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Quick, Easy Family Meal Features Whole Grains
Whole grains are a great source of nutrition. Texas WIC features several approved-foods that offer whole grains. This recipe for Pasta with Peas from the “staff favorites” from the Whole Grain Council is a super easy, quick meal that can be made in 15 minutes for the entire family. Find more recipes like this one on their website.
Pasta with Peas
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 cup frozen peas
12 ounces whole wheat pasta
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and break linguini in half and cook according to package directions.
While the pasta is cooking, combine the eggs and cheese in a small bowl, beat, and set aside. Put peas in a strainer, rinse under hot water, and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté for several minutes, until it softens. Add the peas to the skillet and cook for about one minute longer.
Drain the pasta and add to the skillet. Toss gently to mix. Create a well in the center, add the eggs and cheese, and cook until they are starting to firm up. Toss with the pasta and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.
Recipe Spotlight Using WIC Foods
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be spotlighting several recipes you can make in your kitchen. This one, “A Simple Mexican Salad” is from the USDA website and came from the Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service. It’s a refreshing salad with a little bite. It’s cool and refreshing flavors are very comforting.
A Simple Mexican Salad
Chili powder and lime juice are the secret ingredients in this cucumber and orange salad.
2 cucumbers
2 oranges
1 lemon or lime (the juice)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wash the cucumbers, oranges and lemon or lime under cold running water. Slice the cucumbers. Peel and cut the oranges into small pieces. Place cucumber slices and orange pieces in a medium size bowl. Add chili powder, lemon or lime juice and salt.
Get all your WIC foods in one easy stop at any JC Food Mart. There are 10 locations in San Antonio.
Let’s celebrate whole grains!
September is Whole Grains Month!
Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet. Texas WIC food packages also include whole grains, including brown rice, whole wheat bread and tortillas, corn tortillas, oatmeal and whole-wheat pasta.
Health experts recommend including whole grains in our diets because they can help “reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity,” according to the Oldways Whole Grains Council.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that at least half of all the grains you eat are whole grains. If you’re like most people, you’re not getting enough whole grains — so see how to make whole grains a part of your healthy diet.
Grains can be either whole or refined. Whole grains have the entire grain kernel, and include whole-wheat flour, oatmeal and brown rice to name a few. Refined grains remove fiber, iron and some vitamins. Examples include white flour, bread and rice.
In honor of whole grains month, here is a recipe to try:
Whole-Grain Tuna Rice Cakes
1 can tuna, undrained
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 Tbsp finely chopped onion
1 slice of whole wheat bread, shredded or crumbled
Dash or two of ground black pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the tuna with its liquid, rice, celery, onion, bread and pepper. Stir in the eggs and mix well. Form mixture into 4 patties using about ¼ cup mix for each. Heat oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add patties and brown on each side. Enjoy!
Get all your WIC foods at JC Food Mart in one easy stop. JC Food Mart is a chain of grocery stores that caters to WIC clients. There are 10 locations in San Antonio. Visit today!
Labor Less This Holiday Weekend
Make Ahead Recipes Perfect For Enjoying Time With Your Family
All moms need a break.
Labor Day is the perfect time to take a break from all the extra things you normally do – like extra cooking – and enjoy a special moment with your family.
Feeding your family can sometimes seem like an all-day event. Mom’s know that kids always seem hungry, and if you aren’t making breakfast, it’s a snack (or two) and then dinner. Mom’s also need a break. That’s why we have come up with a super easy holiday weekend menu that lets moms take a break and enjoy the holiday.
Pick a few of these recipes below to make ahead of time, giving you extra time to spend with your family. They are super easy recipes the entire family will enjoy.
ONE PAN CHILI MAC
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt to taste
2 cups water
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
8 oz. whole wheat elbow macaroni
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese or other cheese of your choice
Heat oil in a pan. Add water, tomato sauce, pasta and seasonings, cook on medium-high to bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring until pasta is tender. Sprinkle cheese on top and put the lid on the pan until the cheese is melted.
CEREAL BAR SNACK
4 cups of WIC-approved cereal of your choice
¾ cup peanut butter
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons butter
Line a square pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray foil with cooking spray. In a large saucepan, heat peanut butter, honey and butter until mixture is boiling and slightly thickened. Place cereal in a bowl. Stir heated peanut butter sauce over cereal. stir until evenly coated. Using the buttered back of the spoon, press the mixture very firmly in a square pan. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm enough to cut. Make and place in the refrigerator for up to a week.
This recipe makes 4 snack boxes you can store in the refrigerator for up to a week. They are great for snacks or lunch.
SNACK IN A BOX
Boil 4 eggs
Cheese slices
1 peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread
Cut fruit
Boil four eggs in hot water for about 7 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Peel eggs and slice in half. Slice cheese into bite sized pieces. Make a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread and cut into 4 pieces. Sliced fruit. Assemble snack boxes and put in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!
Food From Texas WIC: Little Hands, Little Bites
Starting The Baby Food Journey
Babies grow up fast. Each month they hit new milestones and make even more progress toward becoming little toddlers. Food from Texas WIC can help them grow healthy and strong.
One of the biggest milestones is graduating from bottles to bites. After months of breastfeeding and bottles, your little one might be ready to transition to table food.
