Cooking Up Memories: Getting Young Kids Involved in the Kitchen

The kitchen can be a fun place for kids and parents to spend time together. Parents can help foster a positive relationship between their children and food by letting them help in the kitchen. Kids ages 1 to 5 are curious, eager to learn and want to spend time together. Here’s a guide on how to get your little ones engaged and having fun in the kitchen.

Safety First

Before getting in the kitchen together, prioritize safety. Clear the cooking area of any hazards, like sharp objects or hot surfaces. Use kid-friendly utensils with blunt edges, and make sure to supervise closely during all kitchen activities.

Create a Kid-Friendly Space

Set up a dedicated area within the kitchen where your little chef can comfortably work alongside you. A step stool (depending on age) can make reaching the counter easier or using the kitchen table, allowing them to feel more involved in the cooking process.

Easy Tasks

Let them get involved in washing vegetables, tearing lettuce, or stirring ingredients. Praise their efforts and celebrate their accomplishments to boost their confidence.

Engage the Senses

Cooking is a sensory experience. Encourage your child to touch, smell, and even taste different ingredients. Allow them to explore the textures of flour, the aroma of herbs, and the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables.

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By |2023-08-30T14:01:34-05:00August 22nd, 2023|Categories: Child Health, Kid Activity, Meal Planning, Recipes|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments
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NEW WIC CEREAL OPTION

Now Offering Avelina Instant Oatmeal

WIC clients can redeem their cereal benefits for Avelina Instant Oatmeal. This new Grocery Services North product is an easy and nutritious way to start a morning. This WIC-approved option for oats is redeemed in the cereal category, not the whole grains category, which means you can redeem your cereal benefits for even more healthy oatmeal. 

Breakfast cereal doesn’t have to be served up cold. Instant oatmeal is the perfect way to get a nice warm meal to start the day.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce you to the newest addition to the WIC cereal option, this delicious instant oatmeal. This delicious and convenient breakfast option is packed with fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

One of the best things about Avelina Instant Oatmeal is that it’s incredibly easy to prepare. Simply add hot water or microwave it for a minute, stir, and enjoy. This makes it the perfect breakfast option for busy mornings, when you don’t have time to cook something on the stove. 

Visit a JC Food Mart to redeem your WIC benefits for Avelina Instant Oatmeal today.  Find a Grocery Services North store near you on our locations page.

By |2023-06-27T14:35:42-05:00June 27th, 2023|Categories: Child Health, JC Food Mart, Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, Texas WIC|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Visit Today To Pick-Up WIC-Approved Formula

By |2023-04-07T13:43:16-05:00March 21st, 2023|Categories: Baby Formula, Child Health, Texas WIC, Texas WIC, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments
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Toddler Snack Boxes Perfect For Busy Moms

WIC Food Tip Perfect For Busy Moms

Toddlers love snacks! Moms of little ones may find themselves running around trying to find snacks on demand. Here is a great WIC food tip to use your WIC foods to make a perfect snack box for your little one.

One stress-free way to help busy moms looking to save some time, are pre-made snack boxes. Dig around in your cupboard for some plastic containers with lids. It doesn’t have to be fancy. One with compartments is perfect, but a food storage container without dividers also works. (TIP: You can use cupcake liners to make your own compartments) 

Grab a few of your toddler’s favorite WIC foods. Create a fun assortment of 3 to 4 single serving snacks in each container to make a perfect toddler-size snack pack to store in the fridge. Some ideas for your containers include:  cheese cubes, sliced strawberries, orange slices, blueberries, avocados, healthy WIC cereal (without the milk),  yogurt, peanut butter and whole wheat bread.  Make a whole peanut butter sandwich and cut into 1/4ths. Put one fourth in a container. 

Store the snack packs in the fridge until needed.  Making 2 or 4 containers at a time is perfect to have on hand when your little one wants something quick to eat.

This is a great way to help make sure your little one is eating healthy WIC foods. You can also get your kids involved in making their “snack packs” so they are excited to eat healthy foods. 

HAVE TODDLERS ON WIC? SHARE YOUR MOM HACKS

Do you have a great mom hack? Leave it in the comments below. We would love to hear some of your favorite tips/tricks that save you time. 

The ultimate mom hack is getting all your WIC foods in one easy stop at JC Food Mart stores. Visit a location today to see how easy it can be.

Looking for more helpful ideas?  Check out our post about WIC Snacks.

By |2023-02-09T14:07:25-05:00February 9th, 2023|Categories: Child Health, Mom Health, Recipes, San Antonio, WIC Food|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Love Texas WIC Program All Year Long

There are so many things to love about Texas WIC. 

For starters, it’s a great place for parents to turn for help. The pros at Texas WIC can also show parents the ropes for self love during pregnancy and after. Plus, nutrition tips and free healthy food packages help moms and babies eat healthy.

