WIC Works Resource System
U.S. Department of Agriculture
WIC food packages and nutrition education are the chief means by which WIC affects the dietary quality and habits of participants. Did you know that these two benefits are among the top reasons for continued participation in WIC (in addition to the work of WIC personnel!), and that consistent 4-year participation in WIC was associated with better diet quality?
Eye on Nutrition brings focus to the foods and nutrients in the WIC food packages to shine a light on their importance to WIC participants. Given the critical role zinc plays during infancy, including its importance during introducing complementary foods to older infants, zinc is the star of this Eye on Nutrition.
Be sure to check out zinc-rich recipes WIC staff have shared with us.
What is Zinc?
Why is Zinc Important?
What WIC-Eligible Foods Provide Zinc?
Is Zinc on the Nutrition Facts Label?
Education Resources
What is Zinc?
Zinc is an essential mineral needed for normal growth and development, especially during pregnancy, lactation, and infancy. It’s found in cells throughout the body and plays an important role in the immune system. Some of its other functions include wound healing, making proteins, cell division and cell growth. Zinc is even required for taste and smell!
Why is Zinc Important?
Everyone needs zinc but it’s especially important for some WIC participants.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to get enough zinc to meet their own needs as well as their baby’s. If a mother doesn’t consume enough zinc, the baby’s needs take priority, which may lead to a zinc deficiency in the mother.
Zinc’s wound healing properties may also help postpartum mothers in the healing process after birth!
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans note that exclusive breastfeeding provides the infant with adequate zinc only until about 6 months of age – about the time when complimentary feeding begins.
At about 6 months old, encourage caregivers of infant participants to:
- Include nutrient dense complementary foods that provide zinc to ensure they are getting enough each day.
- Vary the types of foods older infants are offered, keeping in mind the appropriate food texture for their age and developmental ability.
- Continue to provide breastmilk/breastfeed
The recommended intake of zinc depends on age and life stage (and during adulthood, sex, too!). Pregnant and breastfeeding women require the most dietary zinc per day. Those following a vegetarian or vegan diet during these life stages may need to take special care to ensure nutrient adequacy of zinc as well as other nutrients (e.g., iron may be of particular concern because plant source foods only contain non-heme iron, which is less bioavailable than heme iron). Other nutrients of potential concern include vitamin B12, choline, and iodine.
Be sure to encourage participants to speak with their medical provider about taking any supplemental zinc!
What WIC-Eligible Foods Provide Zinc?
- Fortified* infant cereals
- Infant meats
- Beans, peas, and lentils
- Fortified* breakfast cereals
- Some whole grains, like oats
- Milk and milk substitutes
- Cow milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Canned fish
Zinc from animal foods is more readily absorbed by the body. Foods beyond those in the WIC food packages that have zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry, pork, seafood and other shellfish, pumpkin seeds, and some nuts.
* "Fortified" with zinc means the nutrient is added because it is not naturally found in the food item. If zinc-fortified, some infant cereals can be a good introduction food for older infants. Some fortified breakfast cereals may also be a source of zinc and may be of particular interest to participants following a vegan or vegetarian eating plan.
Is Zinc on the Nutrition Facts Label?
It is voluntary for manufacturers to list zinc on the Nutrition Facts label. If it's on the label, it’ll be listed in milligrams (mg) and % Daily Value (% DV).
The % DV (how much a nutrient in a single serving of an individual packaged food or dietary supplement contributes to your daily diet) can be helpful to make comparisons between products (as long as serving sizes are the same) and informed choices.
Read more about the Daily Value:
The Lows and Highs of Percent Daily Value on the new Nutrition Facts Label
Education Resources
WIC Staff can find more information on feeding older infants in the USDA WIC Infant Nutrition and Feeding Guide for WIC.
The Nutrition Facts label fact sheets for vitamins and minerals provide action steps for consuming a diet rich in vitamins and minerals (including zinc), and charts that identify food sources of each vitamin and mineral.
