What do WIC Participants Want? Results of the AZ WIC Food Preference Survey

1. What do WIC Participants Want?Results of the AZ WIC Food Preference Survey Cynthia Melde, MS

2. Purpose of the Participant Survey • Obtain information • Current food shopping and consumption habits • Preferences and likely choices if new foods were available • Help determine food package policy and implementation • Provide baseline information for future assessment of change in participant habits and preferences

3. Survey Design and Availability • Design • Used SurveyMonkey: online survey instrument • 38 questions: fruit/vegetable, juices, baby food, soy/tofu, whole grains, beans, and fish • ~ 10 min • Availability • March 24 through April 11 • Accessed online at clinics or at participants’ homes • English and Spanish

4. Families Represented 1.6% of April’s Caseload

5. Race/Ethnicity

6. Grocery Shopping Number of People

7. Families with Infants • Baby Food • 49.8% currently buy baby food • 86.4% buy weekly/every 2 weeks • 61.3% buy 1-10 jars at a time • 97.5% would purchase baby foods if FIs were offered • Substitute Bananas • 76.4% already substitute bananas • 82.4% “yes”/ 12.2% “maybe” will use FIs to purchase bananas

8. Soy Milk Trends and Preferences • 12.6% currently purchase soy milk • Refrigerated soy milk is purchased more often than shelf stable soy milk • 1 to 3 quarts are bought per month • Use FIs to purchase soy milk? • 24.0% “yes” • 20.9% “maybe” • 55.1% “no”

9. Tofu Current Trends Current Trends Types of Tofu 1.6% “always” 7.7% “sometimes” 90.7% “never” 34.3% “soft” 55.7% “firm or regular” 10.0% “extra firm”

10. If you could create your own WIC FI with a combination of milk, cheese, soy milk, and tofu…...

11. Fruit Purchasing • 90.9% of WIC families purchase fresh fruit weekly or every 2 weeks. Percentof Families Who Reported “Rarely” or “Never”

12. Vegetable Purchasing • 91.2% of WIC families purchase fresh fruit weekly or every 2 weeks. Percentof Families Who Reported “Rarely” or “Never”

13. Fruit and Vegetable • Where are fruits and vegetables purchased? • 95.1% at Grocery Store • 8.3% at Farmer’s Market • 2.6% at Roadside Stand • 97.5% will use FIs to buy fruit and vegetables.

14. Juice • WIC families purchase juice always or sometimes as: • 46 ounce shelf stable (87.8) • 64 ounce shelf stable (50.2) • 11.5 to 12 ounce frozen (48.1) • Types of juice • Apple (91.0) • Orange (82.0) • Grape (73.7)

15. Whole Grains • Currently purchased • Whole Wheat Bread (76.4) • Soft Corn Tortilla (67.2) • Oatmeal (64.4) • Brown Rice (28.4) • Whole Wheat Tortilla (23.6) • Factors involved • Cost (53.2) • Flavors (18.0) • Brand (15.7)

16. Beans • Currently Purchased • Pinto (84.9) • Refried (53.0) • Baked Beans (33.2) • Black Beans (30.4) • Garbanzo (26.2) • Kidney (22.6) • Northern (16.3) • Buy Bulk • 58.0% always or sometimes • Use FIs for: • Canned beans (42.0%) • Dried beans (64.3%) • Peanut Butter (72.1%)

17. Fish • Currently Purchased • Canned Tuna (89.8) • Canned Salmon (23.5) • Canned Sardines • Plain (19.1) • With Sauce (18.2) • Canned Mackarel (3.5)

18. Thank you!