Baby Food

April 2022

WIC Experts On Bottle Prep

2022-04-11T15:38:52+00:00April 8th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Texas WIC, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |

Experts Provide Tips On How To Clean, Prep Bottle For Babies

Preparing a bottle for your baby has several steps. Practice makes perfect, and expert advice is helpful when perfecting the best way to make your baby a bottle.

Texas WIC is a great resource for bottle prep and preparing formula. There isn’t much they don’t know about babies. The agency offers several tips on its website on everything from cleaning bottles, protecting against bacteria and storing formula.

As you familiarize yourself with the process of preparing a bottle, consider keeping the instructions handy as you learn how to prep a bottle and prepare formula.

WIC EXPERTS ON BOTTLE PREP
WIC bottle Prep

WIC Bottle Prep

It is important to clean and prep a baby bottle correctly before giving it to your baby. This helps ensure that your baby drinks safely from the bottle and that the bottle is clean. Here are the steps WIC experts recommend you take:

  •  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Clean the baby bottle with hot water and soap and all of its parts and air dry 
  • Use a bottle brush to get to the bottom of the bottle.
  • Rinse and dry all parts thoroughly

Texas WIC experts recommend parents boil all bottle parts once a day to ensure all the germs are killed. Cover all baby bottle parts in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes and then let them air dry. Store clean parts in a clean, covered container.  

PREPARING FORMULAWIC bottle prep again

If using a formula, prepare according to the baby’s needs and the manufacturer’s instructions. Always read the instructions provided with the formula. Every formula is different. Experts recommend.

  1. Make sure your work area/surface and hands are clean by washing before you begin.
  2. WIC recommends when mixing powdered formula to heat water to 158 degrees F to kill any possible bacteria. Shake bottle and cool the bottle by running it under cold water to ensure it is a safe temperature to feed your baby.
  3. Following the mixing instructions that come with the formula and mix with safe drinking water.
  4. Never microwave formula, which can create patches of hot formula that burn your baby. Also, “Sprinkle a few drops of formula on your wrist to make sure that it is not too hot” before giving the bottle to your baby, WIC experts recommend.
  5. Use formula within two hours of when you mix it, and when in doubt toss it.

Following these tips will help keep your baby safe and healthy while drinking from his or her bottle. If you have any questions contact your physician or your local WIC office

March 2022

Make Recipes Using WIC Allowed Foods

2022-08-26T02:15:44+00:00March 17th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

Eat A Spoonful Of Luck This St. Patrick’s Day

Are you having a hard time getting your kids to eat the healthy green vegetables on their plate? 

This St. Patrick’s Day tell them eating their green vegetables means “good luck.” Only parents have to know that “good luck” comes in the form of “good health.”

Texas WIC is a program that is designed to help parents and children get a healthy start by providing nutrition counseling, support and healthy foods. WIC allowed foods are added to a monthly WIC EBT card to help women and children up to age 5 eat healthier.

WIC allowed foods can include any of the following depending on your qualifying food category determined by if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, an infant or child up to age 5.  WIC allowed Foods can include everything from milk, whole wheat bread, whole-grain cereal, peanut butter, beans fruits, vegetables and baby food and infant formula and more!

This St. Patrick’s Day cook your family a menu filled with luck (or healthy WIC approved foods.) We have rounded up a few healthy recipes for you to cook up featuring a bite or two of green for your family.

RECIPES USING WIC ALLOWED FOODS

zucchini

Baked Zucchini

2 Zucchini, sliced 1/4″ thick rounds

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

3 tbsp grated cheese of choice

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut zucchini into slices. Combine all ingredients (except zucchini and cheese) in a medium bowl. Mix spices and oil together. Add zucchini and toss. Place zucchini on a single layer on a cooking sheet. Cook in oven for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for about 5 more minutes.

 

 

WIC allowed foods

You can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without cabbage. This recipe from the USDA’s MyPlate is the perfect cabbage recipe:

Cabbage Comfort

1 onion (sliced)

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

4 1/2 cups cabbage (sliced)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon caraway seeds

Heat oil in a large saute pan. Saute onion over medium heat, until light brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add sliced cabbage, salt, black pepper, and caraway seeds. Stir and cook for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes using WIC foods from the USDA. Check out this menu.

