2021 August

Prepping WIC Produce To Eat

How To Care For Your Fruits & Vegetables

You picked up your fresh San Antonio WIC produce from the store, but before you cook and prepare your favorite recipes it’s important to take a few steps to prepare your WIC fruit and vegetables.

You should wash all of your produce under running water and dry with a clean paper towel as soon as you bring it home. Also, cut away any damaged or bruised areas before you eat or prepare, according to guidelines from the CDC.

The CDC also recommends: “Keeping fruits and vegetables separate from raw foods that come from animals, such as meat, poultry, and seafood and refrigerating fruits and vegetables within 2 hours after you cut, peel, or cook them (or 1 hour if the outside temperature is 90° or warmer). Chill them at 40°F or colder in a clean container.”

If you don’t think you will eat your fresh produce before it goes bad, you can always freeze it. Frozen bananas are great in smoothies. For best results, blanch vegetables like broccoli before freezing. Place cut broccoli in boiling water for about 3 three minutes, derailed, cooled and placed in freezer bags and then freeze.

Blanching times for vegetables vary, but there are a lots of guides, like this one, from the Texas Agricultural Extension Office.

SAN ANTONIO WIC PRODUCE CLASSES

Texas WIC currently offers two Click & Learn classes on their website that offers great information about preparing and eating fruits and vegetables. To sign up for the free classes, visit the following website and follow the instructions for taking the classes. San Antonio WIC Produce

The first WIC class, Food Safety at Home teaches about:

- - Food safety practices
  - Importance of washing hands and surfaces
  - Ways to prevent bacteria from spreading
  - How to cook at a safe temperature

The second WIC online class, Follow the Rainbow with Fruits & Vegetables, covers the following topics:

- - Health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables
  - Daily fruit and vegetable recommendations
  - Tips for increasing fruits and vegetables

Texas WIC is a free nutritional education program that provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and free food packages to qualifying mothers and their children up to age five. To apply for the program, apply online.

Texas WIC is offering extended fruit and vegetable benefits through September. Individuals are receiving $35 in fruit and vegetable benefits instead of the normal $11 per person benefit. Learn more online at Texas WIC.

JC Food Mart is a primarily WIC grocery store chain in San Antonio that caters to WIC clients by providing an easy, hassle-free shopping experience for WIC clients. Find a location near you at JCFoodMart.com/locations.

Recipe of The Week Using WIC Foods

Veggie Open-Faced Sandwich On Whole Wheat

Using popular WIC foods, here is a twist on a classic American favorite – grilled cheese.

Texas WIC is a nutritional assistance program that provides free counseling and monthly food packages for moms and their children up to age five. The program helps ensure children get a healthy start in life. Each month WIC clients get access to FREE nutritional foods.

The recipe below uses WIC foods like whole wheat bread, cheese and vegetables. It’s a great way to get multiple healthy ingredients in one meal. Plus, it’s super easy and quick to make, something every mother will love. In a few easy steps you can have this meal ready for a weekend lunch or quick family dinner.

VEGGIE OPEN FACED SANDWICH ON WHOLE WHEAT

2 pieces of Whole Wheat Bread

Enough cheese slices to cover top of toast, use whatever flavor you like

1/2 Onion, sliced

½ Bell Pepper, sliced

1 tablespoon of Olive Oil

Add olive oil to pan on medium heat. Add sliced onions and bell pepper and cook until tender. Lay bread on baking sheet. Add cheese on top. Add cooked veggies on top of cheese. Cook in oven at 355 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes until toast is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Get your WIC foods at any JC Food Mart location in San Antonio. JC Food Mart offers WIC Grocery shopping in 1 easy stop. The stores carry baby formula, baby food, milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, beans and produce – all in an easy shopping format so you can get everything you need without all the hassle.