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.
LONE STAR FAMILY MARKET
Lone Star Family Market 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. Lone Star Family Market is a service provider for the WIC program, not a part of the WIC program.
Ways Texas 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.
- WIC provides supplemental foods to qualifying pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women.
- WIC helps to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies. That includes providing baby formula to babies in need.
- WIC provides nutrition education and counseling to help participants make healthy food choices.
- WIC helps participants access other social services.
- 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 Lone Star Family Market stores in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Bilingual clerks help WIC clients get all their WIC foods in one easy stop. Visit today to find out how easy WIC shopping can be. Find a store near you at lonestarfamilymarket.com/locations
WIC Produce Benefits Update
Expanded Dollar Amount For Fruit, Vegetable Benefits Offered Through Sept. 2023
Good news! Texas WIC’s temporary fruit and vegetable dollar amount increase is now being offered through September 30, 2023! The increased dollar amount for WIC produce benefits (fruits and vegetables) are for the following amounts:
- Children get $25 each month
- Pregnant, postpartum and some breastfeeding clients get $44 each month
- Fully and partially breastfeeding clients get $49 each month
Texas WIC professionals provided the following example: if you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $94 ($44 mom + $25 child + $25 child = $94) to buy fruit and vegetables.
You will see this new amount on your shopping list under your benefit amount, according to Texas WIC.
The fruit and vegetable benefits are expected to return to the normal amounts on Oct. 1, 2023. WIC clients can use their benefits to buy fruits and vegetables that are fresh, frozen and in cans, glass jars and plastic containers.
USE WIC PRODUCE BENEFITS FOR THESE RECIPES
Pick up all your WIC foods at any Lone Star Family Market store. There are 7 locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos to help you get your WIC foods in one easy, fast top. Visit today to find out how easy WIC shopping can be. Here are a few recipes using WIC-approved fruits, vegetables you might like:
Two Recipes Featuring WIC Foods
For even more recipes, visit our blog.
WIC Inspired Recipe
Lemon Alfredo Bowties with Tuna & Peas
1 lb whole wheat pasta
1 cup frozen peas
2 cans tuna
Juice from ½ lemon
(Add lemon zest to bring out more lemon flavor)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ½ cups whole milk
½ stick butter
1 ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
(Mozzarella works great too – Just be sure not to use pre-shredded cheese!)
¼ cup flour
Season with pepper, onion powder, & oregano to your taste
Boil pasta with 1 tablespoon of salt for 10-12 minutes, or suggested cook time on package.
Drain & set aside. In the same pot, heat olive oil at medium high heat and add minced garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Add tuna and break up into smaller pieces. Add lemon zest and lemon juice, cook for 3 minutes, then add butter and half of the shredded cheese. Slowly add in milk and flour, while stirring well. Turn the heat down to medium and bring to a simmer while stirring often. Add in peas, and the other half of the shredded cheese. Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring often, then turn off the heat. Slowly mix in the pasta.
Top with more shredded cheese if you like!
Enjoy!
Mom Hacks Using WIC Foods
Moms and moms-to-be all need savvy, time-saving hacks to save time, be healthy and to maintain sanity.
Infant and toddler moms don’t usually have a lot of spare time. Moms often feel a lot of stress to take care of tiny humans. That’s why we have come up with some great mom hacks to help save time while offering a little piece-of-mind.
Stress for expecting mothers can also be high. What can you eat? What should you not eat? It can be overwhelming. Not to mention, you are creating a human in your belly. That is very tiring.
PREGNANCY HACKS
Now is the perfect time to practice carrying a prepared bag (think diaper bag for moms). Except this bag will be filled with healthy snacks/water for mom. Here are a few ideas for your mom bag: water bottle, dry WIC-approved cereal – which is packed with iron and fiber. Other ideas for your “snack” bag: fresh fruit like bananas or peanut butter on whole wheat bread. Get more information about WIC foods and pregnancy here.
TIME SAVING COOKING HACKS FOR MOMS
Every mom loves a good kitchen shortcut. Here are a few ideas you can use in the kitchen to help you save time or maintain your sanity.
- First up: homemade teething rings. When toddlers start to teeth, it can be painful for your baby and hard on mom. No parent likes a little one to cry in pain. Make homemade teething ring popsicles. The cold pop is perfect for sore gums. Here is a recipe you can use:
BERRY YOGURT POPSICLES
1 ½ bananas (mom can eat the other half)
16 ounces of yogurt (any flavor)
4 ounces of blueberries
Blend all ingredients in a blender until it is very smooth. Place yogurt mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 6 hours. Keep in the freezer for the next time your child needs a treat.
2. Make pre-made snacks for hungry toddlers. Moms know that one of your main roles as a parent is to give your child healthy foods. It can often feel like a full-time job. For kiddos starting to eat table food, make sure you have easy foods you can grab for a snack or meal when your baby wants to eat. A few great examples are avocados and bananas that can be smashed for smaller children. Pre-cook boiled eggs to have on head in the fridge. These are great for children starting to eat real foods and older kids looking for a snack. Here are a few more ideas for snacks using WIC foods.
CRAFTY PROJECTS
Having a little fun can also be a great way to take a break and cut the stress. We have gathered a few hacks using containers from WIC foods. Use empty and cleaned milk and egg cartons for fun crafty projects. So are baby food jars. Here are a few ideas:
- Turn your egg carton into a fun container for kid paint. Each egg holder can be for a different color. Your egg container could also be used to create a homemade sensory tray. Fill the egg carton with items with different textures that you can find around the house: a small ball of yarn, a block, a small piece of fabric. Just make sure the items are age-appropriate and are not a choking hazard for your little one.
- For older kids, use the lids from your milk jugs to make checkers pieces. Just color the lid black or red. Save enough to make your own checkers pieces. Make a checkerboard out of cardboard or a piece of paper you have around the house.
Of course your imagination is the limit for using containers to help entertain your kids. Sometimes kids enjoy making toys out of the simplest items around your house.
The best mom hack of all is to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market location. Since you won’t have to go searching down long aisles to get all your WIC foods, you will save time and your sanity. Find a location near you.
Do you have mom hacks you would like to share? Drop them in the comments below. Use hashtag #GSNmomhacks
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