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· CALENDAR
WIC Checks: 5, 9
WIC Recerts: 2, 6, 12, 17, 20, 23, 26, 27, 30
Immunizations: 11, 19
Family Planning: 3, 10, 18, 24
Willow Clinic: 4
M View Clinic: 25
Cholesterol Screenings: 9
Holiday’s: None
Enjoy Summer Produce! |
Eat Fresh from a Farmers Market or Your Own Back Yard:
Give Your Meals and Your Health a Produce Boost
Shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables at a local farmers market or growing your own in a backyard garden is a great way to add flavor to your meals and improve your health, according to a nutrition expert with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients – vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants – that can help prevent a number of diseases, and the fresher they are, the better they taste.
“When fruits and vegetables are in season, they not only have more flavor, they cost less,” said Pat Kramer, a registered dietitian at the Department of Health and Senior Services. “Because a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer, planning your meals around produce from a farmers market or your own garden can help you reduce health care costs, too.”
The most economical way to consume more fruits and vegetables is to eat seasonally by shopping for produce that’s in season and grown locally, if possible. For example, look for asparagus, leaf lettuce, spinach and peas in the spring; strawberries, blueberries, peaches, peppers, tomatoes and broccoli in the summer; and apples, pears, squash and sweet potatoes in the fall.
“Stopping at a local farmers market or growing your own fruits and vegetables takes a little extra time, but the fresh flavors and the benefits to your family’s health are definitely worth it,” Kramer said.
Finding a farmers market in Missouri has become easier in recent years. Last year, Missouri was home to more than 130 markets, compared to just 53 markets 10 years ago, according to the state Department of Agriculture. A directory of farmers markets throughout the state can be found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/fmktdir/view.htm.
For the do-it-yourselfers, a small backyard garden can produce many pounds of fruits and vegetables every year. (Continued on page 2)
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LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
West Plains, Willow Springs and Mountain View all have farmers markets. Contact your local Chamber offices for more info on the times, days of week, and locations where they operate.
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People needing additional information or assistance for WIC should contact their local WIC provider. A map of WIC providers can be found at www.dhss.mo.gov/wic/WICAgencies_Map.html. For more information on WIC visit www.dhss.mo.gov/wic/index.html.
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Even planting a couple of tomato plants in a pot on a deck or patio can provide fresh tomatoes for salads and sandwiches all summer long. Cherry tomatoes are especially easy to grow and make a healthy snack. Freezing and canning homegrown fruits and vegetables when they are in season can provide garden-fresh flavor throughout the year. Gardening is also a good way to increase physical activity, another important factor in maintaining good health.
Getting family members to eat more fruits and vegetables can sometimes be a challenge, Kramer said, but getting them involved is a good way to help them make healthier food choices every day. “Take your kids with you to the farmers market or have them help in the garden,” Kramer added. “Research shows that kids who help shop for fruits and vegetables or help grow them are more likely to eat them.”
More info about the benefits of fruits and vegetables can be found at: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/index.html. More info about farmers markets in Missouri can be found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/fmktdir/index.htm
New Changes for WIC Program
“The WIC program is making some changes in which nutritious food items are offered,” said Lyn C. Konstant, PhD, RD and Chief of WIC and Nutrition Services. “As Missouri families make adjustments when food prices rise, we are making similar adjustments in WIC to make sure our food budget stretches as far as possible,” Konstant added.
Konstant noted that food prices have increased by 10 percent during the past six months, while participation in WIC has also increased 4 percent for the same time period. Konstant noted that WIC, which is federally funded, operates on a fixed annual budget.
In order to maintain current levels of service to participants and reduce the overall cost of the WIC food packages, the WIC program will include:
· Store-brand cereals
· Store-brand frozen juice
· 46-ounce cans of store-brand 100% juice
These products will be included in place of more-expensive name-brand products or products that have more expensive forms or packaging, such as juice in plastic bottles.
These changes are effective May 1, 2008. The program will provide a new printed food list for participants to use.
Konstant noted that in addition to cereal and juice, WIC provides a variety of nutritious foods to pregnant women, infants and young children, including milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, carrots, dried beans and peas and infant formula.
“Despite tightening budgets brought on by the rising cost of food and increasing participation in WIC, this move will ensure that WIC participants continue to receive nutritious foods and the program stays within its budget,” said Konstant.
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