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.
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!