ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – University of Georgia researchers say some of Georgia’s most vulnerable children miss out on thousands of dollars in nutrients every year.
UGA associate professor Travis Smith pointed to a flaw in WIC, the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.“There’s this gap for kids where they lose WIC and they lose access to healthy foods,” said Smith.
WIC allocates government funds for food up to one month after a child turns five. For most kids, the deadline coincides with kindergarten enrollment and the child gains seamless access to the school nutrition program. But a five-year-old with a weeks- or months-long gap before starting public school risks a decline in the quality of diet.
“It’s hard to get kids to eat healthily,” said Smith. “It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of work.”
In a new study, Smith found kids who …