JC Food Mart Announces Special Labor Day Hours

Four San Antonio area locations will be open special hours for Labor Day.

Everyone at JC Food Mart wishes you  a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. For your convenience, we are opening four stores if you find yourself in need of baby formula, baby food, milk, bread and other WIC grocery items. SNAP is also accepted. 

The following stores will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM

WALZEM

The JC Food Mart location at 5271 Walzem Road. This store can be reached by calling 210-930-3244. 

MARBACK

JC Food Mart at 7428 W. Military Drive will be open. They can be reached at 210-645-0223.

SW MILITARY

JC Food Mart at 842 SW Military Drive will also be open. They can be reached by calling 210-922-1442.  

FREDERICKSBURG

Also, the JC Food Mart at 3534 Fredericksburg Road, Ste. 21 will be open. They can be reached by calling 210-732-2677. 

JC Food Mart is a primarily WIC grocery store that takes the hassle out of getting WIC groceries. 

 

By |2021-09-03T07:19:38-05:00September 3rd, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Need Help With Food? WIC, SNAP Can Help

Sometimes everyone needs a helping hand with their groceries. Food assistance programs – like Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) and SNAP – can offer much needed help putting food on your table so you don’t have to worry how you are going to get your next meal.

WOMAN, INFANT & CHILDREN (WIC)

Texas WIC provides free food assistance for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children up to age 5. The program is for Texas residents that meet  income requirements. WIC recipients get free nutrition counseling and education, breastfeeding support and food assistance to help ensure children get a healthy start. 

WIC participants get their monthly food package benefits loaded onto an ebt card that can be redeemed for WIC foods. 

Pregnant mothers may get food packages that include cereal, beans, dairy, fruits & vegetables and more. Infant children would qualify for a food package that includes baby formula and baby food. Older children would qualify for packages that include milk, eggs, cheese, bread, fruits & vegetables and more. To learn more about food packages visit WIC online. 

The program is a great tool for mothers to ensure that their babies are getting the right nutrition that they need. Afterall, baby formula is expensive, and you don’t need to worry if your little one will have enough.  Apply online at TexasWIC.org/apply.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

SNAP , sometimes called a food stamp program, is a food assistance program that loads benefits onto an ebt card, used like a debit card, called the Lone Star Card, to pay for groceries. To see if you qualify, visit YourTexasBenefits.com

MAXIMIZING FOOD STAMP BENEFITS

If you qualify for both programs, understanding key differences can help you maximize your benefits. 

WIC expires at the end of each month. If not used, SNAP rolls over to the next month to be used later. To maximize food stamp benefits, use WIC benefits first. Any SNAP benefits you don’t use during the month can roll to the next month up to a year.  If you don’t use WIC benefits during the month it was issued, you lose them. To maximize all your benefits, use WIC first and roll what you don’t use for SNAP to the next month.

WIC is geared toward paying for nutritious food for growing children up to age 5. SNAP can be used for adults and older children. 

Also, some WIC clients that have both WIC and SNAP use their SNAP benefits for extra baby formula for their little ones if it is needed.

JC Food Mart can help you avoid the hassle redeeming any of your food benefits. We cater to families that need food assistance. Because our staff is familiar with food assistance programs, you won’t have any hassle at check out, and you will be in and out with nutritious food for your family in one easy stop. 

JC Food Mart stores provide all the food categories for the WIC program so you don’t have to search aisles trying to determine what qualifies for WIC. We also accept SNAP. To find a location near you, visit JCFoodMart.com/locations.

By |2021-09-02T11:41:49-05:00September 2nd, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, JC Food Mart, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|0 Comments
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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.

By |2021-08-17T14:00:14-05:00August 17th, 2021|Categories: JC Food Mart, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food|0 Comments
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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. 

By |2021-08-13T11:15:25-05:00August 13th, 2021|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|0 Comments
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Pregnant? Join Texas WIC

Get WIC Nutrition Help For Your Baby Before They Are Born

Are you pregnant, and need a helping hand with your baby? Get FREE nutrition help from Texas WIC. It’s a great resource for qualifying expecting moms and moms of children up to age 5.

The program provides nutrition education and free monthly food packages for expecting mothers. Once your baby arrives, they also provide breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling and even free formula for your baby.  If you would like to apply to the program, visit TexasWIC.org/apply to find out if you qualify.