Get all your WIC foods at Grocery Services North in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. The grocery store caters to WIC clients and makes WIC grocery shopping easy. Check your WIC EBT before you shop. Plus, bilingual clerks will help you through your entire visit. Find a location near you. 

didyoumakethis?Did you make this WIC-inspired recipe? Let’s be friends.  Tag us on Instagram or Facebook using @groceryservicesnorth

Find more recipes using WIC foods on our blog.

 

 

 

 

Learn About Texas WIC Food List

2022-08-26T02:27:59+00:00March 11th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC|Tags: , , , , , |

If you are new or interested in joining Texas WIC, you are likely getting familiar with the Texas WIC food list. There are more WIC foods approved now than ever before. 

The WIC program offers free nutritional assistance for mothers to help them raise healthy children until they turn 5 years old. The program offers nutritional support, free classes, breastfeeding support, and free monthly food packages for expecting mothers and their children while they are on the program. 

Those Texas WIC free food packages are tailored to the mother’s and children’s nutritional needs as they advance through the program, depending on the child’s age. The food packages may include everything from tuna, milk, and cereal, fruits and vegetables for an expecting mother to the formula for babies and whole wheat pasta, bread, peanut butter, beans, and more for older children.

Texas WIC Food List

Each month you will get more familiar with the Texas WIC food list as you get your WIC groceries. You can also learn more about the food list and packages at TexasWIC.org.

The WIC food list is broken into the following categories: Pregnant women, moms and fully breastfeeding babies, moms and partially breastfeeding babies, moms and formula feeding babies, children 1 to 2 years and children 2 to 5 years. 

WIC client’s monthly food package benefits, all the foods from their WIC food list, are loaded onto a WIC EBT card for the client to redeem when shopping for their WIC groceries.

Grocery stores like Grocery Services North – which has locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview – help mothers easily shop for WIC groceries. Grocery Services North is a primarily WIC grocery store chain that specializes in serving WIC clients. At the store, customers can see the benefits on their WIC EBT card before they shop. Because everything in the store is WIC approved clients don’t have to worry about finding all the correct WIC foods from their list.  Bilingual clerks help customers shop for their WIC foods from their list. The WIC clerks are familiar with the WIC program and make WIC shopping easier. 

  • Learn more about the Texas food list by visiting Texas WIC. 
  • To find a Grocery Services North location, visit us online at: groceryservicesnorth.com/locations. 
  • If you are not part of the Texas WIC program, apply online at TexasWIC.org/apply.

February 2022

Help Your Baby Get Healthy Start With Texas WIC

2022-08-26T01:52:33+00:00February 25th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |

Texas WIC helps new moms provide the healthiest start possible for their babies. The free nutrition assistance program helps provide everything from nutrition education to healthy foods for moms and their babies. 

 Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the WIC program: from what benefits are included, how to apply, and the benefits of the program.

What is WIC?

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five to Texas residents that meet certain income requirements. 

Who Is Eligible For free nutrition assistance from Texas WIC?

If you are on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP, you meet the income eligibility guidelines for WIC. If you don’t qualify for these programs, you may still qualify for WIC by meeting the income guidelines for your household. You must live in Texas. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be part of the WIC program. Apply in person to learn if you are eligible. The program is open to:

  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding women
  • Women who had a baby within the last six months
  • Parents, step-parents, guardians, and foster parents of infants and children who are younger than 5

How to find your local WIC office?

To find your local WIC office, visit TexasWIC.org. Using the website’s Clinic Finder Tool you will be able to type in your address and find the nearest clinic to your home. You can also call 800-942-3678 to find a clinic near you.

You can also visit WICDallas.net to find clinics and PWIC grocery stores in the Dallas and surrounding area. PWIC grocery stores, like Grocery Servicers North, cater to WIC clients. The stores primarily carry WIC foods, and help make WIC grocery shopping easier.

How to apply for WIC benefits

To apply for free nutrition assistance from the WIC program, you will need to complete an application and provide documentation of your income, address and identity. You can apply online at TexasWIC.org.You can also set up an appointment by phone by calling 800-942-3678. Once your application is processed, you will be informed of the results and may be eligible to receive WIC benefits.

The benefits of getting free nutrition assistance from WIC

The benefits of using the WIC program include free access to:

  • Nutrition education
  • Monthly food packages that include Healthy foods for you and your baby
  • Referrals to health care providers
  • Free breast pumps and other supplies for breastfeeding mothers

For more information about the WIC program, visit TexasWIC.org.

