WIC Experts On Bottle Prep

Experts Provide Tips On How To Clean, Prep Bottle For Babies

Preparing a bottle for your baby has several steps. Practice makes perfect, and expert advice is helpful when perfecting the best way to make your baby a bottle.

Texas WIC is a great resource for bottle prep and preparing formula. There isn’t much they don’t know about babies. The agency offers several tips on its website on everything from cleaning bottles, protecting against bacteria and storing formula.

As you familiarize yourself with the process of preparing a bottle, consider keeping the instructions handy as you learn how to prep a bottle and prepare formula.

WIC bottle Prep

WIC EXPERTS ON BOTTLE PREP

WIC Bottle Prep

It is important to clean and prep a baby bottle correctly before giving it to your baby. This helps ensure that your baby drinks safely from the bottle and that the bottle is clean. Here are the steps WIC experts recommend you take:

  •  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Clean the baby bottle with hot water and soap and all of its parts and air dry 
  • Use a bottle brush to get to the bottom of the bottle.
  • Rinse and dry all parts thoroughly

Texas WIC experts recommend parents boil all bottle parts once a day to ensure all the germs are killed. Cover all baby bottle parts in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes and then let them air dry. Store clean parts in a clean, covered container.  

PREPARING FORMULA

If using a formula, prepare according to the baby’s needs and the manufacturer’s instructions. Always read the instructions provided with the formula. Every formula is different. Experts recommend.

  1. Make sure your work area/surface and hands are clean by washing before you begin.
  2. WIC recommends when mixing powdered formula to heat water to 158 degrees F to kill any possible bacteria. Shake bottle and cool the bottle by running it under cold water to ensure it is a safe temperature to feed your baby.
  3. Following the mixing instructions that come with the formula and mix with safe drinking water.
  4. Never microwave formula, which can create patches of hot formula that burn your baby. Also, “Sprinkle a few drops of formula on your wrist to make sure that it is not too hot” before giving the bottle to your baby, WIC experts recommend.
  5. Use formula within two hours of when you mix it, and when in doubt toss it.

Following these tips will help keep your baby safe and healthy while drinking from his or her bottle. If you have any questions contact your physician or your local WIC office. 

By |2022-05-04T08:58:54-05:00April 8th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |0 Comments
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WIC Benefits Last For Years To Come

There are more benefits than nutrition counseling, free healthy food packages, and breastfeeding support that participants gain from the Texas WIC program.

The WIC program is a government-funded nutritional program to help improve the health and nutrition for pregnant women and their children up to age 5. 

“WIC saves lives and improves the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children,” according to the USDA. “The results of studies conducted by FNS and other non-government entities prove that WIC is one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs.”

The USDA outlines that participants get WIC benefits that may include:

  • Improved birth outcomes and health care cost savings
  • Improved diet
  • Improved infant feeding
  • Improved immunization rates and medical care
  • Improved growth rates
  • Earlier prenatal care
  • Better health outcomes for mothers 

And much, much more!

WIC participants also receive the following WIC benefits as part of the program: Supplemental nutritious foods as part of the free monthly food package. WIC clients get their food benefit lists loaded onto an EBT card. They can redeem their benefits when shopping for food. Learn more at TexasWIC.org.

WIC clients also receive nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics and online. 

Better health and nutrition can last a lifetime. All of the WIC services can help ensure that pregnant women and their children have the best chance at a healthy life. WIC is an important program that should be taken advantage of by all who are eligible. 

Texas WIC experts can also help participants get connected to other health and social service resources. 

WIC is an important resource for parents, providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to give their children the best possible start in life. The program helps ensure that kids get the nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong.

To apply to Texas WIC, visit online here.

By |2022-03-15T17:02:20-05:00March 22nd, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC|Tags: , |0 Comments
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Learn About Texas WIC Food List

If you are new or interested in joining Texas WIC, you are likely getting familiar with the Texas WIC food list. There are more WIC foods approved now than ever before. 

