Breastfeeding Will Gain National Support as WIC Strategic Plan is Released to Improve State and Local WIC Clinic Breastfeeding Services
WASHINGTON, DC, 21 January 2011 — Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin released “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” on January 20, which defined evidence-based strategies for communities to promote breastfeeding and reduce barriers that new mothers face. The issuance aligns with the release of the National WIC Association’s (NWA) Breastfeeding Strategic Plan to encourage all WIC programs to improve breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. State and local WIC clinics will aim to increase breastfeeding rates through NWA’s “Six Steps to Achieve Breastfeeding Goals for WIC Clinics,” which promote breastfeeding as the infant feeding norm, provide breastfeeding-friendly environments, ensure access to well-trained breastfeeding clinic staff, develop procedures to accommodate breastfeeding mothers and babies, train all clinic staff members to become breastfeeding counselors and advocates, and support exclusive breastfeeding through assessment, evaluation, and assistance.

“The National WIC Association is proud of WIC’s role in promoting breastfeeding to the nation, indeed WIC breastfeeding rates have been on the rise since 1990 and NWA’s Breastfeeding Strategic Plan and Six Steps to Achieve Breastfeeding Goals for WIC Clinics will help to assure WIC’s role as the nation’s go to source for breastfeeding promotion and support,” said the Rev. Douglas A. Greenaway, NWA’s President & CEO. “Moreover, exclusive breastfeeding plays a key role in reducing childhood overweight and obesity, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), respiratory ailments, allergies, ear infections, along with many other illnesses, and has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and certain breast and ovarian cancers for breastfeeding mothers.”

WIC serves children to age five, including roughly 50% of all infants born in the United States. And 61% of WIC participants reside in families with incomes below the poverty level. WIC helps to ensure infants’ and children’s normal growth, reduces levels of anemia, increases immunization rates, improves access to regular health care and social services and improves diets.

NWA endorses breastfeeding as the optimal nutrition choice through the first year of a child’s life and promotes the associated health benefits for the mother and infant. NWA is the education arm and the advocacy voice of the 9 million mothers and young children who participate in WIC and the nation’s 12,200 WIC service provider agencies. NWA is in full support of “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” to reduce barriers in communities for women who want to breastfeed.

National WIC Association Washington Update

2011-01-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

President Issues Breastfeeding Workplace Accommodations Memo for Federal Government

Washington, DC, 21 December 2010 – President Barrack Obama issued a Memorandum yesterday to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management requesting that the Office develop new guidelines for "appropriate workplace accommodations" for federal employees who are nursing mothers.

The Order, required by the Affordable Care Act mandating new breastfeeding rights primarily for hourly workers in the private and public sectors, requests that the federal government take a further step by establishing new guidelines for all federal employees, no matter their status.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, established special nursing rooms in 2007 for House staffers. Senate offices and committees must make similar breastfeeding accommodations for staffers.

Much of the original Breastfeeding Promotion Act sponsored by NWA Leadership Award Recipient Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OR, that ensured that women cannot be discriminated against or fired for breastfeeding or pumping breast milk during breaks or lunch and provided tax breaks to employers who establish special rooms for breastfeeding mothers or that rent lactation-related equipment was incorporated into the Affordable Care Act.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-30T06:42:00.000-08:00

Your young child is learning habits that will last a lifetime.

Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Serve at least 1 fruit or vegetable at every meal.

Snack on fruits and vegetables.

Drink more water.
Water is a healthy choice.

Limit soda and other sweet drinks.
Order milk or water if you eat away from home.
Serve milk with meals at home.
Do not keep sweet drinks in your refrigerator.

Choose whole grains for at least 1/2 of your grain foods.
Eat more whole grain breads, pasta and breaskfast cereals.

Play together as a family.
Go for a walk, visit the park or play in the yard.
Enjoy a sport together.
Try skating, biking or hiking with your child.

January is Healthy Pregnancy Awareness Month

2010-12-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

HEALTHY PREGNANCY:

Make some healthy changes

Eat nutritious foods and be physically active
Before and during pregnancy, try to find ways to make healthy changes to lifestyle

Example: Quit Smoking

Stick with those changes after baby is born can set a positive example for your new family

Eat well

Not a time to diet
To maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrition needed, eat well-balanced meals and a variety of different foods
Keep healthy snacks on hand throughout the day

Drink up

Aim for at least 8 to 10 full glasses (64 to 80 ounces) a day

Drinking enough fluids = less dehydration, constipation, urinary tract infections, preterm, or premature labor

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Take your vitamins

Best way yo get your vitamins is to eat well-balanced and varied meals
Check with your Doctor for supplement(s) type(s) and how much to take

Be active

Physical activity helps prepare your body for labor by improving circulation, increasing muscle strength, and boosting energy level
Helps to feel better, sleep better, and reduces some of the discomforts of pregnancy, like constipation

Get the support you need

A good relationship with health care team is important
Attend regular prenatal visits and discuss questions and concerns openly with Doctor, which can help prepare for the birth of baby

"September is National Fruits & Veggies - More Matters Month!"

