Arizona is using its food assistance program to prompt its residents to eat healthier.
The state currently offers both a food stamp program and a federally?funded program for Women, Infants and Children, called WIC. Almost a million state residents use the programs and right now, the recession has made that number higher. At the same time, nearly one out of every four adults in Arizona is obese.
So, Arizona recently changed its WIC program to limit how much juice and high?fat milk women can buy. In addition, members of the program will get special vouchers to be used for fruits and vegetables only.
Arizona Department of Health Services officials are also hoping to help change the federal food stamp program. Their efforts may be working, since the federal government has reportedly set aside $20 million to start new programs that give stamp recipients incentive to buy healthier food.