The WIC program offers free nutritional assistance for mothers to help them raise healthy children until they turn 5 years old. The program offers nutritional support, free classes, breastfeeding support, and free monthly food packages for expecting mothers and their children while they are on the program. 

Those Texas WIC free food packages are tailored to the mother’s and children’s nutritional needs as they advance through the program, depending on the child’s age. The food packages may include everything from tuna, milk, and cereal, fruits and vegetables for an expecting mother to the formula for babies and whole wheat pasta, bread, peanut butter, beans, and more for older children.

Texas WIC Food List

Each month you will get more familiar with the Texas WIC food list as you get your WIC groceries. You can also learn more about the food list and packages at TexasWIC.org.

The WIC food list is broken into the following categories: Pregnant women, moms and fully breastfeeding babies, moms and partially breastfeeding babies, moms and formula feeding babies, children 1 to 2 years and children 2 to 5 years. 

WIC client’s monthly food package benefits, all the foods from their WIC food list, are loaded onto a WIC EBT card for the client to redeem when shopping for their WIC groceries.

Grocery stores like JC Food Mart – which has locations in San Antonio – help mothers easily shop for WIC groceries. JC Food Mart is a primarily WIC grocery store chain that specializes in serving WIC clients. At the store, customers can see the benefits on their WIC EBT card before they shop. Because everything in the store is WIC approved clients don’t have to worry about finding all the correct WIC foods from their list.  Bilingual clerks help customers shop for their WIC foods from their list. The WIC clerks are familiar with the WIC program and make WIC shopping easier. 

  • Learn more about the Texas food list by visiting Texas WIC. 
  • To find a JC Food Mart location, visit us online at:jcfoodmart.com/locations. 
  • If you are not part of the Texas WIC program, apply online at TexasWIC.org/apply.
By |2022-03-15T10:37:20-05:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |0 Comments
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs Helps Moms, Children

March is national nutrition month, a time to focus on the importance of good nutrition. Eating nutritious foods is essential for maintaining your health and well-being. 

For many people, that means taking steps to improve our diets and eating habits. If you’re looking for ways to get your family on the right track,  Texas WIC can help. WIC is a free supplemental nutrition assistance program for expecting mothers, mothers and children up to age 5. 

And it’s been shown to be effective: women and children on WIC have improved birth outcomes and it “significantly improves children’s diets,” according to the USDA.

WIC, A NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,  HELPS CHILDREN’S & MOMS HEALTH

Free supplemental nutrition assistance programs like WIC helps mothers and their children get a healthy start in many ways, but here are a few ways the supplemental nutrition program helps create healthy eating habits:

  1. Helping to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are packed with fiber and nutrients, and they’re low in calories. They’re also a great source of antioxidants, which can help protect your body from disease.

Texas WIC is now offering more fruits and vegetable benefits than ever. Last year the program increased the program’s benefits to temporarily include even more fruit and vegetable benefits. Learn more about the expanded fruit and vegetable benefits here.

  1. Helping get fiber. 

Getting fiber is a great way to have a healthy diet. A great way to do that is to get whole grains and legumes into our diets. 

Texas WIC helps clients get even more whole grains in their diets. The WIC food lists for expecting mothers and older children include whole grains like whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta and beans, which are filled with fiber.

  1. Diets with less added sugar. 

The WIC program offers healthy cereals as part of its free food benefit packages, to help ensure pregnant women and children have healthy foods that are not filled with extra sugars. 

Sometimes the hardest part of the battle is just knowing which cereal to pick. Texas WIC won’t steer you wrong when it comes to picking a healthy cereal.

JOIN WIC,  FREE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you are interested in joining Texas WIC, start your application online today.  

Pick up all your healthy WIC foods – from formula to fruit, vegetables, cereal, whole wheat foods and more – visit JC Food Mart.  Most of the products at JC Food Mart are WIC approved.

By |2022-03-15T08:56:25-05:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Mom Health, San Antonio, Texas WIC|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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How To Eat Well With The WIC Program

If you’re a mom on a budget, you know how hard it can be to provide your family with healthy meals. But did you know that the Texas WIC program can help? Keep reading to learn how to eat healthy with WIC.

