How to Eat Healthy With The WIC Program
If you’re a mom on a budget, you know how hard it can be to provide your family with healthy meals. But did you know that the Texas WIC program can help? Learn how to eat healthy with WIC.
Texas WIC is a government program that provides financial assistance and nutrition education to low-income families. Learn how the WIC program works and learn a few tips for eating well on a budget.
1. What is WIC and what does it offer participants?
Texas WIC is is a nutrition education program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) that helps moms provide a healthy start for their babies. The program provides free nutrition education, counseling, breastfeeding support, and free monthly supplemental food packages for pregnant women, postpartum women, and children up to age 5.
2. How to apply for the WIC program?
If you are a Texas resident that is pregnant or are a mother of a child younger than 5 you can apply for the program by visiting WIC online to start your application or by calling 800-942-3678 to locate a WIC clinic to schedule an appointment to apply.
3. What foods are available with the WIC program?
There are several free monthly food packages that are different for moms and children based on their age and nutritional needs. There is a specific food package for pregnant mothers that includes foods that, according to WIC, “are low in fat and high in fiber, provide nutritional variety and help promote a healthy weight gain for a healthy baby.” Infants have packages that may include baby formula and older children have packages that include eggs, fruits and vegetables, cereals, and more.
4. How to use your benefits to eat healthy with WIC
Texas WIC clients receive an EBT card that is loaded each month with their WIC benefits. Clients take their EBT to the store to redeem their benefits. Stores like Lone Star Family Market – which are PWIC stores that cater to WIC clients – help make it easy for WIC customers to get all their WIC products in one easy stop.
5. Sample meal ideas using only WIC-approved foods
WIC-approved foods help make it easy to create healthy meals for your family. Use WIC-approved foods to make meals like omelets (which use WIC-approved eggs and vegetables), stir fry (using WIC foods like whole-wheat rice and vegetables), beans, and whole-wheat rice and pasta dishes use whole-wheat pasta and cheese. The options are endless and you know you are going to be eating healthier when you are cooking with WIC foods. Get more recipe ideas using WIC foods on our blog.
The WIC program is a great way to get started on the path to healthy eating on a budget. With the help of Lone Star Family Market, it’s easy to find nutritious WIC-approved foods that your family will love.
WIC Inspired Recipe – Turkish Eggs
For this week’s WIC-inspired recipe we’re bringing you Turkish eggs! This dish is simple to make and uses WIC-approved ingredients.
Turkish Eggs, or Cilbir, is a traditional Turkish dish with simple ingredients like yogurt, garlic, red pepper flakes, poached eggs, & butter. There are records of cilbir being eaten by Ottoman sultans as far back as the 15th century, and it’s often known as Turkish comfort food.
Today, Turkish eggs can make a great breakfast or snack using WIC ingredients, including eggs, yogurt, and whole wheat bread.
Turkish Eggs (Cilbir)
3 Eggs
1 Clove of Garlic
½ Cup of Thick Plain Yogurt
2 tbsp Butter
2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
3 Slices of Whole Wheat Bread
1 tbsp White Vinegar
Salt, Pepper, & Dill to taste
Spoon yogurt onto a plate & use the back of the spoon to spread it out. Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat, add minced garlic & red pepper flakes. Stir until color is uniform & remove from heat.
Fill a large saucepan with 2 – 3 inches of water & bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, pour in vinegar, and keep at a simmer. Crack an egg into a small bowl or ramekin and gently slip the egg into the simmering water. Repeat with remaining eggs. Cook the eggs for 3 minutes until the egg whites are firm & the yolk has thickened but not hard. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon & add to plate with yogurt.
Spoon the butter, garlic & chili pepper mixture on top of the poached eggs & sprinkle with black pepper, a pinch of salt, & dill to taste. Toast the bread until lightly browned. Dip into the Turkish eggs & enjoy! Makes 2 Servings.
WIC INSPIRED RECIPE FROM LONE STAR FAMILY MARKET
Get all your WIC groceries in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market location in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Bilingual clerks personally help you get all your WIC foods without all the hassle.
Did you make this WIC-inspired recipe? Let’s be friends. Tag us on Instagram using @lone_star_family_market or Facebook using @lonestarfamilymarket
Recalled Formula Update
We continue to monitor the Abbott Formula recall and update our customers as we become aware of any changes.
To find out if the product you have is included in this recall, visit similacrecall.com and type in the code on the bottom of the package, or call +1-800-986-8540 (U.S.) and follow the instructions provided.
For questions about exchanging or returning your formula for another kind, or about your benefits, please see your WIC Clinic. Texas WIC is working to develop instructions on how to handle the formula recall.
Here at Lone Star Family Market, we have gone through our entire inventory and have removed all recalled products. We strive to adhere to and follow all manufacturer recalls.
We are also working with manufacturers to ensure that we receive new, unaffected product in stock as soon as possible. Rest assured that, your health and safety are very important to us. We will update this notice if Abbott puts out anything new on this subject.
Thank you. We do appreciate your business and patience while this manufacturer works to resolve this.
Customers can also contact Similac Customer Service at:
1-800-986-8540 or similacrecall.com
RECALL ALERT: Check Your Formula
WIC Inspired Recipes – Banana & Egg Pancakes
These banana & egg pancakes are quick & easy to make & can be enjoyed even by some of the pickiest toddlers. This simple pancake recipe only uses 2 main ingredients & is so delicious that you may never make regular pancakes again!
Banana & Egg Pancakes
2 Eggs
1 Banana
Cinnamon
Oil (Olive oil, etc)
Maple Syrup or Honey, Optional
Instructions:
Peel the banana & mash in a medium-sized bowl. In a separate bowl, crack the eggs & whisk them together. Pour eggs into the bowl of mashed banana, add a dash of cinnamon, and mix together. Heat a pan to medium heat & add oil. Slowly drop a large spoonful at a time of banana & egg mixture to pan & heat until golden brown on both sides. Top with honey, syrup, or your choice of fruit.
Enjoy!
WIC INSPIRED RECIPES FROM LONE STAR FAMILY MARKET
Get all your WIC groceries in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market location in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Bilingual clerks personally help you get all your WIC foods without all the hassle.
Did you make this WIC-inspired recipe? Let’s be friends. Tag us on Instagram using @lone_star_family_market or Facebook using @lonestarfamilymarket