Let JC Food Mart show you how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. The primarily WIC grocery store chain helps WIC clients get all their WIC groceries in one easy, hassle-free stop. Locations in San Antonio are located near WIC clinics for convenient access.  Find a location at JCFoodMart.com/locations. 

By |2021-07-29T11:09:01-05:00July 29th, 2021|Categories: Child Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|0 Comments
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WIC Food Helps Raise Healthy Babies in San Antonio

Every San Antonio mom wishes for a healthy baby. A free Texas program – Texas WIC – is helping moms have healthier babies while from the time they learn they are pregnant. 

Pregnant moms who meet certain guidelines (see below for guidelines) can qualify for the Texas Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) program. The program is a free nutritional counseling program to help mothers get the nutrition their babies need to be healthy. 

The program offers free nutritional guidance, support and free monthly nutritional food packages. Each WIC participant receives an ebt card that is loaded each month to help mothers get healthy food packages that are customized to their needs.

 Pregnant mothers receive credits on their ebt card for certain foods – such as cereal, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, low fat milk whole grails and fruits & vegetables –  that help them get the right nutrition while they are expecting. You can learn more about these food packages on WIC’s website.

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By |2021-07-20T17:04:06-05:00July 20th, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, JC Food Mart, Recipes, Texas WIC|0 Comments
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All About Peanut Allergies

Experts Give Advice About Peanut Allergies

The thought of peanut allergies may stir up some nerves for parents concerned about giving peanut butter to their little ones.  With a few tips and guidelines from pros, parents can be prepared to recognize any signs of an allergic reaction.

Texas WIC provides a great online resource about food allergies, including how to spot signs of a food reaction, like: hives, flushed skin or rash, tingling or itching in the mouth or other body part swelling in face or tongue, vomiting or diarrhea, stomach cramps, coughing or wheezing or dizziness or difficulty breathing.  

Even though parents may want to avoid exposure to peanuts out of fear of an allergy, experts offer some advice.

Early exposure to peanuts (around 6 months of age) might actually lower the chances of developing an allergy, according to research provided by The National Peanut Board. 

A great way to introduce peanuts to your little one is thinned peanut butter. Afterall you don’t want your little one to choke on peanuts, which are not at all recommended to be given to babies or toddlers.

According to Texas WIC: you most likely do not need to avoid the common food allergens while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Introducing a common food allergen to your baby after 6 months is okay, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Offering foods containing ground or powdered peanuts may even lower his risk of developing an allergy. It does not increase the chance of your baby developing a food allergy.

PEANUT BUTTER IS A WIC FOOD

Peanut butter, a Texas WIC Food, is full of nutrition, including more protein than any other nut and more than 30 vitamins, minerals, fiber and good fats, according to the National Peanut Board. 

To help offer up a few servings of peanut butter perfect for toddlers and adults here are a few recipes to try.

Yogurt Cinnamon Peanut Butter Dip For Fruit

The National Peanut Board offers great recipes online, including this one originally from rhubarbarians.com for:

FRUIT  KABOBS WITH YOGURT PEANUT BUTTER DIP

1 cup salted peanut butter*

1 cup plain yogurt

1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (Omit for children 2 and younger)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

10 large strawberries, hulled and sliced in half lengthwise

1 medium banana, peeled and sliced into 1″ slices

1/2 medium apple, cut into bite sized pieces

20 large blueberries

Stir together the 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of yogurt, 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup (depending on how sweet you’d like the dip), and the 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Set aside.

Form your kabobs by piercing the fruit with the end of a skewer and sliding the fruit on. Continue adding fruit to your kabobs evenly until you have 5 full kabobs of fruit.

Enjoy and have fun! Take pieces of fruit off of the kabobs and dip into the yogurt peanut butter dip.

Note: If using unsalted peanut butter, add a small pinch of salt to the dip.

 

Peanut butter is a popular WIC food. Here is one of our favorite recipes using peanut butter:

CINNAMON PEANUT BUTTER BANANA TOAST

1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 banana, sliced

Ground Cinnamon to taste

Toast bread. Spread peanut butter on one side of toast. Place sliced bananas on bread in single layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Get all your WIC foods at JC Food Mart locations in San Antonio. Our stores have bilingual clerks that gather all your WIC items during a one-stop shop without all the hassle of  searching for all your WIC foods.

By |2021-07-12T14:25:01-05:00July 12th, 2021|Categories: Child Health, Recipes|0 Comments
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Celebrate July 4th With American Picnic Using WIC Foods

The heart of the summer – July 4th – is almost here. 