Texas WIC is a government program that provides financial assistance and nutrition education to low-income families. Learn how the WIC program works and learn a few tips for eating well on a budget.

1. What is WIC and what does it offer participants?

Texas WIC is is a nutrition education program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)  that helps moms provide a healthy start for their babies. The program provides free nutrition education, counseling, breastfeeding support, and free monthly supplemental food packages for pregnant women, postpartum women, and children up to age 5. 

2. How to apply for the WIC program?

If you are a Texas resident that is pregnant or are a mother of a child younger than 5 you can apply for the program by visiting WIC online to start your application or by calling 800-942-3678 to locate a WIC clinic to schedule an appointment to apply. 

3. What foods are available with the WIC program?

There are several free monthly food packages that are different for moms and children based on their age and nutritional needs. There is a specific food package for pregnant mothers that includes foods that, according to WIC, “are low in fat and high in fiber, provide nutritional variety and help promote a healthy weight gain for a healthy baby.”  Infants have packages that may include baby formula and older children have packages that include eggs, fruits and vegetables, cereals, and more.

4. How to use your WIC benefits

Texas WIC clients receive an EBT card that is loaded each month with their WIC benefits. Clients take their EBT to the store to redeem their benefits. Stores like JC Food Mart – which are PWIC stores that cater to WIC clients – help make it easy for WIC customers to get all their WIC products in one easy stop. 

5. Sample meal ideas to eat healthy with WIC

WIC-approved foods help make it easy to create healthy meals for your family. Use WIC-approved foods to make meals like omelets (which use WIC-approved eggs and vegetables), stir fry (using WIC foods like whole-wheat rice and vegetables), beans, and whole-wheat rice and pasta dishes use whole-wheat pasta and cheese. The options are endless and you know you are going to be eating healthier when you are cooking with WIC foods. Get more recipe ideas using WIC foods on our blog. 

The WIC program is a great way to get started on the path to healthy eating on a budget. With the help of JC Food Mart, it’s easy to find nutritious WIC-approved foods that your family will love.

By |2022-08-17T14:12:02-05:00February 25th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, Mom Health, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Expecting A Baby in 2022? Let Texas WIC Help

If you are expecting a baby in 2022, Texas WIC can help you get off to a healthy start.

The program is open to eligible expecting mothers and mothers with children up to age five. To qualify, Texas residents must meet certain income requirements. (Learn more about the requirements below.) 

Texas WIC benefits are offered to qualifying expectant mothers in order to help them get proper nutrition and education while they are pregnant.  

Pregnant mothers can even get a free food package to help ensure they are getting healthy foods. Expecting mothers can access their FREE benefits with a Texas WIC ebt card, which allows clients to pay for their FREE monthly WIC food benefits such as eggs, cereal, fruits and vegetables and more!

The WIC program also provides important pregnancy education, including FREE online classes that help mothers to be on everything from how to plan for a healthy pregnancy and how to eat healthy while pregnant. Their education guidance also helps mothers know what to expect during pregnancy.

The program continues to help once the baby arrives by providing breastfeeding support and access to healthy nutrition for mothers and their babies.

Mothers can access all their WIC benefits in an easy, hassle-free shopping experience at any JC Food Mart store. There are 10 locations in San Antonio. All the groceries in the Primarily WIC store are WIC approved, and our bilingual clerks help make WIC shopping super easy. Find a location online at JCFoodMart.com/locations.

Are you Eligible for Texas WIC? Find Out If Texas WIC Can Help

To qualify for Texas WIC is open to Texas residents that are:

  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding women
  • Infants
  • Families with children younger than 5 years old

Texas residents must also meet income requirements to join Texas WIC.

According to Texas WIC:  “If you are on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP you meet the income eligibility guidelines for WIC. If you don’t qualify for these programs, you may still qualify for WIC by meeting the income guidelines for your household. The Recovery Rebate Credit, also known as stimulus checks, and the Child Tax Credit direct payments are not included when calculating your income to determine eligibility.”

