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Yearly Archives: 2021

September 2021

Grocery Services North Announces Labor Day Hours

2022-03-21T15:24:18+00:00September 3rd, 2021|Categories: Grocery Services North, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: |

Four Dallas area locations will be open special hours for Labor Day. Everyone at Grocery Services North wishes you  a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. For your convenience, we are opening four stores if you find yourself in need of baby formula, baby food, milk, bread and other WIC grocery items. SNAP is also accepted.  The following stores will be open from 9 AM to 3 PM: LAKE JUNE In southeast Dallas, visit our Lake June store at  6921 Lake June Road. The store can be reached 214-391-7545.  WESTMORELAND In west Dallas, visit our Westmoreland location at 1050 N. Westmoreland Rd. Ste. 312. You can reach this store by phone at 214-333-5031. GARLAND Visit our location in Garland at 310 N. Barnes Road #A. Contact this store at 972-276-1410. The following store will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM.  SPRING VALLEY In northeast Dallas, visit our Spring Valley location at 8202 Spring Valley Rd. Ste. 300 will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can reach this store at 214-575-5266. 

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Need Help With Food? WIC, SNAP Can Help

2022-01-04T16:56:30+00:00September 2nd, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Grocery Services North, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

Sometimes everyone needs a helping hand with their groceries. Food assistance programs – like Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) and SNAP – can offer much needed help putting food on your table so you don’t have to worry how you are going to get your next meal.

WOMAN, INFANT & CHILDREN (WIC)

Texas WIC provides free food assistance for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children up to age 5. The program is for Texas residents that meet  income requirements. WIC recipients get free nutrition counseling and education, breastfeeding support and food assistance to help ensure children get a healthy start. 

WIC participants get their monthly food package benefits loaded onto an ebt card that can be redeemed for WIC foods. 

Pregnant mothers may get food packages that include cereal, beans, dairy, fruits & vegetables and more. Infant children would qualify for a food package that includes baby formula and baby food. Older children would qualify for packages that include milk, eggs, cheese, bread, fruits & vegetables and more. To learn more about food packages visit WIC online. 

The program is a great tool for mothers to ensure that their babies are getting the right nutrition that they need. Afterall, baby formula is expensive, and you don’t need to worry if your little one will have enough.  Apply online at TexasWIC.org/apply.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

SNAP , sometimes called a food stamp program, is a food assistance program that loads benefits onto an ebt card, used like a debit card, called the Lone Star Card, to pay for groceries. To see if you qualify, visit YourTexasBenefits.com

MAXIMIZING FOOD STAMP BENEFITS

If you qualify for both programs, understanding key differences can help you maximize your benefits. 

WIC expires at the end of each month. If not used, SNAP rolls over to the next month to be used later. To maximize food stamp benefits, use WIC benefits first. Any SNAP benefits you don’t use during the month can roll to the next month up to a year.  If you don’t use WIC benefits during the month it was issued, you lose them. To maximize all your benefits, use WIC first and roll what you don’t use for SNAP to the next month.

WIC is geared toward paying for nutritious food for growing children up to age 5. SNAP can be used for adults and older children. 

Also, some WIC clients that have both WIC and SNAP use their SNAP benefits for extra baby formula for their little ones if it is needed.

Grocery Services North can help you avoid the hassle redeeming any of your food benefits. We cater to families that need food assistance. Because our staff is familiar with food assistance programs, you won’t have any hassle at check out, and you will be in and out with nutritious food for your family in one easy stop. 

Grocery Services North stores provide all the food categories for the WIC program so you don’t have to search aisles trying to determine what qualifies for WIC. We also accept SNAP. To find a location near you, visit GroceryServicesNorth.com/locations.

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Snack With WIC: Smoothies Using WIC Foods

2023-11-10T19:53:56+00:00September 1st, 2021|Categories: Child Health, Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

Chill Out With A Refreshing Smoothie

Smoothies are a quick and easy way to get an extra dose of fruits and vegetables, making them a healthy WIC snack. They also don’t require a lot of ingredients. Gather some of your favorite WIC foods and blend away. Smoothies are a combination of fruits and/or vegetables, liquid, protein and ice (if you aren’t using frozen fruit) blended together. The fun part is that they are easy to switch up to find a fun new flavor.

