12 Recipes Using WIC Foods For Christmas

This is the perfect time to spend quality time in the kitchen with your family. Food and holidays go hand-and-hand. To help you get in the holiday spirit, here are 12 recipes using WIC foods you might consider making for your family this Christmas.

BERRY BREAD PUDDING

This recipe from the USDA’s MyPlate, features several WIC foods: frozen berries, whole wheat bread and yogurt. https://www.myplate.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/berry-bread-pudding 

 HOMEMADE CHEESE STICKS Homemade Cheese Sticks

Spending time in the kitchen is the perfect way to get quality time with your kids. This fun snack or appetizer from CookingMatters.org  is sure to be a fun one for the whole family to make. It also has several WIC foods. Consider making your own bread crumbs with a slice or two of whole-wheat bread. https://cookingmatters.org/recipe/mozzarella-sticks/

PINEAPPLE CARROT MUFFINS

Every holiday needs a muffin. This one from CookingMatters.org won’t disappoint. It even features WIC-friendly fruits and vegetables. https://cookingmatters.org/recipe/pineapple-carrot-muffins/

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By |2022-12-12T09:28:20-05:00December 22nd, 2021|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: , |0 Comments
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Texas WIC Fruits, Veggie Benefit Expansion Extended Thru March

WIC clients are getting a little something extra for the new year: an extension on the expanded fruit and vegetable benefits.

Texas WIC announced on its website that the expanded benefits will be offered through the end of March 2022.

“This extension has different dollar amounts based on your category. Eligible clients will receive the following,” according to Texas WIC. 

Here is an example the agency provided: 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 January, February and March to buy fruit and vegetables, according to Texas WIC.

WIC clients will find this new amount on your shopping list under their benefit amount. 

Texas WIC urges clients that have already received benefits on their WIC cards for the first three months of year to contact their local WIC office to get the expanded fruit & vegetable benefits. Produce benefits are expected to return to regular levels at the end of March. 

By |2021-12-17T15:31:03-05:00December 16th, 2021|Categories: JC Food Mart, Texas WIC, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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Planning Thanksgiving Recipes Helps Make Holiday More Fun

Turkey Day is almost here, and JC Food Mart is here to help you plan to make the day with your family and friends special.

Getting ready for the day can be less stressful if planning in advance. Here are some tips to help make the day full of fun.

PLANNING IS THE KEY

The most important step is planning in advance. Plan your menu, plan your shopping and plan what you can make in advance. Remember, simple is usually better.

Get all your shopping done as early as possible. One way to save time and money is by getting all your WIC foods at JC Food Mart early in the week. Click on our blog post here for our special Thanksgiving Week hours. WIC Shopping

Use your WIC fruit and vegetable allowance to pick up produce for your Thanksgiving sides: potatoes, onions, carrots, frozen vegetables and fruit just to name a few. Beans, another WIC-approved food, also make a great Thanksgiving Day side. Cheese can add excitement to a side like broccoli. Looking for a good recipe, check this one out: broccoli and cheese.

Stuffing is also a Thanksgiving Day favorite. Check out this favorite: Stuffing Recipe.

Potatoes also make very comforting side dishes. We rounded up some of our favorites here: Potato Recipes.

There are so many recipes options for creating a Thanksgiving Day menu, and they don’t have to be complicated or use 100 ingredients. Simple is usually better. Use ingredients you have to plan your menu. You can make a list on your phone or the old-fashioned way with paper and pencil. Making a list will help you make sure you have everything you need, and help plan out your recipes.

If you are looking for a few places online to find healthy, simple recipes check out these websites:

Texas WIC: Texas WIC has some great healthy recipes using WIC foods. Here are some of our favorites for Thanksgiving: Apple Crisp, Sweet Potato Balls, Citrus Glazed Carrots, Fruit Salad & Fruit Dip and Carrot Bread

Cooking Matters: This website is full of great, healthy recipes. Here are a few your family might like for Thanksgiving: Banana Pudding, baked apples and tips for cooking beans.

USDA: This website offers several recipes for Thanksgiving Day and they even have recipes for your leftovers.

SIMPLE IS BETTER

Does the thought of cooking turkey stress you out? You don’t have to cook an entire turkey. Make a small turkey breast or turkey tenderloin. They are much less intimidating and usually cost less than cooking an entire bird. Or, roast a chicken. You could also skip making a traditional Thanksgiving and opt for making your family’s favorite meal.

If you are making a turkey, check out the USDA’s tips for cooking a bird here.

ENJOY ALL THE MOMENTS

Spending time with your kids, family and friends is the best part of the day. After your meal, find time to play outside or go for a walk. It’s a great activity for the whole family. Everyone at JC Food Mart wishes you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving. All of our locations will be open regular hours on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Find a location here. We also accept SNAP. Hope to see you soon.

By |2024-11-11T08:25:02-05:00November 22nd, 2021|Categories: JC Food Mart, Meal Planning, Recipes, San Antonio, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|0 Comments
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FREE Texas WIC Classes Online Packed With Parenting Tips

Take Free Classes At Home From Phone, Computer

Texas WIC classes this month are packed with wonderful tips from experts. Included are classes from everything from how to make a recipe using WIC foods to storytime for your little one.  Use the link below to Texas WIC to sign up for the Free Classes.

Here is a glance at some of the FREE upcoming LIVE ONLINE classes that can be taken from the comfort of your own home: 

  • Introducing Your Baby To Foods – Oct. 13 – 11 AM to Noon  In this class, Texas WIC covers how to know if your baby is ready for solid foods and what foods to introduce at first.
  • Story Time with Zobey – Oct. 14th – 9:30 – 10 AM Texas WIC makes learning with your little one fun with a story told by Zobey. In this story, Zobey introduces how fruits and vegetables grow in a garden and explains why trying new foods is fun.
  • Discussion on Picky Eating – Oct. 18th – 10 – 11 AM Experts at Texas WIC explain how to encourage new foods and how to respond to picky eating.
  • Cooking with WIC Foods – Oct. 18th – 11:30 – 12:30 In this fun class, Texas WIC demonstrates how to turn WIC foods into a fun cooking activity, and to get your kids excited to try new foods.

To register for these events, and see additional WIC Click & Learn Classes visit Texas WIC online at:  https://texaswic.org/online-classes

By |2021-10-13T08:32:47-05:00October 13th, 2021|Categories: Child Health, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|0 Comments
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Texas WIC’s Expanded Produce Benefits Offered Thru December

Get More WIC Fruits, Vegetables Until End of Year

Texas WIC is has extended a popular expanded benefit to get even more WIC produce through Dec. 31. The extra benefits will be added to your card to redeem with your other WIC benefits.

According to TexasWIC.org the extended fruit and vegetable benefits provide the following:

  • Children get $24 (in fruit and vegetable benefits) 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 October, November and December to buy fruit and vegetables.

TexasWIC.org states, “You will see this new amount on your shopping list under your benefit amount. If you already have benefits on your card for October or November, your WIC office may contact you for a time to update your benefits. Contact your local WIC office if you have any questions.”

You can use your WIC benefits at any JC Food Mart location. JC Food mart is a chain of primarily WIC grocery stores that offers an easy, hassle-free shopping experience for WIC clients. You don’t have to search aisles to find WIC-approved products. Instead, our bilingual clerks will personally help you get all the items you want. To find out how easy WIC shopping can be, visit any of our 10 area San Antonio stores today. Find a location near you in the link below:

Locations

By |2021-10-11T09:14:31-05:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: JC Food Mart, Texas WIC, WIC Food|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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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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