2010-09-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

Vegetable of the Month: Chili Peppers
Hot peppers (chilies) are often used to spice up dishes, and they are especially popular in ethnic cousine including Mexican, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Arab and Spanish cooking. Chiles are an excellent source of Vitamin C if you can withstand their powerful bite.

Recipe: Cherry Pepper Salad
Makes 4 servings, Each serving equals 1 1/2 cups fruit or vegetables
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted
1 cup each thinly sliced sweet yellow and green peppers
1/4 cup thinly sliced mild chili pepper
2 Tbsp finely chopped onion
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp pickled ginger strips, optional
4 cups mixed greens

Toss together all ingredients except greens; refrigerate 1 hour or longer. Serve on mixed greens.

Nutritional Analysis per serving: Calories 80, Protein 2g, Fat 2g, Calories From Fat 23%, Cholesterol 0mg, Carbohydrates 15g, Fiber 3g, Sodium 100mg.

Fruit of the Month: Figs
Figs, one of mankind's oldest fruits. Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually a flower inverted into itself. They are the only fruit to ripen on the tree. Orginally native from Turkey to northern India, the fig fruit spread to many of the Mediterranean countries. The primary producers of dried figs today are the United States, Turkey, Greece, and Spain. This highly nutritious fruit arrived in the United States by Spanish missionaries settling in Southern California in 1759. Fig trees were soon planted throughout the state.

Recipe: Fig Banana Smoothie
Makes 4 servings, Each serving equals 1 cup of fruit or vegetables
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped dried figs (stems removed)
1 cup 1-inch banana slices
1 cup plain non-fat yogurt
3 cups crushed ice
1 Tbsp honey
mint leaf or berry garnish

Place all ingredients except garnish in a blender (not a food processor), and blend until smooth, approximately 2-3 minutes. Strain liquid and pour into tall, chilled glasses. Add garnish.

Nutritional Analysis per serving: Calories 178, Protein 2g, Fat 1g, Calories From Fat 4%, Cholesterol 0mg, Carbohydrates 44g, Fber 9g, Sodium 9mg.

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

2010-07-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Come Celebrate world breastfeeding week with the WIC staff

(Open to Public)

When: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 1-3 pm

Where: Platte County Health Department

1201 East Street

Parkville, MO 64152

Come join the fun! We will have games for the kids, door prizes and snacks to enjoy! And register to win a new Medela breast pump.

June is Dairy Month

2010-06-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Dairy: The Ultimate Calcium Source
Dairy products, such as low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt provide a unique package of nine essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin. Milk protein helps build muscle; calcium supports bones and Vitamin A is great for eyes. Here are some tasty ways to celebrate Dairy Month.

Make a smoothie (Strawberry Banana Smoothies)

In blendar combine 1-1/2 cups lowfat milk, 1 pint vanilla lowfat yogurt, 2 ripe bananas,1-1/4 cup sliced strawberries and 2 T. honey.
Add enough ice cubes to measure 6 cups in blendar. Blend until smooth and serve.
Makes 4 to 5 servings.

Serve up a yogurt parfait

In dish start with layer of 1/2 cup drained sliced peaches, add 1 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt and top with 1/2 cup raisin bran cereal. Substitute seasonal berries for peaches and granola for raisin bran if desired. Or mix all ingredients.

Cheese it

Sprinkle grated cheese on salads, steamed vegetables and main dishes.
Use small curd cottage cheese for topping baked potatoes and making vegetable dips.
Use an ice cream scoop to plop cottage cheese in a sundae dish. tuck in fresh fruit like sliced strawberries, bananas and seasonal berries.

Did you know we are on Twitter?

2010-03-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

All Platte County Health Department services provide content to our Twitter account. You can follow us at www.twitter.com/plattehealth. Enjoy!

Welcome to our new WIC Blog!

2010-02-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new blog for the Platte County Health Department's WIC program! We will provide you with tips about good health and highlights to our program. Come back here often to ready more!