WIC has provided these Gross Yearly Income guidelines from its website and was updated as of 7/19/22: 

Number of Household Members* Gross Yearly Household Income**
1 $0 up to $25,142
2 $0 up to $33,874
3 $0 up to $42,606
4 $0 up to $51,338
5 $0 up to $60,070
6 $0 up to $68,802

*A pregnant woman’s household is increased by the number of infants she is expecting. For more than 6 household members, or if you have any income questions, call 1-800-942-3678. This information is provided by Texas WIC, and is subject to change. Last updated 7/19/2022.

**Income can also be determined on a weekly or biweekly basis. For more information, call 1-800-942-3678. This information is provided by Texas WIC, and is subject to change. Last updated 7/19/2022.

Apply for Texas WIC online at TexasWIC.org/apply

 

By |2022-07-19T09:36:41-05:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, JC Food Mart, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , |0 Comments
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Texas WIC Extends Help To Displaced LA WIC Families

Texas WIC Helps LA WIC Families

Texas WIC is extending a helping hand to Louisiana WIC families displaced by Hurricane Ida.

“Wherever you find yourself in Texas, WIC can help transfer your benefits, replace your lost foods and assist with breastfeeding during this time of need,” according to social media posts by WIC agencies. 

To find contact information of a Texas WIC office near you, enter the zip code of your current location at https://find.texaswic.org/?wicType=Clinic&lge=a8Jwz9Jlia. Breastfeeding assistance is available 24/7 for all moms at 855-550-6667.

PRIMARILY WIC GROCERY STORES 

If you would like to redeem your WIC benefits in an easy, hassle-free store you can find primarily WIC grocery stores by visiting the links below.

Primarily WIC grocery stores aim to provide quality WIC-approved products in an easy, hassle-free shopping experience, allowing WIC clients to pick up all your WIC groceries in one convenient stop. SNAP also accepted. Find a primarily WIC grocery store near you with the links below.

AUSTIN

Visit LoneStarFamilyMarket.com, a chain of 6 primarily WIC grocery stores in Austin with locations also in Round Rock and San Marcos. Visit WICaustin.net for a list of WIC clinics and primarily WIC grocery stores.

DALLAS

Visit GroceryServicesNorth.com, a chain of primarily WIC grocery stores with locations in Dallas and Waco. Visit WICDallas.net to find WIC clinics and primarily wic grocery stores in Dallas. 

SAN ANTONIO

Visit JCFoodMart.com in San Antonio, a chain of primarily WIC grocery stores in San Antonio. Visit WICSanAntonio.net to find WIC clinics and primarily WIC grocery stores in San Antonio.

WACO

Visit WICWaco.com for a list of WIC clinics and primarily WIC grocery stores. You can also visit GroceryServicesNorth.com

You can also visit TexasWIC.net to find primarily WIC grocery stores and WIC clinics in Texas.

Thank you Texas WIC for helping LA WIC families!

By |2021-09-16T08:50:27-05:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, JC Food Mart, Recipes, San Antonio, Texas WIC|0 Comments
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Now Offering Organic Gerber Baby Cereals

Pick up organic Gerber baby cereal next time you visit JC Food Mart. 

All of our locations are now providing Gerber organic cereals to help you provide the best nutrition for your baby. Organic cereals will help your little one get a healthy start to eating solid foods.

It’s the #1 Pediatrician recommended brand for infant cereals and provides “essential nutrients – like iron, B vitamins, vitamins E and C, zinc and calcium,” according to Gerber. 

The organic cereal is commonly a first solid food for babies to try, and is usually recommended when your baby is a supported sitter from 4-6 months. 

Our stores will offer Organic Gerber Rice and Oatmeal Cereal in 8oz containers.

JC Food Mart is a chain of primarily WIC grocery stores in San Antonio that aims to provide quality WIC-approved products in an easy, hassle-free shopping experience. Pick up all your WIC groceries in one convenient stop. SNAP also accepted. 

By |2021-09-08T08:56:15-05:00September 8th, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, San Antonio, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|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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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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