Yearly Archives: 2022

September 2022

Quick, Easy Family Meal Features Whole Grains

2023-01-11T18:28:45+00:00September 22nd, 2022|Categories: Meal Planning, Pregnancy, Recipes, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Whole grains are a great source of nutrition. Texas WIC features several approved-foods that offer whole grains. This recipe for Pasta with Peas from the “staff favorites” from the Whole Grain Council is a super easy, quick meal that can be made in 15 minutes for the entire family. Find more recipes like this one on their website.

Pasta with Peas

2 eggs, beaten

½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 cup frozen peas

12 ounces whole wheat pasta

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and break linguini in half and cook according to package directions. 

While the pasta is cooking, combine the eggs and cheese in a small bowl, beat, and set aside. Put peas in a strainer, rinse under hot water, and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté for several minutes, until it softens. Add the peas to the skillet and cook for about one minute longer.

Drain the pasta and add to the skillet. Toss gently to mix. Create a well in the center, add the eggs and cheese, and cook until they are starting to firm up. Toss with the pasta and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Let’s celebrate whole grains! 

2022-09-15T17:44:21+00:00September 15th, 2022|Categories: Child Health, Meal Planning, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Recipes, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , |

September is Whole Grains Month! 

Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet. Texas WIC food packages also include whole grains, including brown rice, whole wheat bread and tortillas, corn tortillas, oatmeal and whole-wheat pasta. 

Health experts recommend including whole grains in our diets because they can help “reduce risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity,” according to the Oldways Whole Grains Council.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that at least half of all the grains you eat are whole grains. If you’re like most people, you’re not getting enough whole grains — so see how to make whole grains a part of your healthy diet.

Grains can be either whole or refined. Whole grains have the entire grain kernel, and include whole-wheat flour, oatmeal and brown rice to name a few. Refined grains remove fiber, iron and some vitamins. Examples include white flour, bread and rice. 

In honor of whole grains month, here is a recipe to try:

WIC Whole Grains: Add whole grains to your Tuna Patties

Whole-Grain Tuna Rice Cakes

1 can tuna, undrained

2 cups cooked rice

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

1 Tbsp finely chopped onion

1 slice of whole wheat bread, shredded or crumbled

Dash or two of ground black pepper

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the tuna with its liquid, rice, celery, onion, bread and pepper. Stir in the eggs and mix well. Form mixture into 4 patties using about ¼ cup mix for each. Heat oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add patties and brown on each side. Enjoy!

Get all your WIC foods at Grocery Services North in one easy stop. Grocery Services North is a chain of grocery stores that caters to WIC clients. There are 11 locations in Dallas, Plano, Waco, Tyler and Longview. Visit today!

 

Labor Less This Holiday Weekend

2023-11-10T19:55:04+00:00September 2nd, 2022|Categories: Grocery Services North, Meal Planning, Recipes, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: , |

Make Ahead Recipes Perfect For Enjoying Time With Your Family

All moms need a break. 

Labor Day is the perfect time to take a break from all the extra things you normally do – like extra cooking – and enjoy a special moment with your family. 

Feeding your family can sometimes seem like an all-day event. Mom’s know that kids always seem hungry, and if you aren’t making  breakfast, it’s a snack (or two) and then dinner. Mom’s also need a break. That’s why we have come up with a super easy holiday weekend menu that lets moms take a break and enjoy the holiday.

Pick a few of these recipes below to make ahead of time, giving you extra time to spend with your family. They are super easy recipes the entire family will enjoy. 

ONE PAN CHILI MAC

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. paprika

1 tbsp. cumin 

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

Salt to taste

2 cups water

1 8 oz. can of  tomato sauce

8 oz. whole wheat elbow macaroni

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese or other cheese of your choice

Heat oil in a pan. Add water, tomato sauce, pasta and seasonings, cook on medium-high to bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 10  minutes, stirring until pasta is tender. Sprinkle cheese on top and put the lid on the pan until the cheese is melted. 

