FacebookInstagramYouTubeEmail

WIC Nutrition

October 2021

Online WIC Classes Packed With Tips

2022-08-26T01:10:10+00:00October 13th, 2021|Categories: Baby Formula, Pregnancy, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |

Take Free WIC Classes At Home From Phone, Computer

Texas WIC classes this month are packed with wonderful tips from experts. Included are sessions on from everything from how to make a recipe using WIC foods to storytime for your little one.  Use the link below to Texas WIC to sign up for the free classes.

Here is a glance at some of the FREE upcoming LIVE ONLINE classes that can be taken from the comfort of your own home: 

  • Introducing Your Baby To Foods – Oct. 13 – 11 AM to Noon  In this class, Texas WIC covers how to know if your baby is ready for solid foods and what foods to introduce at first.
  • Story Time with Zobey – Oct. 14th – 9:30 – 10 AM Texas WIC makes learning with your little one fun with a story told by Zobey. In this story, Zobey introduces how fruits and vegetables grow in a garden and explains why trying new foods is fun.
  • Discussion on Picky Eating – Oct. 18th – 10 – 11 AM Experts at Texas WIC explain how to encourage new foods and how to respond to picky eating.
  • Cooking with WIC Foods – Oct. 18th – 11:30 – 12:30 In this fun class, Texas WIC demonstrates how to turn WIC foods into a fun cooking activity, and to get your kids excited to try new foods.

To register for these events, and see additional WIC Click & Learn Classes visit Texas WIC online at:  https://texaswic.org/online-classes

Pick up your WIC groceries in one easy stop at Grocery Services North, a PWIC grocery store chain with locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview.

Read More
 0

September 2021

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.

Read More
 0

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.

Read More
 0

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.

Read More
 0

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

 

Read More
 0

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.

(more…)

Read More
 0

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.

 

Read More
 0

June 2021

Enroll In Texas WIC Online Class Monday

2022-08-25T23:27:28+00:00June 18th, 2021|Categories: Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: |

Texas WIC Class Offers Up Recipe To Stay Hydrated During Summer

The hot summer months have arrived, and it’s important to keep you and your family hydrated without filling up on sugary drinks. An online Texas WIC class  has several tips to help.

Texas WIC is offering an online class Monday that offers recommendations for drinks for children, ways to drink “more water and less sugar” and how to make kid-friendly infused waters and ice cubes. 

“We’ll explore the truth behind many common drinks and demonstrate recipe ideas that are not only cool for kids, but fun for the whole family,” according to Texas WIC’s online class description.

TEXAS WIC ONLINE CLASS

The “Live Discussion and Activity on Cool Drinks for Kids” class is being offered online from 1 to 2 PM on Monday, June 21st on the TexasWIC.org website. If you would like to participate, simply register for the class using the link below:

https://classes.texaswic.org/class/de408a18-4dd4-4457-82ad-c924abd56f59

You can watch the online class with a computer, tablet or mobile device that has Internet.  

Grocery Services North is a primarily WIC grocery store chain with locations in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview. Grocery Services North makes it easy and convenient to shop for WIC groceries. We have bilingual staff that is familiar with the WIC program that can help you shop for the items you need. Find a location near a WIC clinic today on our website.

Read More
 0

Grocery Services North Now Offering New WIC Products

2022-08-25T23:25:10+00:00June 7th, 2021|Categories: Grocery Services North, Recipes, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , |

Take Home These Great New Products Today! Grocery Services North is now offering several new fruit and vegetable options in our stores. Texas WIC is also offering $35 fruit and vegetable benefits per eligible person starting June 1 through September. ( Learn more about these expanded fruit and vegetable WIC benefits in this blog post.) The added WIC benefits means moms can take home even more produce each month,  including these products that are already in our stores in Dallas, Waco, Tyler, and Longview.  Grocery Services North’s new WIC products (fruit and vegetable product)  can help moms get healthy, quick meals on the table for their family.  Here is a look at the items you can now take home, including a few ideas about how to serve them up on your kitchen table.  Dole Spring MixDole Spring Mix Bags This delicious salad mix is perfect for a quick meal during the summer. Mix in more fresh fruits and vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and fresh apples or oranges for a very healthy and super fast summer meal. Best Choice Yellow Cling Diced Peach Cups  Best Choice Peach Cups These peach cups are the perfect side or snack. Place the cups in the refrigerator for a cool treat on a hot summer day. They are also the perfect topping for a nice bowl of oatmeal.  Plus, kids love them! Best Choice Halved PearsBest Choice Canned Halved Pears These canned pears are so versatile. Eat them plain or in a delicious recipe. Check out these 5 recipes for canned pears from the USDA, including how to turn canned pears into “Pear Party Salsa,” a “Pear Quesadilla,”  a “Cobb Salad with Pears” and “Frozen Pear Pops.” The possibilities are endless.  Frozen Sliced Peaches Frozen Peaches Not many foods offer up the taste of summer like a peach. These frozen peaches can be turned into a delicious smoothie. Add a handful of frozen peaches, yogurt, milk and ice cubes into a blender and mix and you have a nice cold treat in a glass.  Frozen Seasoning BlendBest Choice Frozen Seasoning Blend There isn’t a better short cut to dinner than these frozen mixed vegetables. Add them to almost any dinner for a quick shortcut with added flavor. They can be added to pasta dishes, rice and beans for a flavor power punch without having to do all the vegetable dicing on your own.   Visit a Grocery Services North location today to easily pick up all your WIC groceries. Our hassle-free WIC grocery shopping experience gives mom’s more of what they need the most, time. You can find our locations conveniently located near WIC clinics. Visit us online to find one near you. 

Read More
 0

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.

Read More
 0
© Copyright | Grocery Services North | All Rights Reserved
Toggle Sliding Bar Area