WIC Inspired Recipes – Broccoli Tater Tots
Broccoli Tater Tots
3 large russet potatoes
2 (12 – 14 ounce) bags frozen broccoli florets that have been thawed, or 8 cups steamed broccoli florets
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese (or mozzarella)
2 teaspoons salt, plus more for sprinkling on top
Olive oil
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and cook for 25 minutes, until fork tender but still have some give in the middle. Drain water and let potatoes cool until they are comfortable to handle. Once potatoes are warm enough to handle, remove the skins.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grate potatoes on the large side of a grater and place into a large bowl.
Place the broccoli into a food processor and blend until it’s in very small pieces, 30 seconds – one minute. You may need to do it in two batches. Place broccoli onto paper towels and squeeze all excess water out.
Add the broccoli to the grated potatoes along with the salt and mix everything together well.
Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use your hands to form small cylinders with the mixture. Use about 1 tablespoon per tater tot. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes to allow them to firm up.
Brush the top of each tater tot with a small amount of olive oil and sprinkle each one with salt. Bake tater tots until browned crispy, about 30 minutes, flipping halfway though.
This recipe works great in an air fryer too!
Enjoy!
A-B-Cs For First-Time Moms
Being a parent for the first time is both an incredibly exciting and nerve-wracking experience. New moms want to do everything they can to make sure your little bundle of joy stays healthy, happy, and safe. Here are a few A-B-Cs for first-time moms. Read on to learn just a few ABCs necessary for anyone getting ready to be a mommy for the first time!
Acknowledge that you’re scared, but be excited at the same time!
It’s normal to be nervous. Give yourself credit for taking this big step into motherhood. Plus, it never hurts to seek out expert advice from professionals like those at Texas WIC who specialize in infant nutrition and growth monitoring – they’ll help make sure you’re well informed while navigating through these exciting times!
Believe in yourself – you can do this! Sometimes every new mom just has to know she can do it. When in doubt, reach out to your doctor or Texas WIC for help. Texas WIC is a great resource for moms. It is a nutrition education program that assists moms until their child turns 5 years old. If you would like to see if you qualify for Texas WIC, you can apply at TexasWIC.org/apply.
Connect with other moms, either virtually or in person. Every mom needs a support system. This is one great way to get a little extra helpful advice. Social media is also a great place to connect with other moms. Plus, you might make a few new friends at Texas WIC.
FEW MORE ‘C’s FOR FIRST-TIME MOMS
- Create a routine and stick to it as much as possible. Looking for more information about creating routines, check out these tips for newborn babies.
- Cherish every moment – even the tough ones!
EASY WIC GROCERY SHOPPING
To make being a mom even easier, visit a Lone Star Family Market store for easy WIC grocery shopping. You can get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. Find a store near you here.
Baby Teething Cookies
Your Little One Will Love These Valentine-Shaped Biscuits All Year Long
If your baby is learning to eat table food, these are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.
These teething biscuits are made with WIC-approved baby cereal and baby food. Use any baby food flavor your little one likes. Experts recommend that you have tried each of these food items separately before combining them, in the event there is a food allergy. So try a baby food flavor and baby cereal your little one likes.
The texture, flavor and even fun shapes are sure to be a hit. The consistency is a little chewy, perfect for a baby to learn how to use their mouth to chew. As always, make sure you watch your baby eat while they test out these lovable cookie treats. These are also perfect for mom because they are super simple to make.
BABY TEETHING BISCUITS
1 jar of baby food, any flavor
¾ cups of flour for cookies
Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
½ cup of flour for dusting
3 tablespoons of water
1 cup of baby cereal (we used oatmeal)
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Mix wet and dry ingredients until fully incorporated. You may need to add a bit more water to make sure all the dry ingredients are moist. Form a ball. Prepare the surface and rolling pin by dusting with flour. Roll out your dough like you would cookies. Cut using cookie cutters or just use a knife to make bars. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees. Let them cool entirely before you give them to your little one. Make sure they are cool to the touch. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
LONE STAR FAMILY MARKET
Get all your WIC foods, including your baby food and cereal, at any Lone Star Family Market store. You can get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. SNAP also accepted. Find a store near you online.
WIC Inspired Recipes – Chilaquiles & Salsa
CHILAQUILES & SALSA
Makes 2 servings.
SALSA
1 large onion
4 – 5 large tomatoes
1 jalapeno
(remove seeds from jalapeno, or replace with ½ bell pepper if you don’t want it spicy)
Juice of ½ lime or lemon
1 cup cilantro
Salt and/or sugar to taste
For extra flavor, add a whole bulb of garlic to the veggies!
Cook vegetables in the oven at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, turning the veggies over halfway through. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes, then add veggies into a blender along with cilantro and lime or lemon juice. Blend until there’s no chunks, then it’s ready to serve!
CHILAQUILES
2 tbsp Vegetable oil
6 Corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges
2 Eggs
1 cup of Salsa
(To save time, you can use WIC approved Always Save Mild Salsa from Lone Star Family Market instead of making your own)
Pepper
Additional Optional Toppings – Sliced avocado, shredded cheese, onion, cilantro, or even more salsa!
In a large non-stick pan, coat generously with about 2 tbsp vegetable oil and heat on stove top to medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tortillas and fry until golden brown. Remove from heat and move tortillas to a paper towel lined plate to soak up any excess oil. Remove any remaining brown tortilla pieces in the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan, add the salsa and let cook for a few minutes while stirring occasionally. Add the fried tortilla wedges to the pan and gently turn over until tortillas are coated with salsa. Let cook for a few more minutes until tortillas are thoroughly soaked in salsa, yet still slightly crispy. Remove from heat and move tortillas to the plates. Return the pan to the stove top and fry the eggs. On each plate, top the tortillas with the fried eggs. Top with your choice of favorite toppings like shredded cheese and/or avocado for some extra flavor!
Enjoy!
Toddler Snack Boxes
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 Lone Star Family Market stores. Visit a location today to see how easy it can be.
Looking for more helpful ideas? Check out our post about WIC Snacks.