Monthly Archives: October 2022

October 2022

Budget Bites to Help You Save Money On Food

2023-01-11T18:12:04+00:00October 21st, 2022|Categories: Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , |

4 Tips To Help You Save Money

Grocery prices keep going up, and we are all looking for ways to stretch our food budgets. Here are a few tips we can all use to curb the waste, and stretch our food dollars even further.

USE MORE, WASTE LESS

If you don’t think you will use them before they go bad, freeze fruits and vegetables. Put them in freezer-safe containers or bags and mark with a date. These frozen portions are great to add to soups or smoothies.

Save veggie scraps like potato rinds, ends of onions and celery pieces, to make veggie broth. These vegetables will make a perfect vegetable broth that is delicious in soups.

Use leftovers creatively. You can turn almost any leftovers into a completely different meal. For example, did you make roasted veggies as a side dish this week? Use the leftovers in a delicious omelet. You cook once and have two delicious meals. Plus, you save time in the kitchen.

MAXIMIZE WIC BENEFITS

One of the best ways to maximize your WIC benefits is to use your SNAP benefits first. Your SNAP benefits roll over, but your WIC benefits expire at the end of the month. USE WIC FIRST.

Make fewer trips. If you are making a trip to the WIC clinic, redeem your WIC benefits during the same trip. Grocery Services North, which caters to WIC clients, are conveniently located near WIC clinics. Grocery Services North caters to WIC clients and helps them redeem their benefits in one easy, fast trip.

PLAN AHEAD

By planning ahead you can save time and money. Plan your menu for the week. See what ingredients can be used to do double duty in your recipes. For example, are you making a homemade soup and stir-fry dish this week? Get an onion that can be used for both. What other ingredients can be used in both meals? Stretch your food dollars by using simple recipes with less ingredients. Plus, it is a great way for your kids to help. Make a menu together on a chalkboard or a colorful paper. Your kids will love the family activity.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

One of the best ways to save money cooking is to make simple, nutritious recipes that don’t have a ton of ingredients. Buy pantry staples like seasonings on sale or in bulk. Make your own salad dressing using olive oil and simple seasonings.

Get all your WIC foods at Grocery Services North in Dallas, Plano, Waco, Tyler and Longview. Grocery Services North caters to WIC clients, and are ready to help you get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. Find a location near you.

Texas WIC’s New Contract Formulas

2022-12-06T14:23:32+00:00October 6th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , |

On Oct. 1, 2022, Texas WIC’s new formula contract went into effect. The listed Similac products
become the corresponding Enfamil product.

This Similac Product…. ….Becomes This Enfamil Product
Similac Advance 12.4oz PWD 

Enfamil Infant 12.5 oz PWD

Similac Advance 20.6oz PWD

 

Enfamil Infant 12.5 oz PWD

 

Similac Advance 30.8 oz PWD

 

Enfamil Infant 12.5 oz PWD

 

Similac Pro Advance 20.6oz PWD

Enfamil Infant 12.5 oz PWD

Similac Pro Advance 30.8oz PWD

Enfamil Infant 12.5 oz PWD

Similac Advance 13oz CON

Enfamil Infant 13oz CON

Similac Advance 32oz RTU

Enfamil Infant 32oz RTU

Similac Sensitive 12.5oz PWD

 

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac Sensitive 20.1 PWD 

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac Sensitive 29.8 oz PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac Pro Sensitive 20.1 oz PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac Pro Sensitive 29.8oz PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac Sensitive 32oz RTU

Enfamil Gentlease Neuropro 32oz RTU

Similac For Spit Up 12.5oz PWD

Enfamil A.R. 12.9 OZ PWD

Similac For Spit Up 19.5oz PWD

Enfamil A.R. 12.9 OZ PWD

Similac Total Comfort 12.6oz PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac PRO Total Comfort 20.1oz PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

Similac PRO Total Comfort 29.8 PWD

Enfamil Gentlease 12.4oz PWD

 

Texas WIC’s Expanded Fruit & Vegetable Benefits Extended Thru Dec. 16

2022-10-05T19:51:45+00:00October 3rd, 2022|Categories: Grocery Services North, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

The WIC Fruit, Vegetable Bump Extended Thru Dec. 16

Texas WIC’s extended fruit and vegetable benefits are now extended thru December! Congress approved the expanded benefits last week, which were set to expire at the end of September. 

 The new benefits are now available thru Dec. 16. 

According to Texas WIC, “Participants who receive the increased benefits in December are able to redeem them throughout the entire month.”

According to Texas WIC, the new Cash Value Benefits (CVB) amounts for fruits and vegetables are:

  • $25 monthly for children
  • $44 monthly for pregnant and postpartum participants
  • $49 monthly for fully and partially breastfeeding participants
  • $73.50 for mothers breastfeeding multiple children

The expanded WIC fruit and vegetable benefits was expected to return to $11 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $9 for children Oct. 1.

WIC clients should contact a local WIC office if they have questions about these benefits. 

WIC clients can get all their WIC groceries in one easy stop at any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Plano, Waco, Tyler and Longview. There are 11 stores conveniently located near WIC clinics. Find a location online.

Texas WIC Formula Changes Take Effect Oct. 1

2022-10-05T19:50:18+00:00October 1st, 2022|Categories: Baby Formula, Grocery Services North, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |

On Oct. 1, Texas WIC’s new formula contract went into effect.

Texas WIC’s contract for milk-based formulas has switched from Abbott Laboratories, the makers of Similac, to Mead Johnson, the makers of Enfamil products. The new contract is only for milk-based formulas. All other formula products remain unchanged. 

“All WIC participants receiving standard milk-based infant formulas will be transitioned to Enfamil products for benefits beginning October 2022,” according to a statement from Texas WIC.

There is a Mead Johnson product equivalent for every Abbott Laboratories product.  

If you haven’t already discussed this change with your local WIC office, contact them at your earliest convenience. 

“The WIC program is required to have a contract with one specific formula company to help keep costs down. We renew the contract every 5 years. The award for the contract from October 2022 – September 2027 for milk based formula is Mead Johnson, the makers of Enfamil. The soy-based formula will continue to be with Abbott, the makers of Similac,” according to a statement from Texas WIC.