Enjoy Summer WIC Foods This July 4!
Summer is in full swing. Que the fireworks because this July 4th is going to be HOT! We have summer WIC foods and fun activities your plans this holiday weekend.
If you are ready to kick off July 4th with a big bang, we have some great tips to help you cool down and chill and celebrate with your family this holiday weekend – all spotlighting foods WIC foods you can redeem with your EBT card.
The fun doesn’t stop there. We also rounded up some family-friendly activities for the entire family.
SUMMER WIC FOODS: PICNIC PERFECT (SPOTLIGHTING WIC INGREDIENTS)
Many people will fire up the grill this holiday weekend. We have the perfect grill addition and a few sides that go perfect with your family picnic.
SUMMER WIC FOODS: GRILLED POTATOES
Wrap your russet potatoes up in foil and throw them on the grill. Before closing the foil, feel free to add your favorite seasoning blend and a little olive oil for some extra flavor. Place them on the grill rack and let them cook. You know they are done when a knife slides easily into the center of the potato. Remove from grill and let cool. Remove foil and get ready for the fluffiest, smokiest tasting “baked” potato you can imagine. Add toppings (cheese, plain yogurt, salt, and pepper to taste) of your choice. 
SUMMER WIC FOODS: SALSA MADE WITH GRILLED PEACHES
While your grill is out, slice open peaches ( a great summer WIC food) in half and throw them cut side down on the grill for this amazing recipe you will want to keep eating ALL SUMMER LONG.
4 ripe peaches pitted and sliced in half
1 red onion diced
2 ripe tomato diced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional)
1 lime juiced
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush the peaches with olive oil and place them cut-side down onto the grill. Grill for about 5 minutes until the peaches are soft but not mushy. In a bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Remove hot peaches from the grill. Let them cool before dicing them. Add to bowl and mix with remaining ingredients. Serve.
INDEPENDENCE DAY FAMILY FUN 
Spending time with loved ones is the best medicine. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to put a smile on a kid’s face and enjoy quality family time. In fact, sometimes the simpler things are the best. Here are a few ideas we loved for spending extra quality time with the family this holiday weekend.
- Make Patriotic Crafts –It is fun to make something patriotic for the holiday. We found a few ideas you might like on Pinterest. Check them out here and here.
- Visit A Local Park
- Make A Snack Together – Check out our blog for great kid-friendly recipes the whole family will love.
- Find Fireworks Displays Where You Live – If you are looking for a fireworks display close to where you live check this out. You are sure to find one near you.
DON’T WASTE TIME, GET YOUR SUMMER WIC FOODS TODAY!
With so much family fun planned, stop by any Lone Star Family Market locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos to pick up all your WIC groceries in one easy stop. Don’t search aisles for WIC-approved foods. Lone Star Family Market caters to WIC clients, and everything in the store is WIC approved. You will be in and out with your groceries for your family picnic. Find a location near a WIC clinic near you on our website.
Ways To Save Money This Summer
Everything seems to cost more these days: gas, groceries, and almost everything else. Here are a few tips to help parents save money this summer on everything from groceries to gas. HINT: Maximizing Texas WIC can help!
MAKE FEWER TRIPS
One way to save gas money is to try to fit in as many errands into the same trip. Fewer trips to an area help reduce the number of miles you are driving to get there and back. Mapping out your errands this way also helps you save time.
For example, if you are driving to a WIC clinic to renew your benefits then pick up your WIC groceries at a nearby PWIC store that caters to WIC clients. Stores like Lone Star Family Market locations are usually really really close to WIC clinics. Sometimes they are even next door. Find a PWIC store near you at LoneStarFamilyMarket.com/locations.
SAVE MONEY WITH WIC: USE EBT
Another way to save money is to make sure you redeem all your EBT benefits. Remember, if you don’t use your WIC benefits by the end of the month they expire. SNAP benefits never expire so redeem your WIC benefits first. Bonus, Lone Star Family Market locations accept WIC and SNAP EBT.
Using programs like WIC for food benefits will help you save money on food. Plus, PWIC stores like Lone Star Family Market caters to WIC clients. That means we have all your WIC items in one place, and the bilingual staff is familiar with the program if you need help.
PLAN YOUR MENU AHEAD, SAVE MONEY WITH WIC FOODS
Another way to save money is to plan your menu for the week or even the month ahead. It also helps create less waste. For example, if you roast veggies you can use them for two meals in one week by using them in a stir-fry one night, as a side, or even in a salad or a grilled sandwich. It also helps you save time because you can cook multiple meals at one time. For more tips on meal planning, see this article.
Plus, check out our blog for more recipe ideas using WIC foods.
It’s also a great activity for kids. When you get them involved, you can have age-appropriate conversations about healthy foods, meal planning, and not wasting food.
Visit These Lone Star Family Market Locations July 4th
Select Lone Star Family Market locations will open July 4th to help WIC clients needing to access their benefits the first week of the month.