SNACK WITH WIC

Some common smoothie ingredients include:

FRUITS (FROZEN OR FRESH): Bananas, Peaches, Mangos, Apples, Berries and Even Avocados

VEGETABLES: Spinach, Carrots, Celery and Cucumbers

PROTEIN: Peanut Butter

LIQUIDS: Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, Juice or Water (like ice if you aren’t using frozen fruit)

OPTIONAL FOR FUN: Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice There are so many WIC foods to pick from – Fruits, Veggies, Peanut Butter and Milk. Those are all super healthy WIC-approved foods you can include in your morning smoothie. The fun part is you don’t need a recipe. Use the recipe below provided by Texas WIC as a guide, but substitute any of the ingredients or combinations above to come up with new favorites. Because smoothies are packed with nutrition (and WIC ingredients) they make a great breakfast or snack for adults and kids. They are especially tasty as the long hot days of Summer approach. If you have fresh fruit you think might go bad before you eat it (like bananas or berries), just cut and put it in a freezer-safe container and store for your next smoothie.

SMOOTHIE BOWL

Smoothie bowls are a hot trend and is a fun new way to eat smoothies.

If your tot isn’t ready to drink from a straw, but is trying purees, this version might be perfect for them. If making for a child, be mindful to avoid certain ingredients (like nuts because of choking) and even peanut butter if you haven’t yet determined if they aren’t allergic. Also, skip adding the whole fruit on top.

Note: It’s best to try ingredients that a child might be allergic to one at a time instead of blending multiple items together. This is helpful so you can easily identify which food might have caused the allergy. Once a child has individually tried all the ingredients you want to add to a smoothie bowl, you should be safe. Just make sure everything is blended well. A smoothie bowl is also a fun way for adults to enjoy fruits and veggies. You can even top off your bowl with a handful of fresh berries or sliced fruit for extra texture. RECIPE FROM TEXASWIC.ORG Texas WIC offers this recipe on their website. Of course you can add more or substitute as you like:

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

1 Banana 2 cups frozen Strawberries (without added sugar)

¾ cup Milk

8 ounces low-fat Vanilla Yogurt

Tips: You can use any fruit – try mangoes, peaches or blueberries! If using all fresh fruit, try blending in ice cubes to thicken it up. You can also use 100% fruit juice or soy milk instead of milk, or even silken tofu instead of yogurt! Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

APPLY FOR TEXAS WIC

Texas WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for expectant mothers and their children up to age 5 who meet certain criteria. The program provides nutrition counseling and support, free monthly food packages and breastfeeding support. To find out if you may be eligible, visit TexasWIC.org to apply. Get the ingredients for your smoothie at Grocery Services North, a primarily WIC grocery store chain in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. To find a location near you, visit GroceryServicesNorth.com/locations.

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August 2021

Prepping WIC Produce To Eat

2022-08-26T00:12:41+00:00August 17th, 2021|Categories: Grocery Services North, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , |

How To Care For Your Fruits & Vegetables

You picked up your fresh WIC produce from the store, but before you cook and prepare your favorite recipes it’s important to take a few steps to prepare your WIC fruit and vegetables. 

You should wash all of your produce under running water and dry with a clean paper towel as soon as you bring it home. Also, cut away any damaged or bruised areas before you eat or prepare, according to guidelines from the CDC. 

The CDC also recommends: “Keeping fruits and vegetables separate from raw foods that come from animals, such as meat, poultry, and seafood and refrigerating fruits and vegetables within 2 hours after you cut, peel, or cook them (or 1 hour if the outside temperature is 90° or warmer). Chill them at 40°F or colder in a clean container.”

If you don’t think you will eat your fresh produce before it goes bad, you can always freeze it. Frozen bananas are great in smoothies. For best results, blanch vegetables like broccoli before freezing. Place cut broccoli in boiling water for about 3 three minutes, derailed, cooled and placed in freezer bags and then freeze. 