Grilling, cold fruit and fresh sides are the perfect ingredients for a holiday picnic. To help make your planning a little easier, here are two perfect recipes featuring WIC foods. 

The first recipe will cool you off from that hot summer sun, but offers the ‘blue’ and ‘white’ for your red, white and blue menu. These little bites pair perfectly with a cold watermelon.  They may be such a hit with the kids, that you want to keep some in the freezer for the next few months. 

WIC Fruits: Blueberries FROZEN YOGURT BLUEBERRY BITES

1 8-ounce container of Blueberries

½ cup Vanilla Yogurt

Cover a large baking sheet with wax paper. Place yogurt in a small bowl and stir. Poke blueberry one at a time with a toothpick and dip into yogurt until it is completely covered. Move blueberry from toothpick onto wax-covered baking sheet. Repeat with all blueberries. Place in the freezer for 2 hours. Remove blueberries from wax paper using a spatula. Once frozen, place all blueberries into an airtight freezer-safe bowl with lid and until ready to eat. Can store in the freezer for a few months. 

This next recipe is easy to add any vegetables from your refrigerator. Feel free to cut and use what you have. Substitution ideas include broccoli, olives, carrots or really anything you like.

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

COLORFUL RAINBOW PASTA SALAD

8 ounces of Dried Pasta (such as Rotini)

1 package of Italian Salad Dressing mix

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced

½ Onion, sliced thin

1 Zucchini squash, sliced thin

1 Yellow Squash, sliced thin

Pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.  Prepare Italian seasoning mix according to directions. Mix dressing and pasta in a large bowl. Add cut vegetables. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

To pick up all your WIC groceries for your July 4th party, visit any JC Food Mart location in San Antonio.  Texas WIC is currently offering expanded fruit and vegetable benefits this month. 

For more information about Texas WIC, visit TexasWIC.org.

 

By |2021-07-02T08:57:37-05:00July 2nd, 2021|Categories: Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|0 Comments
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JC Food Mart Open Normal Hours Week of July 4th

JC Food Mart locations will have normal business hours this week, and will remain closed as normal on Sunday.  All stores will also have regular hours on Monday, July 5th. 

Everyone at JC Food Mart wishes you a safe and happy July 4th celebration.

Don’t forget to redeem any remaining June WIC benefits through this Wednesday, June 30th. You can begin redeeming July WIC benefits on Thursday. 

Visit JCFoodMart.com/locations for all location and store hours information. We hope to see you soon!

 

By |2021-06-29T09:14:21-05:00June 29th, 2021|Categories: JC Food Mart|0 Comments
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Recipes Featuring WIC Foods: Fruits and Vegetables

Family-Fun Recipes Perfect For A Picnic

Looking for something new to make? We have a few family-friendly meal ideas for recipes spotlighting a popular WIC food: fruits and vegetables. 

This month Texas WIC is offering even more fruit and vegetable benefits. Here are a few ideas to serve up recipes with some great produce you can get with those added benefits. 

This first treat is perfect for kids and adults, and it’s a great treat for the summer.

RECIPES USING WIC FOODS

Banana PopsFROZEN YOGURT BANANAS

2 Bananas cut in half in the middle of the banana

1 cup Yogurt

2 tablespoons of Maple Syrup

½ teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Pop sticks

Insert pop stick into bottom of banana. (see photo). Combine yogurt, syrup and cinnamon in a bowl and mix. Dip the bananas in the mixture. Lay dipped bananas onto a cookie sheet. You can add sprinkles or mini chocolate chips for added fun.  Freeze for about 6 hours or until yogurt is frozen. 

This recipe is the perfect side for any summertime meal. It’s also very easy to make. 

CUCUMBER, TOMATO & ONION SALAD

1 large Cucumber, sliced.

3 Tomatoes cut into thin wedges

1 Onion, sliced

1 cup White Vinegar

2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

¼ cup Water

1 tablespoon sugar

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine cut vegetables into a bowl. Combine all other ingredients in another bowl and mix together. Pour the mixture over the cut vegetables and mix together. Cover and place in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.  

Pick up your WIC groceries at any JC Food Mart location in San Antonio. We provide an easy shopping format for WIC groceries and even have bilingual staff to help you get everything you need. To find a location near you, visit us online at JCFoodMart.com/locations. To learn more about Texas WIC and how to bring WIC fruits and vegetables into your home, apply online.

By |2021-06-28T09:38:34-05:00June 28th, 2021|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC|0 Comments
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