The following stores will open 9 AM to 3 PM Monday July 4th:
- Lone Star Family Market at 8756 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78758
- Lone Star Family Market at 512 W. Stassney Lane, Austin, TX 78745
- Lone Star Family Market at 7110 Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78752
Everyone at Lone Star Family Market wishes you and your family a happy and safe July 4th.
Looking for recipes using WIC foods for a perfect for your July 4th weekend celebration? Check out our blog.
Benefits Of Shopping WIC at Lone Star Family Market
Do you find that shopping for WIC products seems frustrating? Get all your WIC-approved groceries at Lone Star Family Market.
Shopping WIC at Lone Star Family Market is easier and faster than what you are probably used to at bigger stores. Our primary focus is WIC clients, so customers get the personalized service and attention they deserve.
Stop wasting time and find out how easy WIC grocery shopping can be.
6 Benefits Of WIC Shopping At Lone Star Family Market
Friendly, Bilingual Staff
Our staff caters to WIC clients. They are familiar with the WIC program and can help answer your questions. They are bilingual – speaking both English and Spanish – for even added ease to your shopping experience. Plus, some of our staff have even been WIC clients. Because Lone Star Family Market caters to WIC clients, you are in a no-judgment zone.
Everything In The Store is WIC Approved
WIC clients won’t have to waste time searching for WIC-approved items. Everything is WIC approved. Plus, because we focus on WIC groceries, customers don’t waste any time at checkout with items not ringing up as a WIC item. We know our WIC items are WIC approved.
Easy, Fast Shopping Format WIC Shopping
Lone Star Family Market locations are conveniently close to WIC clinics. Once you walk in you will discover an easy, fast shopping format geared specifically to WIC shoppers. You don’t have to search aisles. Just walk up to our counter, insert your WIC EBT card and our staff will walk you through the rest. You will have all your WIC groceries ready to go in minutes.
We Know WIC
Because we cater to WIC customers, we are very familiar with the WIC program. Our staff can help answer any questions you may have, and Lone Star Family Market has contacts with WIC staff in case there is a specific need that arises. We are here to help.
Personal Shopping Help
You aren’t shopping alone at Lone Star Family Market. You get personalized attention from the moment you walk in the door. You won’t feel overwhelmed with getting your WIC groceries. Our staff gathers all the WIC items for you as you select them and rings them up. The process is easy and fast.
Everything You Need In One Stop
Lone Star Family Market has everything you need in one place. You won’t have to go from store-to-store looking for everything you need. Visit any of our locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos today to find out how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. LoneStarFamilyMarket.com/locations.
Looking For Fun Summertime Activity For The Kids?
Check Off Mealtime, Playtime At Same Time!
Who said you couldn’t play with your food? Getting kids into the kitchen is a great activity to get their creative juices flowing. It’s also a great way to keep them interested in eating healthy WIC foods.
Healthy WIC foods don’t have to be boring. In fact, you and the kids can turn their little plates into works of art all with some of your favorite WIC ingredients. Gather up some of your favorite WIC foods (oatmeal, fruits, vegetables and tuna fish) for these fun ideas that will get your kiddos excited to help out in the kitchen.
WIC FOOD: OATMEAL
Oatmeal is a super healthy WIC food. It’s also a super healthy snack. For the first snack of the day. Let your kids help “decorate” a bowl of oatmeal like their pets or animals. These fruits make great faces: sliced bananas, berries of all kinds, apple pieces cut into fun shapes and maybe even a little peanut butter to hold pieces together. What little one wouldn’t love eating this yummy, healthy creation once they are done?
Oatmeal is a great WIC food because it’s full of fiber, iron and other vitamins and minerals like zinc.
WIC FOOD: FRUIT CRITTERS 
Getting your kids to eat more fruit is easy when you make fruit critters. Slice up some of your favorite fruits and let your toddlers “color” their plate by turning the fruit into fun animals. You can get them started by making a few of your own. It’s also fun to cut fruit into fun shapes using kid-friendly cookie cutters.
WIC FOOD: VEGGIE PALS
Having a hard time getting enough vegetables into your tot’s stomach? Serve them a plate of green peas that look like a friendly frog.
WIC FOOD: TUNA FISHY 
First, make a bowl of tuna fish, using this great Texas WIC recipe. Then let the little ones help by spreading it on a piece of toasted whole wheat bread. Place another piece of whole wheat bread on top. Let the kids decorate the sandwich into fruit to make it look like a fish. See photo above. Orange quarters, banana slices and berries can all be used to make fun fish faces and fins. Looking for a little more creative inspiration? Check out this recipe idea from Texas WIC.
Texas WIC is an advocate of getting kids in the kitchen to help in “age-appropriate ways,” and these recipes are a great way to get them involved. For more tips from including kids in the kitchen, check out these tips online.
RENEW YOUR WIC BENEFITS AND REDEEM THEM IN THE SAME TRIP
Next time you need WIC foods, visit a nearby Lone Star Family Market store to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. Lone Star Family Market locations are located near WIC offices to make it super convenient for clients to get everything they need.
There are locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Visit online to find a store near you.
Visit our blog for more recipes using WIC foods.