title: A comparison of beverage intakes in US children based on WIC participation and eligibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare beverage intakes for 2- to 4-year-olds based on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010 were analyzed to assess beverage intakes for 2- to 4-year-olds. Children were classified as WIC participants, low-income nonparticipants, and higher-income nonparticipants. All beverages were manually coded into 6 categories: water, milk, 100% juice, fruit drinks, soda, and low-calorie/diet drinks. Grams, calories, and percent consumers of each beverage were compared across groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children participants had the highest 100% juice consumption (P = .001) and their milk consumption was similar to higher-income children. Higher-income nonparticipants drank significantly less fruit drink (P < .001) and soda (P = .001) than both the WIC participants and low-income nonparticipants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in WIC was related to higher intakes of the beverages provided in food packages for 2- to 4-year-olds. Intakes of fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages should be addressed during the WIC nutrition education counseling sessions.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH. Electronic address: rosanna.watowicz@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Rosanna P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Watowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States
keywords: WIC; beverages; child; food assistance programs; fruit juice; poverty; sugar-sweetened beverage