By Betsy Crick, WIC Outreach Coordinator

March is National Nutrition Month and WIC is here to help you savor the flavor of eating right!  Our nutrition education program is about helping families stay healthy during times of important growth. We can give you the tools you need to grow strong, happy and healthy kids. WIC’s mission is to partner with you and your family and provide nutrition counseling, focused on your needs and concerns.

We use a style of education that encourages you to play an active role in learning and allows WIC staff to act as a guide. Participant-centered education makes the learning experience more fun, engaging and meaningful, for both participants and WIC staff.

We offer nutrition education in several ways. Initial certification to the program is one-on-one with our qualified WIC staff.

Follow-up education is offered two ways:

• You can attend a class/sharing session. The class provides opportunities for group discussion, incorporates hands-on activities, and allows participants to share experiences and give each other support.
• The second way is to take an online class using our web-based nutrition education system. There are 7 modules available, covering topics from having a healthy pregnancy, to feeding your baby, to kitchen safety.

Participants with serious nutrition or health problems can receive help from one of our Registered Dietitians.

Customer service is a priority with us. Our health departments offer nutrition education before or after traditional working hours, as well as on weekends. Our web-based system is available 24 hours a day, and can be accessed from your home, school, library or anywhere you have Internet access.

For more information, please visit our website or contact your local public health department/WIC office.