Apply today to help your baby get a healthy start. 

How to Eat Healthy With The WIC Program

2022-03-18T15:55:35+00:00February 24th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, Mom Health, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |

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 Grocery Services North – 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 Grocery Services North, it’s easy to find nutritious WIC-approved foods that your family will love.

RECALL ALERT: Check Your Formula

2022-03-16T19:43:35+00:00February 18th, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , |

The FDA has announced a voluntary recall of Similac products (including Total Comfort, Spit Up and Sensitive). Consumers can check the bottom of their baby formula for the information below:
 
The products under recall have a multidigit number on the bottom of the container starting with the first two digits 22 through 37, contains K8, SH, or Z2 and with an expiration date of April 1, 2022, or after.

HOW TO CHECK IF YOUR FORMULA IS RECALLED

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. If you have questions about feeding your child, contact your healthcare professional.
 
Check back for updates.

January 2022

Expecting A Baby in 2022? Let Texas WIC Help

2022-08-26T02:05:04+00:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Child Health, Texas WIC|Tags: , , , |

If you are expecting a baby in 2022, Texas WIC can help you get off to a healthy start.

The program is open to eligible expecting mothers and mothers with children up to age five. To qualify, Texas residents must meet certain income requirements. (Learn more about the requirements below.) 

Texas WIC benefits are offered to qualifying expectant mothers in order to help them get proper nutrition and education while they are pregnant.  

Pregnant mothers can even get a free food package to help ensure they are getting healthy foods. Expecting mothers can access their FREE benefits with a Texas WIC ebt card, which allows clients to pay for their FREE monthly WIC food benefits such as eggs, cereal, fruits and vegetables and more!

The WIC program also provides important pregnancy education, including FREE online classes that help mothers to be on everything from how to plan for a healthy pregnancy and how to eat healthy while pregnant. Their education guidance also helps mothers know what to expect during pregnancy.

The program continues to help once the baby arrives by providing breastfeeding support and access to healthy nutrition for mothers and their babies.

Mothers can access all their WIC benefits in an easy, hassle-free shopping experience at any Grocery Services North store. There are 11 locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. All the groceries in the Primarily WIC store are WIC approved, and our bilingual clerks help make WIC shopping super easy. Find a location online at GroceryServicesNorth.com/locations.

Are you Eligible for Texas WIC? Find Out If Texas WIC Can Help

To qualify for Texas WIC is open to Texas residents that are:

  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding women
  • Infants
  • Families with children younger than 5 years old

Texas residents must also meet income requirements to join Texas WIC.

According to Texas WIC:  “If you are on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP you meet the income eligibility guidelines for WIC. If you don’t qualify for these programs, you may still qualify for WIC by meeting the income guidelines for your household. The Recovery Rebate Credit, also known as stimulus checks, and the Child Tax Credit direct payments are not included when calculating your income to determine eligibility.”

WIC has provided these Gross Yearly Income guidelines from its website and was updated as of 7/19/22: 

Number of Household Members* Gross Yearly Household Income**
1 $0 up to $25,142
2 $0 up to $33,874
3 $0 up to $42,606
4 $0 up to $51,338
5 $0 up to $60,070
6 $0 up to $68,802

*A pregnant woman’s household is increased by the number of infants she is expecting. For more than 6 household members, or if you have any income questions, call 1-800-942-3678. This information is provided by Texas WIC, and is subject to change. Last updated 7/19/2022.

**Income can also be determined on a weekly or biweekly basis. For more information, call 1-800-942-3678. This information is provided by Texas WIC, and is subject to change. Last updated 7/19/2022.

Apply for Texas WIC online at TexasWIC.org/apply

 

September 2021

WIC & Gerber Organic Cereal

2022-08-26T00:51:35+00:00September 8th, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Child Health, Grocery Services North, WIC Food|Tags: , , |

Redeem WIC For Gerber Organic Cereal

Redeem your WIC benefits for organic Gerber baby cereal next time you visit Grocery Services North.  All of our locations are now providing Gerber organic cereals to help you provide the best nutrition for your baby.

Organic cereals will help your little one get a healthy start to eating solid foods. It’s the #1 Pediatrician recommended brand for infant cereals and provides “essential nutrients – like iron, B vitamins, vitamins E and C, zinc and calcium,” according to Gerber. 

