Part I: Food Analysis and Comparison of Diet IntakeBelow is a table showing my dietary intakes as compared to the RDI required dietary needs of an adult.
So as to reach my dietary requirements, the following nutritional changes need to be considered.
- Increase my calcium and vitamin D intakes so as to help maintain bone health. Vitamin D-fortified or fat free milk or yoghurt on a daily basis would help me reach my target. Other foods that are rich in calcium include cereals, fruit juices, canned fish and dark green leafy vegetables. Multivitamin supplements with vitamin D will also help.
- I also need 100µg more folic acid in my daily diet and this will come from more asparagus, beans, peas, avocado and citrus fruits..
Part ii- Comparing WIC and SNAP
It is important for those people in society that are most vulnerable to have adequate nutrition; these people include children, families and infants. There are two multi-billion dollar projects that have been launched by the federal government to cater for those who lack the means to support a healthy diet and alleviate hunger. These programs are; the Supplement Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) and Supplementary Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC).
Background of WIC
Lyndon B. Johnson’s governments focused on fighting against poverty by helping low income Americans acquire good nutrition. There had been numerous cases of children who had suffered from inadequate growth and anemia which had a bad effect on their cognitive ability. Some of these children contracted this condition because their mother had no access to good nutrition during their pregnancies. Therefore, in 1972, congress passed a bill to establish the Special Supplementary Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The program was administered by state agencies in the U.S. and its territories.
With an estimated budget of 6 billion, WIC provides food for more than 9 million women, children and infants. Families with low income and children who are under 5 years of age can legally apply for the program. It is surprising to note that half of all infants in the U.S. are enrolled with the program. However, WIC has been not been made into an entitlement program but rather, a discretionary program. This means that it is given a designated amount of money and if the money is not enough, then the program must operate using a waiting list so that priority can be given to families depending on the stage of the children.
There are several services offered by WIC to those who participate in its programs; nutrition education, food prescriptions and referrals to health care facilities. The program also encourages mothers with infants to breastfeed regularly so that the children can have a chance to develop normally. Since WIC provides pregnancy test, most women prefer to visit their nearest WIC before they even go to see their doctor. WIC is an important aspect in the child development and provides information on immunization, food poisoning, car seats and safe sleeping positions. It also offers breast feeding services such as lactation consultants and peer advocators.
There are tremendous benefits that come with such a program, but the biggest one is the food benefits linked to every stage of the participants involved. Women who are pregnant receive foods with iron, folic acid, protein, vitamins and calcium and although the infant may never receive this nutrients directly, they help in ensuring the mother adequate milk production. There are also foods that are provided to women and children after birth such as cheese, milk, beans, eggs, tuna, peanut butter and whole grain cereals. In recent times, fruits and vegetables have been added to the diet so that families can have enough vitamins. For those infants who are not breastfeeding, cereals and iron-fortified infant formula is provided as well as fruits and meat for older infants.
Another benefit that is accrued from this program is the promotion of local farmers and farmer markets who are involved in providing the food to the program, senior citizens can also participate in this program through the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The program has also created jobs with its 46 agencies across the country and 25% of its funding going to administration.
There are however limitations to WIC despite how the fact that it has been displayed as an efficient use of the public’s money. Most research that is conducted by WIC only concentrates on pregnant women and newborns, however, this group only constitutes 12% of its activity. This means that there are other areas unknown to WIC where inefficiencies in its operation may lack. There have also been many changes in the healthcare system and it has become very difficult for WIC to reorganize itself to cater for this changes.
Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Milo Perkin’s administration started the Food Stamp Program which ran from 1939-1943. This program allowed people to purchase orange stamps that were equal to their expenditure. For a $1 orange stamp, the participant got 50 cents worth of blue stamps. The orange stamp could buy any food while the blue stamps could buy food that the agency considered to be in surplus. During its peak years, the program was able to cater for more than 20 million Americans. After this program, there was a gap of 20 years before it was revived by the Kennedy administration. This pilot program eliminated the blue food stamps and concentrated on increasing the use of perishables for consumption. Other provisions included, developing eligibility standards, sharing responsibility between the states and the federal government and prohibiting discrimination. By the 1970’s, FSP had undergone various legislative changes so as to fine-tune eligibility and extend the program nationwide. Unlike WIC, this is an entitlement program and all individuals who are enrolled must be catered for.
The Food Stamp Program has seen some few changes such as the introduction of the introduction of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The change of the name was due to the elimination of food stamps for the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer System (EBT) which was more efficient than its former predecessor. To get into the EBT system, participants would have to use the similar process they had been accustomed to and fill out the forms in their local food stamp office. Once the eligibility was confirmed, the participant received an account in their name and they were given an electronic card that was similar to a bank card and points were deposited electronically to their account each month. This was key in reducing food stamp fraud as cases of lost benefits reduced.
Similarly to WIC, SNAP is also administered by USDA. However, unlike WIC which is authorized by the Child Nutrition Act, SNAP is authorized by the Farm Bill. This bill is crucial in developing the agricultural industry since it promotes the effective management of surplus food. It also helps low income families acquire healthy food while promoting trade since the program is carried out in the normal channels of trade.
So that participants can be eligible for SNAP, adults and children must be at or below the poverty level, whereas seniors must live below 130% of the poverty level. The poverty level in the United States for a family of four is considered to be under $21,200. Participants get to be registered for only 24 months while the senior and disable can be registered up to 24 months. These benefits can be used to purchase food from stores that take part in the SNAP program. However, there are several products that are not allowed under the program and they include; wine, beer, cigarettes, nonfood items, medicines, vitamins and any food than can be eaten in the store. Foods that can be purchased under the program include; fruits, cereals, breads, meats, vegetables, and dairy, poultry and fish products. The monthly benefits for one individual were $101 and $227 per home in 2008.
In a study carried out in 2006, it was established that half of all SNAP participants were children under the age of 18 who came from families who had an average of $673 of income per month. Most of these children came from single parents households.
One disadvantage of SNAP is its freedom to purchase almost almost any food. This means that participants can purchase unhealthy food that may lead to obesity. The lack of control such as the one seen in WIC means that SNAP may not be able to effectively ensure that its program is effective and a lot of money is lost in the process since it does not accomplish the intended purpose of the program.
REFERENCE
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2014, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
Gundersen, C. (2005). A dynamic analysis of the well-being of WIC recipients and eligible non-recipients. Children and Youth Services Review, 27(1), 99-114. Retrieved fromhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MiamiImageURL&_cid=271857&_user=456938&_pii=S0190740904001665&_check=y&_origin=&_coverDate=31-Jan-2005&view=c&wchp=dGLzVlS-zSkzS&md5=2d9ae3ca8df9d37baf621253f16da7fb/1-s2.0-S019074090
Swann, C. (n.d.). WIC Eligibility And Participation: The Roles Of Changing Policies, Economic Conditions, And Demographics. The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy.
