Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/270994
By Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Pregnant women, mothers and children who get federal assistance with their gro - cery bills will now be able to buy more whole-grain foods, yogurt, fish, fruits and veg- etables. The changes to the Spe- cial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, In- fants, and Children, known as WIC, will go into place by next year. The Agriculture De - partment announced the changes Friday as the final part of a process it began in 2007 to overhaul the pro - gram and greatly expand the number of healthy foods offered. Changes announced that year and put in place in 2009 eliminated many fruit juices from infant food pack - ages, reduced saturated fats the program covered and made buying fruits and veg- etables easier. USDA says that overhaul will now be complete with a few more items included, such as whole grain pastas, yogurt and additional types of canned fish. The rule also newly allows fresh fruits and vegetables for older ba - bies when mothers do not want to feed them jarred baby food. The final rule also allows for an increase in the value of vouchers for fruits and vegetables. USDA reaffirmed its deci - sion not to allow white pota- toes in the program, a move that the potato industry has vigorously fought. The Agriculture Depart - ment said it will continue to eliminate white potatoes from the list of eligible foods because people already eat enough of them and vouch - ers aren't needed to buy more. "The department recog- nizes that white potatoes can be a healthful part of one's diet," USDA wrote in the rule. "However, WIC food packages are carefully designed to address the sup- plemental nutritional needs of a specific population." The potato industry re- sponded swiftly after the rule was released, saying there is no scientific reason to exclude white potatoes, which are popular, healthy and economical for families who are already struggling to get as many nutrients as possible on a limited budget. The WIC program pro - vides vouchers to mothers and pregnant women who qualify for the program and specifically lists the foods they can buy. The program annually serves around 9 million people, about half of them children. Sam Kass, director of first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative to com - bat childhood obesity, said WIC has been "one of our greatest success stories." He credited the program's changes to give mothers and children access to health - ier foods as one of the rea- sons that toddler obesity has gone down in the last decade. A study published by the Journal of the Amer - ican Medical Association this week showed that obe- sity among children ages 2 to 5 has decreased to 8 per- cent from 14 percent a de- cade ago. The study "gives us great hope that we're on the right path," Kass said. Follow Mary Clare Jalonick on Twitter: http://twitter. com/mcjalonick faMilies USDA ADDS CHOICES TO 2015 WIC BENEFITS Whole grain pasta will be available; fruits and vegetables easier to purchase J. Scott Applewhite — the ASSociAted preSS peaches, strawberries and snap peas are for sale at a roadside market outside Gettysburg, pa. pregnant women, mothers and children who get federal assistance with their grocery bills will now be able to buy more whole-grain foods, yogurt, fish, fruits and vegetables. cArolyn KASter — the ASSociAted preSS First lady Michelle obama exercises thursday with the Super Sprowtz during a visit to la petite Academy in Bowie, Md., to promote healthy environments at preschools. At le is trainer roger hanson. "food packages are carefully designed to address the supplemental nutritional needs of a specific population." — USDA wrote in a final rule for the changes coming 2015. By Darlene superville The Associated Press WasHiNGTON » The na- tion's second-largest for- profit child care provider is adopting Michelle Obama's healthy activity guidelines. The Learning Care Group, based in Novi, Mich., says it will limit TV and computer time for children, eliminate fried foods, serve fruits and- or vegetables at every meal, replace sugary drinks with water or plain, low-fat milk, and provide at least an hour of daily physical activity. It will also allow mothers to provide breast milk for their children and accom - modate mothers who want to breast feed. The Learning Care Group says it provides early educa - tion and child care services to more than 100,000 chil- dren between the ages of 6 weeks and 13 years at its 900 centers around the country. The centers operate under five brand names: Child - time Learning Centers, Tu- tor Time Child Care/Learn- ing Centers, The Children's Courtyard, Montessori Un- limited and La Petite Acad- emy. Mrs. Obama planned to visit a La Petite Academy center in the Washington suburb of Bowie, Md., on Thursday to applaud The Learning Care Group's de- cision. The first lady this week has been marking the fourth anniversary of "Let's Move," the initiative to combat childhood obesity that she launched in February 2010. The healthy eating and activ - ity guidelines for child care centers, which were released in 2011, are part of that pro- gram. Some 13,000 child care centers nationwide are now following the rules, said Sam Kass, the executive director of "Let's Move." Getting kids off to a healthy start is "absolutely vital" because their tastes, preferences and habits are shaped in the earliest years of their lives, he said. In October 2012, The Learning Care Group vol - untarily put in place guide- lines that mirror the steps the first lady has asked child care centers to take. Formally adopting the first lady's guidelines means the rules will be institution - alized across the company. The Learning Care Group will also now answer to the Partnership for a Health - ier America, a third-party organization that supports the first lady's effort by hold- ing companies accountable for the commitments they make to improve the health of Americans. Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter. com/dsupervilleap HealTH NeWs Child care centers to f ol lo w fir st l ad y nutrition guidelines Fried foods are out, more fruits and vegetables are in BRUssels » The European Parliament on Wednes- day voted for tougher anti- smoking rules that will make health warnings on ciga- rette packs larger and in- clude mandatory pictures of rotting teeth or cancer- infested lungs. Gruesome warning pho - tos can already be found on cigarette packs in some countries, but they will have to be bigger and used across all the 28 EU countries from 2016, according to the legis - lation. The warnings will occupy 65 percent of the front and the back of cigarette pack - ages plus 50 percent of its sides, including text health warnings like "smoking kills — quit now." Current warn - ing labels only cover 30-40 percent of the packages. The legislation also introduces tighter regulation of e-ciga - rettes, advertisement rules and a ban on most flavored tobacco products. Health ex- perts have argued cigarettes that have vanilla or choco- late flavors, for example, lure young people to start smok- ing by disguising the taste of tobacco. Officials and health advo- cates welcome the changes as a milestone in helping to reduce the number of smok- ers in the 28-nation bloc, while the tobacco indus- try condemns it as a bur- densome regulation on an industry that pays lots of taxes. The legislation still re - quires approval by EU gov- ernments next month, which it is widely expected to re- ceive. — The Associated Press EU lawmakers on Wednesday back tougher anti-smoking rules www.redbluff.mercy.org /veincare Get a Leg up on Your Health With the St. Elizabeth Center for Vein Care. Call anytime 888-628-1948 for a referral for varicose vein treatment options redbluff.mercy.org/veincare Lassen House 705 Luther Road, Red Bluff (530) 529-2900 www.Emeritus.com Respite Care There are serveral reasons to take advantage of short term respite care From Emeritus 750 David Avenue, Red Bluff • 527-9193 • www.tehamaestates.com No Move-in fees No extra costs All Inclusive Senior Apartments Starting at only $1600 per month find us on Facebook Tehama Estates Independent Senior Apartments Your Apartments Include: • Reasonably priced • Planned social floor plan activities • 3 delicious meals • Scheduled and snacks daily transportation • Utilities included • Exercise Program • Daily Housekeeping • Game and crafts • Secure 24 hour • Coin free staffed environment laundry facilities • Emergency pull cords • Personal mail box • Beautifully landscaped • Beauty & barber grounds shop • Wonderful common • Plus much living areas much more. Schedule your tour today and enjoy a free lunch! Ask about our move in special Ask about our new UNBEATABLE Rent Specials & Free Rent Specials too! 100 Jackson Street, Red Bluff (530) 529-1220 First 50 new members $ 25 .00 month Call or Come In for details | HEALTH | redBlUFFdAilynewS.coM tUeSdAy, MArch 4, 2014 4 a