Blanching times for vegetables vary, but there are a lots of guides, like this one, from the Texas Agricultural Extension Office.

TEXAS WIC PRODUCE CLASSES

Texas WIC currently offers two Click & Learn classes on their website that offers great information about preparing and eating fruits and vegetables. To sign up for the free classes, visit the following website and follow the instructions for taking the classes. Dallas WIC Produce

The first WIC class, Food Safety at Home teaches about:

      • Food safety practices
      • Importance of washing hands and surfaces
      • Ways to prevent bacteria from spreading
      • How to cook at a safe temperature

The second WIC online class, Follow the Rainbow with Fruits & Vegetables, covers the following topics:

      • Health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables
      • Daily fruit and vegetable recommendations
      • Tips for increasing fruits and vegetables

Texas WIC is a free nutritional education program that provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and free food packages to qualifying mothers and their children up to age five. To apply for the program, apply online. 

Texas WIC is offering extended fruit and vegetable benefits through September. Individuals are receiving $35 in fruit and vegetable benefits instead of the normal $11 per person benefit. Learn more online at Texas WIC. 

Grocery Services North is a primarily WIC grocery store chain in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview that caters to WIC clients by providing an easy, hassle-free shopping experience for WIC clients. Find a location near you at GroceryServicesNorth.com/locations.

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Cooking With WIC Foods

2022-08-26T00:08:16+00:00August 13th, 2021|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC|Tags: , , |

VEGGIE OPEN-FACED SANDWICH ON WHOLE WHEAT

Cooking with WIC foods is fun for the whole family. Here is a twist on a classic American favorite – grilled cheese. 

Texas WIC is a nutritional assistance program that provides free counseling and monthly food packages for moms and their children up to age five. The program helps ensure children get a healthy start in life. Each month WIC clients get access to FREE nutritional foods.

The recipe below uses WIC foods like whole wheat bread, cheese and vegetables. It’s a great way to get multiple healthy ingredients in one meal. Plus, it’s super easy and quick to make, something every mother will love. In a few easy steps you can have this meal ready for a weekend lunch or quick family dinner.

VEGGIE OPEN FACED SANDWICH ON WHOLE WHEAT

2 pieces of Whole Wheat Bread Enough cheese slices to cover top of toast, use whatever flavor you like

1/2 Onion,

sliced ½ Bell Pepper, sliced

1 tablespoon of Olive Oil

Add olive oil to pan on medium heat. Add sliced onions and bell pepper and cook until tender. Lay bread on a baking sheet. Add cheese on top. Add cooked veggies on top of cheese. Cook in oven at 355 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes until toast is golden brown and cheese is melted.  Get your WIC foods at any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. Grocery Services North offers WIC Grocery shopping in 1 easy stop. The stores carry baby formula, baby food, milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, beans and produce – all in an easy shopping format so you can get everything you need without all the hassle. 

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July 2021

WIC, Pregnancy and FREE Nutrition Help

2022-08-26T00:05:03+00:00July 29th, 2021|Categories: Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , |

Pregnancy, WIC Go Hand and Hand

Are you pregnant, and need a helping hand with your baby? Mothers can get nutrition help for free from Texas WIC program.

It’s a great resource for qualifying expecting moms and moms of children up to age 5. The program provides nutrition education and free monthly food packages for expecting mothers.

So what’s included in the WIC package? WIC provides pregnant mothers with access to healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and protein. They also offer nutrition education to help you make healthy choices for yourself and your baby.

Once your baby arrives, they also provide breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling, and even free formula for your baby. The good news is you can apply for the FREE nutrition assistance before your baby arrives.

EXPECTING MOTHERS CAN APPLY FOR  NUTRITION HELP FROM TEXAS WIC

If you would like to apply to the program, visit TexasWIC.org/apply to find out if you qualify.