CEREAL BAR SNACK

4 cups of WIC-approved cereal of your choice

¾ cup peanut butter

½ cup honey

2 tablespoons butter

Line a square pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray foil with cooking spray. In a large saucepan, heat peanut butter, honey and butter until mixture is boiling and slightly thickened. Place cereal in a bowl. Stir heated peanut butter sauce over cereal. stir until evenly coated. Using the buttered back of the spoon, press the mixture very firmly in a square pan. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm enough to cut. Make and place in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

This recipe makes 4 snack boxes you can store in the refrigerator for up to a week. They are great for snacks or lunch.

SNACK IN A BOX

Boil 4 eggs

Cheese slices

1 peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread

Cut fruit

Boil four eggs in hot water for about 7 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. Peel eggs and slice in half. Slice cheese into bite sized pieces. Make a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread and cut into 4 pieces. Sliced fruit. Assemble snack boxes and put in the refrigerator for up to one week. Enjoy!

Grocery Services North Announces Special Labor Day Hours

2022-09-05T12:31:58+00:00September 1st, 2022|Categories: Grocery Services North, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: , |

Grocery Services North will open certain locations for Labor Day. 

The following stores will be open from 9 AM to 3 PM on September 5th. 

  • Grocery Services North at 1050 N. Westmoreland Rd. Ste. 312, Dallas, TX 75211
  • Grocery Services North at 6921 Lake June Road, Dallas, TX 75217 
  • Grocery Services North at 310 N. Barnes Rd. Ste. A, Garland, TX 75042 
  • Grocery Services North at 8202 Spring Valley Rd., Ste. 300, Dallas, TX 75240 

“We know how important it is to WIC clients, our customers, to be open at the beginning of the month,” said Cristina Torres, store manager. “We love our customers and want to make WIC shopping as easy and convenient as possible.”

Grocery Services North makes it easy for WIC clients to get all their WIC groceries in one easy stop. Our stores and staff cater to WIC clients. Walk in to get everything you need today. 

Everyone at Grocery Services North wishes your family a happy and safe Labor Day. 

August 2022

2 New Grocery Services North Locations Now Open In Tyler, Longview

2022-08-26T20:43:45+00:00August 26th, 2022|Categories: East Texas, Grocery Services North, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: , , , , |

Grocery Services North opened two new stores in East Texas. WIC clients can now get all their WIC foods in one easy stop in Tyler and Longview. 

 The primarily WIC store in Tyler is at 225 East Amherst #700 and the Longview location is at 2430 South High Street, #C4. Both are conveniently located next door to WIC clinics. 

WIC clients can easily get all their WIC foods in one easy stop. Grocery Services North clerks are bilingual and can help customers in English and Spanish. Customers can check their WIC balance before shopping and see exactly what WIC benefits are remaining. Clerks assist customers throughout the process. 

WIC clients can visit a store, and insert their WIC EBT card at the counter. Bilingual clerks help assist WIC customers get all their desired WIC groceries for checkout. 

WIC clients then approve each item for redemption while a clerk sacks all their groceries.

Grocery Services North is a primarily WIC grocery store chain with locations in Dallas and Waco, TX and now East Texas. The stores offer an easy WIC shopping format that takes the hassle out of WIC shopping.

NEW Product Alert!

2022-08-26T15:43:19+00:00August 26th, 2022|Categories: Grocery Services North, Mom Health, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |

Grocery Services Offering Kashi® Cereals While Supplies Last

Customers can redeem WIC benefits for Kashi® organic cereals at Grocery Services North locations, while supplies last.

Grocery Services North is currently offering Kashi® Organic Honey Toasted and Kashi® Organic Warm Cinnamon in 12 ounce boxes. 

The cereals are shaped as hearts and O’s, making it a fun and nutritious treat for children and adults. WIC-approved cereals are low in sugar, iron-fortified and are high in fiber. 

Stop by any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Waco, Tyler and Longview to pick up your WIC foods in one easy stop.

WIC Breakfast Foods

2022-12-05T14:49:44+00:00August 17th, 2022|Categories: Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping|Tags: , , , , , |

Breakfast Recipes With WIC Foods Good Enough To Eat All Day

Some might say breakfast is the best meal of the day. 

