By Guadalupe Alfaro Cabrera, BS, CSUN Dietetic Intern

The Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program helps pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5 to eat well and stay healthy by providing healthy foods at no cost. WIC participants also receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, screenings, and referrals to other health and social services¹.

WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for low-income families that is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it operates in 50 states through 1,900 agencies¹. The main goals of the program are to reduce the complications of pregnancy, decrease the number of infants born with low-weight, and promote adequate growth and development of infants and young children.

To be eligible for the WIC program, applicants must be in one of the following categories²:

• Pregnant, breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding postpartum woman
• Infant
• Child under age 5

Applicants also need to meet WIC income guidelines (less than 185% of federal poverty level) and live or work in the area². You can find California income guidelines here.

CSUN has a WIC Outreach office on campus that is open on Thursdays from 9am to 12pm in Santa Susanna Hall, room 104. WIC CSUN OFFICE FLYER

Northeast Valley Health Corporation oversees different WIC offices in San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley. Clinics are located in Canoga Park, Canyon Square, Glendale, Newhall, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, Reseda, San Fernando, Sun Valley, Valencia, and Van Nuys².

If you have friends that are pregnant or have children under the age of five, please share this valuable resource with them. If you are a parent, empower your kids by giving them cooking roles in the kitchen, like this recipe for Egg in a Nest.

EGG IN A NEST

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1 slice whole wheat bread
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Coat a skillet with cooking spray.
2. Spread butter on both sides of bread.
3. Cut out a hole in the center using a glass or cookie cutter.
4. Place bread in skillet over medium heat.
5. Crack egg into the hole.
6. Cook over medium-low heat until egg begins to bubble.
7. Flip bread over and cook until egg is completely done.
8. Salt and pepper to taste.

*Highlighted green text are steps that kids can help you cook in this recipe.

Recipe from Let’s Cook with Kids. California Department of Public Health.

References

1.Los Angeles County WIC data. Published date unavailable. Retrieved on April 24, 2018, from:
http://lawicdata.org

2. Women Infants and Children Office. How to Apply to WIC in California. Published dated unavailable. Retrieved on April 24, 2018, from:
http://www.womeninfantschildrenoffice.com/apply-for-wic-in-california-wa5

3. Northeast Valley Health Corporation. California Woman, Infants, and Children. Published date unavailable. Retrieved on April 24, 2018, from: https://nevhc.org/wic/