WIC - Women, Infants and Children
Iron
- Iron is a mineral whose main job is to move oxygen around the body.
- Iron deficiency is common among children. Only 4 percent of 1 and 2-year-olds consume the RDA of iron.
- When children do not eat enough iron, they can become irritable and hyperactive, and develop learning problems,
chortened attention span, and poor motivation.
- Chicken is rich in iron. Liver, beef, potatoes with skin, dried fruit, dried kidney beans, and turkey are also rich in iron.
Potatoes
- Potatoes provide fiber to the diet, as well as B vitamins, vitamin C, and potassium
- Leave potato skins on when possible - they add nutrients. Just remember to scrub them thoroughly with
a vegetable brush to remove dirt and bacteria. One-half of the nutrients in one medium potato are lost when
the skin is removed, and the fiber content nearly disappears.
- Although potatoes contain a great deal of carbohydrate in the form of starch, they are not a bread/grain,
they are a vegetable.
Zinc
- Zinc is a mineral that is concentrated in the skin, hair, nails, and eyes. It is necessary for cell multiplication,
growth, insulin metabolism, taste, vision, and brain development.
- Children are at high risk for zinc deficiency. Symptoms include poor appetite, less than average growth,
and loss of taste and smell.
- Peanuts are rich in zinc. Other good sources are whole grain cereals, the dark meat of turkey, port, cheese,
dry beans, and lentils.