It may seem daunting, but this can be a really exciting time for parents and kids to start exploring the world of food.
There are so many flavors, textures and food adventures around the corner. As stressful as it may seem, this stage can be a lot of fun. Don’t worry if it seems you have gotten into a food fight with your toddler. It’s all part of the learning process. Here are a few tips to help you navigate this next phase.
READY, SET GO – FIRST BITES
Are you wondering if your baby is ready to try table food? Make sure to discuss any feeding transitions with your Texas WIC nutritionist or doctors before making this big change.
In general, Texas WIC experts set out these first year milestones to give you a general idea when babies are ready for milestones, but every baby is different.
Once you get the OK from a professional, let the fun begin. Wondering where to start? Popular first food choices are baby cereal, apple sauce, mashed bananas or even avocados. Make sure the food is soft and has a “paste” like consistency.
In the beginning it is best to stick to introducing only one new food at a time. This makes it easier to know which foods your baby may have had trouble tolerating. Whether you are starting with baby cereal or baby food, try introducing one flavor at a time.
Remember, babies have tine appetites and only require a few teaspoons at a time, WIC experts recommend.
HITTING SPEED BUMPS
If your baby doesn’t like a certain food at first, try, try, try again. It isn’t uncommon for a little one not to like a food when it is first introduced, but to come around to it later.
Once you know your baby tolerates certain foods, different flavors can be mixed together to make bites a little more interesting. A few good combinations are sweet potatoes and peas, apples and bananas or scrambled eggs.
CAUTION AHEAD
Be on the lookout for food allergies, which can occur between two minutes to hours of feedings, according to Texas WIC. Some of the most common to cause reactions, but experts warn any foods can cause allergies: dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, nuts, fish and shellfish.
Hives, red skin and face swelling are a few signs of reactions, but Texas WIC offers even more details about food allergies online. If your baby is having several signs of reaction or is having trouble breathing, call 911, according to Texas WIC.
Also, do not give babies foods that may cause them to choke like nuts or grapes.
TEXAS WIC CAN HELP
Texas WIC has resources to make feeding your baby easier. Everything from counseling to online classes can help along the way. Be sure to reach out if you have questions. Be sure to talk to a professional about any concerns or questions about your specific situation and baby.
Get all your WIC groceries in one easy stop at JC Food Mart in San Antonio. There are 10 locations located near WIC offices. Find a location near you today.
Texas WIC Offering Free Online Story Time, Classes
Texas WIC is offering a fun online story time for kids Tuesday, Aug. 16th from 9:30 am to 10 AM.
Kids will learn basic counting and color skills, how fruits and vegetables grow in a garden and how fun it is to try new foods. The story time is all part of Texas WIC’s free online classes for parents and kids. You can watch the program on a mobile device or computer. To register, visit the link here.
There are more FREE WIC classes coming up.
Check these out:
Live Discussion on breastfeeding, pumping and bottle feeding. This class will be held from 3 to 4 PM, August 16. Register here.
Live Discussion on Introducing your Baby to Foods. This class will be offered from 11 AM to noon August. 17th. Register here.
Live Discussion and Activity on Cool Drinks for Kids. This class will be held online from 11 AM to noon on August 18th. Register here
Texas WIC is a free nutritional education program for qualifying mothers and their children up to age 5. If you would like to apply, visit TexasWIC.org/apply.
Expanded WIC Fruit, Vegetable Benefits Extended Thru September
Texas WIC has extended it’s expanded fruit and vegetable benefits thru the end of September.
According to Texas WIC the new benefits offer the following:
- Children get $24 each month
- Pregnant, postpartum and some breastfeeding clients get $43 each month
- Fully and partially breastfeeding clients get $47 each month.
For example, if you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $91 ($43 mom + $24 child + $24 child = $91) each month in April, May and June to buy fruit and vegetables, according to WIC.
WIC clients should contact a local WIC office if they have questions about these benefits.
The expanded WIC produce benefits are expected to return to $11 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $9 for children Oct. 1.
WIC clients can get all their WIC groceries in one easy stop at any JC Food Mart location in San Antonio. JC Food Mart caters to WIC clients and locations are located conveniently to WIC offices to help customers get WIC in one trip.
Pregnant & Need Help?
Are you pregnant and need help with your pregnancy, but not sure where to start? Start with Texas WIC.
The program is open to pregnant women that are Texas residents. The free program can begin as soon as you learn that you are expecting a baby. To qualify, expecting Texas mothers must meet the following income requirements, which are provided by Texas WIC:
Households with the following gross yearly income per member:
- 1 household member can qualify making up to $25,142 gross yearly income per household;
- 2 household members up to $33,874 gross yearly income;
- 3 household members up to $42,606 gross yearly income;
- 4 household members up to $51,338 gross yearly income;
- 5 household members up to $60,070 gross yearly income and
- 6 household members up to $68,802 gross yearly income.
Texas WIC provides FREE resources to help you along your pregnancy, including nutrition counseling and FREE healthy food packages to help ensure you and your baby have a healthy pregnancy.
To see if you qualify for the program, apply online at texaswic.com/apply.
JC Food Mart is a service provider for the WIC program, not a part of the WIC program.