Texas WIC offers many healthy breakfast foods for pregnant women and children to help get the day off to a great start. But it is also a great way to end a day. Here are some examples of healthy WIC foods that make the best breakfast ingredients, no matter when you eat them.

Eggs , Whole Wheat Bread, Whole Wheat Tortillas, Fruit, Vegetables, Cereal, Oatmeal, Milk, Fruit Juice, Cheese, Yogurt are all part of the Texas WIC program.

These foods are healthy and great served individually. Combine to make some of the best breakfast foods: omelets, tacos, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and more. But changing it up is always fun. Here are a few WIC breakfast foods with a twist your family will love

BREAKFAST QUESADILLA

2 Whole Wheat Tortilla

2 large eggs

¼ cup shredded cheese

1 teaspoon butter

Cooking spray

Salsa

Sliced Avocado

Crack eggs in a bowl and whisk. Spray skillet with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Put eggs in a pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Put eggs on a plate. Wipe pan clean. Lightly butter one side of the tortilla. Place butter side down in the pan. Put ½ of the scrambled eggs on top of the tortilla and add half of the cheese and fold the tortilla in half.  Cook on each side until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese has melted, about 3 minutes. Repeat to make a second tortilla. Serve with salsa and sliced avocado.

PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS

½ cup old fashioned rolled oats

½ cup milk

1/4 cup plain yogurt 

1 teaspoons maple syrup or honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon peanut butter

Sliced bananas

Add oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup and salt and ½ tablespoon of the peanut butter into a container with an air-tight lid. Stir. Place in the fridge overnight. The next morning, remove the lid. Stir oats and add a splash of milk. Top with remaining peanut butter and slice bananas. Overnight oats can remain in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed container. 

For all your WIC groceries, visit any Grocery Services North location in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. Grocery Services North caters to WIC clients by providing an easy shopping experience and format to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. SNAP also accepted. Find a location near a WIC clinic near you, groceryservicesnorth.com/locations.

 

Easy, Fast Breakfast Or Snack With WIC Foods

2022-08-26T20:09:38+00:00August 17th, 2022|Categories: Recipes, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , |

Seems like we are always in a rush. Looking for a quick and easy breakfast or snack? This one is perfect for you or your littles. It is made using only WIC foods: cereal, peaches and yogurt. Add a little dash of cinnamon for extra taste.

PEACH PARFAIT

1 cup Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds (or any WIC cereal of your choice)

1 snack size peach cup

1 cup of peach yogurt

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Pour ½ cup of cereal in a cup. Smear ½ cup of yogurt on top of cereal. Add ½ of the peach cup on top. Repeat layers of cereal, yogurt and peach cup. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

GET MORE SNACKS USING WIC FOODS

Get these and all your other WIC foods at Grocery Services North, a grocery store chain that caters to WIC clients. Find a location near a WIC clinic near you here. 

Texas WIC Offering Free Online Story Time, Classes

2022-08-17T16:44:36+00:00August 15th, 2022|Categories: Child Health, Kid Activities, Texas WIC|Tags: , , |

Texas WIC is offering a fun online story time for kids Tuesday, Aug. 16th from 9:30 am to 10 AM. 

Kids will learn basic counting and color skills, how fruits and vegetables grow in a garden and how fun it is to try new foods. The story time is all part of Texas WIC’s free online classes for parents and kids. You can watch the program on a mobile device or computer. To register, visit the link here.

There are more FREE WIC classes coming up.

Check these out: 

Live Discussion on breastfeeding, pumping and bottle feeding. This class will be held from 3 to 4 PM, August 16.  Register here

Live Discussion on Introducing your Baby to Foods. This class will be offered from 11 AM to noon August. 17th. Register here.

Live Discussion and Activity on Cool Drinks for Kids. This class will be held online from 11 AM to noon on August 18th. Register here

Texas WIC is a free nutritional education program for qualifying mothers and their children up to age 5. If you would like to apply, visit TexasWIC.org/apply.