WIC Works Resource System
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Make Every Bite Count
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide science-based advice on what to eat and drink to promote health, help reduce the risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. WIC staff can incorporate DGA overarching dietary principles into nutrition education efforts and materials for WIC participants.
- Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage.
- Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.
- Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages from five food groups – vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and fortified soy alternatives, and proteins – and staying within calorie limits.
- Limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and limit alcoholic beverages.
Professional and Educational Resources
Find print materials (available in Spanish) to share with WIC participants to help promote healthy eating across the lifespan, including:
- Start Simple with MyPlate Today (available in Spanish)
- Eat Healthy: Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Eat Healthy: Birth to Age 2
- Nutrition Conversation Starters
- Build a Healthy Eating Routine
- Cut Down on Sodium
- Food Sources of Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin D, Fiber, and Iron
- and more
Share this fact sheet providing tips on supplements, information about foods that cause allergies, and how to tell when baby is ready for solids.
Download the DGA and MyPlate presentation slides. The DGA slides are also available for specific life stages, including:
- Infants & Toddlers
- Women Who Are Pregnant or Lactating
Locate Figures & Infographics (available in Spanish) for helpful visuals that can support nutrition education messages as well as training.
Check out Food Sources of Select Nutrients and learn about dietary components of public health concern for the general U.S. population (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and dietary fiber) and for infants and women of childbearing age (iron is added to the list).
Additional Resources
MyPlate resources – resources that translate DGA principles into messages, tips, recipes, and other digital and downloadable resources, including apps and quizzes
What Do I Do With – a series featuring recipes to help participants use food in their WIC food packages
WIC Meals of the Month – a series featuring features recipes that are good sources of nutrients important to the WIC population
Eye on Nutrition – a series focusing on nutrients important to the WIC population
Tip Sheets for Breastfeeding Moms, Pregnant Moms, and Picky Eaters
