Figure3: Grandmother & grandchild

1
Figure 1 Native American Mother her Infant
RESEARCH QUESTION Is Participation In WIC
Reflected In Reported Daily Food Choices of Two
groups of Native American Parents residing in
Montana?
Figure3 Grandmother grandchild

• WIC Foods
• Infant formula
• Canned Fruit Juice
• Infant cereal (Hot or Cold)
• Milk (1,2 and whole)
• Cheddar Cheese
• Eggs
• Dried beans/peas
• Peanut butter
• Tuna Fish--canned
• Carrots (fresh)

• Women, Infants Children Program
• Federal Guidelines
• 25 years Old
• Low Income-185 at or below 34,873 family of 4
• Nutritionally at-risk
• Pregnant / postpartum
• Child under 5 years old
• From 88,000 Women Infants Children to 7.3
  Million served

• Discussion and Conclusions
• The path leading to the health problems of Native
  American Populations are interwoven. Poverty,
  Hunger, Malnutrition, Under-nutrition, Food
  insecurity, Isolation, and Lack of exercise all
  contribute to the problem. Government Food
  programs have attempted to alleviate some of the
  hunger, malnutrition and under-nutrition
  associated with poverty. This study found that
  although 100 of the respondents reported to
  participating in the WIC program and following
  the guidelines, when diet was examined only aobut
  50 of the recommended foods were consumed in a
  week. Of those foods that were consumed at higher
  percentages, most was the high sugar and fat
  containing foods. The Little information about
  the Native American diet continues to require
  further investigation into the etiology in the
  rapid increase in obesity and diabetes in Native
  Americans. It appears that although programs
  like WIC are attempting to educate and provide
  adequate nutrition, food choices continue to
  contribute to the ever increasing disorders of
  cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and
  obesity related disease. The participants
  reported that weekly food selections were the
  Greatest in foods containing Sugar/Calories.
  Research has connected the large sugar intake
  related to Child Obesity Diabetes.
  Additionally, evidence has shown that fresh
  fruits and vegetables are more nutritionally
  sound that canned fruits and vegetables. The
  findings of this study suggest Native American
  Children are checked MORE often for blood sugar
  levels and weight gain. Additionally, high sugar
  foods should be limited.

Literature Cited Lifestyle intervention for
Native American adults with diabetes in New
Mexicohttp// care.diabetesjournals.org/Prevent
ion and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in
Children, With Special Emphasis on American
Indian and Alaska Native Children
http//pediatrics.aappublications.org/The
Effect of Indian or Anglo Dietary Preference on
the Incidence of Diabetes in Pima Indians
http// care.diabetesjournals.org/
Acknowledgments Research Mentor Dr. Linda
EagleHeart Thomas, Ph.D. The University of
Montana Funding Project Bridges to the
Baccalaureate  Program