Healthy Habits
For Your Growing Family
You play an important role in your
childs health! Establish healthy eating
habits early on for your child!
Eat meals together as a family!
Keep fruits and vegetables
around so your children can
have a healthy snack!
Avoid high fat foods.
Avoid foods high in sugar.
Choose healthy beverages
such as water, juice, or milk!
Introduce your child to a
variety of foods.
The WIC Program is an equal
opportunity program open to all
eligible persons regardless of
race, sex, color, national origin,
age or handicap. Any person
who believes he or she has been
discriminated against should
write to the Secretary of
Prevention
Agriculture, Washington, D.,C.,
Complaints regarding sex
and/or handicap should be
With
mailed to the EEO Officer, Illinois
Department of Public Health,
535 West Jefferson Street,
Springfield, IL 02761.
Nutrition
WIC Using nutrition to reduce
lead absorption and prevent
Macon County Health
your childs blood lead
Department levels from increasing.
1221 E Condit St. Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 423-6988
 Preventing Blood Lead
Levels From Increasing
Preventing blood lead levels from increasing can prevent damage to your childs
developing brain. How can food help? Food provides our bodies with nutrients that
can improve our overall health. There are three key nutrients, provided by food
that our bodies use to help prevent blood lead levels from increasing.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another key nutrient that
reduces lead absorption. Vitamin C
can also help absorb iron in the
body. Include sources of Vitamin C in
your childs daily diet.

Iron Sources of Vitamin C

Iron is one of the key nutrients to Bell Peppers
Calcium
reducing lead absorption. Calcium also helps reduce
Oranges/Orange Juice
Include sources of Iron in your lead absorption. Include
Potatoes
childs daily diet. sources of calcium in your
Strawberries
childs daily diet.
Spinach
Sources of Iron Broccoli
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables Grapefruit Sources of Calcium
Iron-Fortified Cereals, Breads, Cantaloupe Milk
and Pastas Kiwi Yogurt
Seafood Pineapple Cheese
Meat (Red meat, Poultry, & Watermelon Cottage Cheese
Pork) Green Peas
References:
Beans United States Department of Agriculture,
Iceberg Lettuce
Peas American Academy of Pediatrics Canned Salmon
Mayo Clinic & The Academy of Nutrition Almonds
& Dietetics.