EASY WIC SHOPPING DURING PREGNANCY AND BEYOND

Let Grocery Services North show you how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. The primarily WIC grocery store chain helps WIC clients get all their WIC groceries in one easy, hassle-free stop. Locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview are located near WIC clinics for convenient access.  Find a location at groceryservicesnorth.com

WIC Nutrition Help

 

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WIC Food Helps Raise Healthy Babies in Texas

2022-08-26T00:01:30+00:00July 20th, 2021|Categories: Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

Every Texas mom wishes for a healthy baby. A free Texas program – Texas WIC – is helping moms have healthier babies while from the time they learn they are pregnant. 

Pregnant moms who meet certain guidelines (see below for guidelines) can qualify for the Texas Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) program. The program is a free nutritional counseling program to help mothers get the nutrition their babies need to be healthy. 

The program offers free nutritional guidance, support and free monthly nutritional food packages. Each WIC participant receives an ebt card that is loaded each month to help mothers get healthy food packages that are customized to their needs.

 Pregnant mothers receive credits on their ebt card for certain foods – such as cereal, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, low fat milk whole grails and fruits & vegetables –  that help them get the right nutrition while they are expecting. You can learn more about these food packages on WIC’s website.

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All About Peanut Allergies

2022-08-25T23:56:13+00:00July 12th, 2021|Categories: Child Health, Recipes, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , |

Experts Give Advice About Peanut Allergies

The thought of peanut allergies may stir up some nerves for parents concerned about giving peanut butter to their little ones.  With a few tips and guidelines from pros, parents can be prepared to recognize any signs of an allergic reaction. Texas WIC provides a great online resource about food allergies, including how to spot signs of a food reaction, like hives, flushed skin or rash, tingling or itching in the mouth or other body part swelling in face or tongue, vomiting or diarrhea, stomach cramps, coughing or wheezing or dizziness or difficulty breathing.  

Even though parents may want to avoid exposure to peanuts out of fear of an allergy, experts offer some advice. Early exposure to peanuts (around 6 months of age) might actually lower the chances of developing an allergy, according to research provided by The National Peanut Board.  A great way to introduce peanuts to your little one is thinned peanut butter. After all you don’t want your little one to choke on peanuts, which are not at all recommended to be given to babies or toddlers.

According to Texas WIC: you most likely do not need to avoid the common food allergens while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Introducing a common food allergen to your baby after 6 months is okay, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Offering foods containing ground or powdered peanuts may even lower his risk of developing an allergy. It does not increase the chance of your baby developing a food allergy.

PEANUT BUTTER IS A WIC FOOD

Peanut butter, a Texas WIC Food, is full of nutrition, including more protein than any other nut and more than 30 vitamins, minerals, fiber and good fats, according to the National Peanut Board.  To help offer up a few servings of peanut butter perfect for toddlers and adults here are a few recipes to try. Yogurt Cinnamon Peanut Butter Dip For Fruit The National Peanut Board offers great recipes online, including this one originally from rhubarbarians.com for:

FRUIT  KABOBS WITH YOGURT PEANUT BUTTER DIP

1 cup salted peanut butter* 1 cup plain yogurt 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (Omit for children 2 and younger) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 10 large strawberries, hulled and sliced in half lengthwise 1 medium banana, peeled and sliced into 1″ slices 1/2 medium apple, cut into bite sized pieces 20 large blueberries Stir together the 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of yogurt, 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup (depending on how sweet you’d like the dip), and the 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Set aside. Form your kabobs by piercing the fruit with the end of a skewer and sliding the fruit on. Continue adding fruit to your kabobs evenly until you have 5 full kabobs of fruit. Enjoy and have fun! Take pieces of fruit off of the kabobs and dip into the yogurt peanut butter dip. Note: If using unsalted peanut butter, add a small pinch of salt to the dip. Peanut butter is a popular WIC food.

Here is is one of our favorite recipes using peanut butter:

CINNAMON PEANUT BUTTER BANANA TOAST WIC Peanut Butter

1 slice whole-wheat bread, toasted 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 banana, sliced Ground Cinnamon to taste Toast bread. Spread peanut butter on one side of toast. Place sliced bananas on bread in single layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Get all your WIC foods at Grocery Services North locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. Our stores have bilingual clerks that gather all your WIC items during a one-stop shop without all the hassle of  searching for all your WIC foods.