PRO PARENTING TIPS

Texas WIC is the perfect place to turn for your parenting questions. Whether you are pregnant and wondering what is safe for expecting moms to eat or you want help feeding your infant, Texas WIC has the answers. Plus, the program is free for qualifying Texas mothers. 

As your baby grows, Texas WIC offers tips and guidance about developmental milestones and how to care, feed your baby so they grow up healthy. 

SELF LOVE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

Texas WIC also helps mothers stay healthy. A healthy mother helps create healthy babies. Texas WIC pros offer tips on how to eat, exercise and take care of you and your baby while you are pregnant and while breastfeeding. 

HEALTHY NUTRITION

Some might say the best part of Texas WIC is the free healthy food packages for WIC clients. The packages start when moms learn they are expecting. They are also adapted for children until they turn 5 years old.  So mom and babies can get free, nutritious foods like milk, bread, healthy cereal, baby formula, fruits and vegetables and so much more. The Texas WIC program is for qualifying Texas mothers and children up to age 5. To apply for Texas WIC, visit them online at Texaswic.org.

JC FOOD MART

JC Food Mart stores help WIC clients get all their WIC foods in one easy stop. Bilingual clerks help customers shop for their foods. Find out how easy WIC shopping can be, and visit a store today. JC Food Mart is a service provider for the WIC program, not a part of the WIC program.

By |2023-02-08T09:04:15-05:00January 27th, 2023|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Ways WIC Helps Moms, Babies

Mothers only want the best for their babies, and that usually starts with the news you are expecting. Luckily for qualifying Texas residents there is a program that helps mothers make sure their nutritional needs are being met to help ensure the best healthy start for their babies. Texas WIC offers nutrition education, free supplemental foods and support for moms and babies.

Here are some of the best ways Texas WIC offers help to expecting moms and moms with children up to age 5.

  1. WIC provides supplemental foods to qualifying pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women.
  2. WIC helps to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies. That includes providing baby formula to babies in need.
  3. WIC provides nutrition education and counseling to help participants make healthy food choices. 
  4. WIC helps participants access other social services. 
  5. WIC has been shown to reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies, according to studies on USDA’s website.

If you want to learn more about Texas WIC, visit their website at texaswic.org. You can also apply on online at texaswic.org/apply.

For easy WIC grocery shopping, visit JC Food Mart stores in San Antonio. Bilingual clerks help WIC clients get all their WIC foods in one easy stop. There are 10 stores throughout San Antonio. Visit today to find out how easy WIC shopping can be. Find a store near you at jcfoodmart.com/locations

By |2023-01-24T19:19:16-05:00January 24th, 2023|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, San Antonio, WIC Food, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Budget Bites to Help You Save Money

4 Tips To Save $$$

Grocery prices keep going up, and we are all looking for ways to stretch our food budgets. Here are a few tips we can all use to curb the waste, and stretch our food dollars even further.

USE MORE, WASTE LESS

If you don’t think you will use them before they go bad, freeze fruits and vegetables. Put them in freezer-safe containers or bags and mark with a date. These frozen portions are great to add to soups or smoothies. 

Save veggie scraps like potato rinds, ends of onions and celery pieces,  to make veggie broth. These vegetables will make a perfect vegetable broth that is delicious in soups.  

Use leftovers creatively. You can turn almost any leftovers into a completely different meal. For example, did you make roasted veggies as a side dish this week? Use the leftovers in a delicious omelet. You cook once and have two delicious meals. Plus, you save time in the kitchen. 

MAXIMIZE WIC BENEFITS

One of the best ways to maximize your WIC benefits is to use your SNAP benefits first. Your SNAP benefits roll over, but your WIC benefits expire at the end of the month. USE WIC FIRST. 

Make fewer trips. If you are making a trip to the WIC clinic, redeem your WIC benefits during the same trip. JC Food Mart, which caters to WIC clients, are conveniently located near WIC clinics. JC Food Mart caters to WIC clients and helps them redeem their benefits in one easy, fast trip. 

PLAN AHEAD

By planning ahead you can save time and money. Plan your menu for the week. See what ingredients can be used to do double duty in your recipes. For example, are you making a homemade soup and stir-fry dish this week? Get an onion that can be used for both. What other ingredients can be used in both meals? Stretch your food dollars by using simple recipes with less ingredients.  Plus, it is a great way for your kids to help. Make a menu together on a chalkboard or a colorful paper that they can help create. 

KEEP IT SIMPLE

One of the best ways to save money cooking is to make simple, nutritious recipes that don’t have a ton of ingredients. Buy pantry staples like seasonings on sale or in bulk. Make your own salad dressing using olive oil and simple seasonings.

Get all your WIC foods in one easy stop conviently located next to WIC clinics. Visit any JC Food Mart in San Antonio today.

 

 

 

By |2022-12-14T15:45:20-05:00November 4th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, Meal Planning, Texas WIC, Uncategorized, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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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. 

By |2022-08-17T13:58:47-05:00August 16th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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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.

By |2022-09-06T15:40:43-05:00July 11th, 2022|Categories: Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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