“Put Your Best Fork Forward” - March is National Nutrition Month

Jefferson County Public Health and the JCPH WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program encourage everyone to “Put Your Best Fork Forward” for this year’s National Nutrition Month®.  

“Put Your Best Fork Forward” acts as a reminder that each bite counts. Making just small shifts in our food choices, can add up over time. More specifically this year’s theme focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. 

Making small changes during National Nutrition Month®, and over time, helps improve health now and into the future. 

The National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests everyone try the following five ways to make eating healthier easier: 

1. Create an eating style that includes a variety of your favorite, healthful foods. 
2. Practice cooking more at home, and experiment with healthier ingredients.
3. How much we eat is as important as what we eat. Eat and drink the right amount for you, as MyPlate, a healthy eating tool from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, encourages us to do.
4. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
5. Manage your weight and lower your health risks by consulting a registered dietitian nutritionist. Registered Dietitian Nutritonists (RDNs) can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences and health-related needs.

Eating healthy also means paying close attention to what you and your family are drinking. Many parents and caregivers are not aware of the hidden sugar in many of the beverages that they give to their children. That’s why Jefferson County Public Health, in conjunction with the Healthy Beverage Partnership,  is promoting a new campaign aimed at educating parents and caregivers about the harmful effects of sugar, and informing them of the high sugar content in many of the beverages they may be giving to their kids. 

Parents are encouraged to visit www.hidden-sugar.org and take a pledge to reduce the amount of sugary drinks they provide to their children. Pledge to serve your family healthy beverages for 30 days and you’ll be automatically entered to win a family plus membership to the Denver Zoo, Children’s Museum, or the Museum of Nature and Science. 

JCPH also has more about this topic on display in the Jefferson County libraries throughout the months of March and April, with educational handouts available. 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day is celebrated March 8 and raises awareness of registered dietitian nutritionists as the indispensable providers of food and nutrition services. JCPH recognizes RDNs for their commitment to helping people enjoy healthy lives. Click here to download flyer and Meet the JCPH RDNs. You can also learn more about what they do for the JCPH WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program by watching this video. 

For more information on National Nutrition Month, please visit Eat Right, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Visit http://jeffco.us/public-health for more information on Jefferson County Public Health and the WIC Program, one of the communituy nutrition resources JCPH offers.

The Jefferson County WIC Program is an active member of Healthy Jeffco, a network of over 300 community partners working collectively to make Jefferson County a healthier place to live, learn, work and play.

Tell a Friend About WIC

WIC - The federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and community resources including social services for hundreds of families in Jefferson County, Colorado and millions across the U.S. Extensive research shows that participating in WIC leads to healthier babies, more nutritious diets and better health care for children, and higher academic achievement for students. JCPH knows there are more families in Jefferson County that could benefit from this program and is reaching out to teachers, parents, employers and others who interact with families to remind others about WIC and encourage families to see if they qualify. Many working families qualify for WIC. See the guidelines here. Thank you for telling a friend about WIC. Visit the JCPH WIC Program web page.

Call today to make an appointment at our Arvada, Edgewater or Lakewood WIC offices to see if you qualify. - 303-271-5780.

Please note that the Arvada WIC offices are moving to Jeffco Headstart, 5150 Allison St, Arvada, CO 80002 in late summer. Check our website for updates.

“Breastfeeding Support . . . The First Six Weeks”

A special class for new moms offered by Jefferson County Public Health

Jefferson County Public Health and the rest of the public health and healthcare world want moms to breastfeed because of the health benefits of breastfeeding. The JCPH WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program offers "Breastfeeding Support . . . The First 6 Weeks" at its Arvada, Edgewater and Lakewood locations. All new moms are invited to come and bring their babies. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant will provide breastfeeding help and support as well as answers to any questions about breastfeeding.

Making the decision to breastfeed is one of the best things a mother can do for her baby. Not only does breast milk provide essential vitamins and nutrients, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it reduces an infant's risk of childhood obesity, diabetes, ear infections and respiratory illnesses. Breastfeeding also reduces the odds of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by as much as 36%. Studies show that getting early breastfeeding support helps moms reach their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding can also help financially. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that Mom's who breastfeed for the first full year of an infant's life can save between $1,200 and $1,500 on infant formula.

Get help with Breastfeeding at Jefferson County Public Health.

"Breastfeeding Support . . . The First Six Weeks" is a one time class free to all WIC families and only $3.00 for those not enrolled in WIC. Come and learn why positioning and latch are important, how to know what your baby needs, why sleep is so important and other important information to help you breastfeed successfully.

For a class schedule, please contact the Breastfeeding Support coordinator, Cindy Kisselman, BSN, RN, IBCLC at ckisselm@jeffco.us or text Cindy at 720-257-4885. For locations of the Jefferson County WIC offices, see below:

• Arvada, 6303 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80003
• Edgewater, 1711 Sheridan Blvd. Edgewater, CO 80214
• Lakewood 645 Parfet St. Lakewood, CO 80215

Resources:

• CDC Guide to Support Breastfeeding
• Surgeon general's call to action to support breastfeeding
• JCPH Breastfeeding education and support web page

Breast Milk for Thought

World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7, 2013 and is celebrating 21 years of promoting the healthy benefits of breastfeeding. This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding Support Close to Mothers” highlights the importance of breastfeeding counselors which JCPH offers to its Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program clients during pregnancy and throughout their breastfeeding experience. Not only is breast milk rich in nutrients and antibodies protecting infants from disease, but it also is easier to digest and can help moms bond with their baby. JCPH Nutrition Services offers breast feeding classes as well as certified lactation counselors to assist women with a successful breast feeding experience. The department also supports breastfeeding in the workplace and offers a comfortable workplace lactation room for moms and their infants. 

• For information on JCPH Nutrition Services and the Breast Feeding Classes, view this brochure. 
• For more information contact Kelsey Rivera at 303-239-7139 or krivera@jeffco.us
• For more information on World Breastfeeding Week, visit www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org