 

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Celebrate July 4th With American Picnic Using WIC Foods

2023-11-10T19:54:05+00:00July 2nd, 2021|Categories: Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food|Tags: , |

The heart of the summer – July 4th – is almost here. 

Grilling, cold fruit and fresh sides are the perfect ingredients for a holiday picnic. To help make your planning a little easier, here are two perfect recipes featuring WIC foods.  The first recipe will cool you off from that hot summer sun, but offers the ‘blue’ and ‘white’ for your red, white and blue menu. These little bites pair perfectly with a cold watermelon.  They may be such a hit with the kids, that you want to keep some in the freezer for the next few months. 

Texas WIC Fruit FROZEN YOGURT BLUEBERRY BITES

1 8-ounce container of Blueberries

½ cup Vanilla Yogurt

Cover a large baking sheet with wax paper. Place yogurt in a small bowl and stir. Poke blueberry one at a time with a toothpick and dip into yogurt until it is completely covered. Move blueberry from toothpick onto wax-covered baking sheet. Repeat with all blueberries. Place in the freezer for 2 hours. Remove blueberries from wax paper using a spatula. Once frozen, place all blueberries into an airtight freezer-safe bowl with lid and until ready to eat. Can store in the freezer for a few months.  Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

This next recipe is easy to add any vegetables from your refrigerator. Feel free to cut and use what you have. Substitution ideas include broccoli, olives, carrots or really anything you like.

COLORFUL RAINBOW PASTA SALAD

8 ounces of Dried Pasta (such as Rotini)

1 package of Italian Salad Dressing mix

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced

½ Onion, sliced thin

1 Zucchini squash, sliced thin

1 Yellow Squash, sliced thin

Pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.  Prepare Italian seasoning mix according to directions. Mix dressing and pasta in a large bowl. Add cut vegetables. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. To pick up all your WIC groceries for your July 4th party, visit any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Waco, Tyler or Longview.  Texas WIC is currently offering expanded fruit and vegetable benefits this month.  For more information about Texas WIC, visit TexasWIC.org.

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June 2021

Fun Family-Friendly Recipe Ideas

2023-11-10T19:55:26+00:00June 28th, 2021|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC|Tags: , |

Recipes Featuring WIC Foods: Fruits and Vegetables

Looking for something new to make? We have a few family-friendly meal ideas for recipes spotlighting a popular WIC food: fruits and vegetables.  This month Texas WIC is offering even more fruit and vegetable benefits. Here are a few ideas to serve up recipes with some great produce you can get with those added benefits.  This first treat is perfect for kids and adults, and it’s a great treat for the summer. Banana Pops

FROZEN YOGURT BANANAS

2 Bananas cut in half in the middle of the banana

1 cup Yogurt

2 tablespoons of Maple Syrup

½ teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Pop sticks Insert pop stick into bottom of banana. (see photo). Combine yogurt, syrup and cinnamon in a bowl and mix. Dip the bananas in the mixture. Lay dipped bananas onto a cookie sheet. You can add sprinkles or mini chocolate chips for added fun.  Freeze for about 6 hours or until yogurt is frozen.  This recipe is the perfect side for any summertime meal. It’s also very easy to make. 

 

CUCUMBER, TOMATO & ONION SALAD

Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

1 large Cucumber, sliced.

3 Tomatoes cut into thin wedges

1 Onion, sliced

1 cup White Vinegar

2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

¼ cup Water

1 tablespoon sugar

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine cut vegetables into a bowl. Combine all other ingredients in another bowl and mix together. 

Pour the mixture over the cut vegetables and mix together. Cover and place in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.   Pick up your WIC groceries at any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, or Longview. We provide an easy shopping format for WIC groceries and even have bilingual staff to help you get everything you need. To find a location near you, visit us online at Groceryservicesnorth.com/locations. 

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