The organic cereal is commonly one of the first solid foods for babies to try, and is usually recommended when your baby is a supported sitter from 4-6 months. 

Grocery Services North will offer Organic Gerber Rice and Oatmeal Cereal in 8oz containers. Grocery Services North is a chain of primarily WIC grocery stores in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview that aims to provide quality WIC-approved products in an easy, hassle-free shopping experience. WIC clients can check their WIC EBT balance before they shop and bilingual clerks will help them through the entire shopping experience. Everything in the store is WIC approved.

Pick up Gerber Organic Cereal and all your WIC groceries in one convenient stop. SNAP is also accepted. Find a location near you by visiting our website.

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.

May 2021

3 Reasons To Join Texas WIC

2022-08-25T22:12:02+00:00May 20th, 2021|Categories: Baby Food, Baby Formula, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , , |

WIC Program Helps Mothers Raise Healthy Babies

Texas WIC can be a mother’s best friend. Many moms and their children across Texas are benefiting from this nutritional supplement program aimed at getting babies off to a healthy start. It’s a FREE program for eligible mothers and their children up to age 5.

If you haven’t heard about this amazing program or aren’t sure of it’s benefits, we are giving you our top 3 reasons to Join Texas WIC:

WIC for Mothers

1. MOTHER’S HEALTH

There are few better ways to help a baby grow healthy than by helping an expecting mother with nutrition and health. A healthy mother can help create a healthy baby. That’s why the program is open to pregnant women.

The Texas WIC program helps mothers with nutrition counseling and guidance along the way. There are so many health considerations to make once you become pregnant: What should I eat? Should I exercise? How much? Am I getting the right nutrients? It can all be a lot to take in for any mother, but Texas WIC nutritionists can be there along the way to help you make healthy choices.

One of the best parts is that Texas WIC provides free, nutritious food package supplements each month to help you eat healthy in order to give the baby (and you) the nutrition you need during pregnancy.

Once the baby arrives, they are also there for support. WIC experts help with breastfeeding guidance and nutrition support for your child up to age 5. That means there is help for so many of the concerns you have as a new mother, like: “Am I feeding my baby the right way and enough” Texas WIC offers FREE counseling and guidance to so many of these health questions.

2. YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH WIC for babies

Texas WIC is an amazing gift for your child. The program ensures that your baby doesn’t go without healthy nutrition. Aside from breastfeeding support, Texas WIC even pays for baby formula (which can be very expensive). If your baby needs a special baby formula, it will pay for that too with a doctor’s prescription. As the child gets older, the free monthly food package changes with your child’s needs.

Keeping your child fed with the right nutrition isn’t the only support you will get. Texas WIC also offers free counseling and guidance to help make sure your baby is growing healthy. There are even free online nutrition classes.

WIC groceries3. JOIN TEXAS WIC FOR FREE NUTRITIONAL FOOD

There is no better benefit than free, nutritious food for you and your baby. Knowing your baby is getting the nutrition they need is enough to calm almost any anxious mother. The best part is that it’s free to qualifying mothers and their babies.

Each month Texas WIC will load benefits onto an ebt card. WIC clients can use this card to redeem their benefits for WIC foods at stores. The food benefits will change as your baby grows and has different needs. The food packages can cover everything from baby formula and baby food to milk, cheese, yogurt, beans, whole wheat bread, tortillas and pasta and fresh fruits and vegetables.

To make it even easier, Grocery Services North locations are open near Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview area WIC clinics to help WIC clients redeem their benefits in an easy shopping format. Grocery Services North stores are not affiliated with WIC – but are a Primarily WIC grocery store – which means they mostly carry only WIC-approved items. At Grocery Services North, WIC clients don’t have to go searching for WIC items in the store. Instead, they simply walk up to a counter where a staff member will walk them through the shopping process for getting their WIC groceries. It’s a super easy and convenient way to get your WIC groceries.

JOIN TEXAS WIC TODAY

Want to find out if you qualify for Texas WIC? The program is open to pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants and families with children under age 5. There are also income requirements to qualify for the program. If you would like to join Texas WIC, you can start your application today by visiting: https://texaswic.org/apply

You may soon learn what so many families already know: Texas WIC can be a mother’s best friend.