The kitchen can be a fun place for kids and parents to spend time together. Parents can help foster a positive relationship between their children and food by letting them help in the kitchen. Kids ages 1 to 5 are curious, eager to learn and want to spend time together. Here’s a guide on how to get your little ones engaged and having fun in the kitchen.
Safety First
Before getting in the kitchen together, prioritize safety. Clear the cooking area of any hazards, like sharp objects or hot surfaces. Use kid-friendly utensils with blunt edges, and make sure to supervise closely during all kitchen activities.
Create a Kid-Friendly Space
Set up a dedicated area within the kitchen where your little chef can comfortably work alongside you. A step stool (depending on age) can make reaching the counter easier or using the kitchen table, allowing them to feel more involved in the cooking process.
Easy Tasks
Let them get involved in washing vegetables, tearing lettuce, or stirring ingredients. Praise their efforts and celebrate their accomplishments to boost their confidence.
Engage the Senses
Cooking is a sensory experience. Encourage your child to touch, smell, and even taste different ingredients. Allow them to explore the textures of flour, the aroma of herbs, and the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables.
Making Easter Eggs is fun for kids and adults. Here are a few tips to make the perfect eggs and recipes to use when eating them.
Making the perfect Easter eggs involves a combination of boiling the eggs correctly, preparing a dye solution, and then decorating them creatively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create beautiful and festive Easter eggs:
Boiling the eggs
Place the eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan.
Cover the eggs with cold water, about an inch above the eggs.
Bring the water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and cover with a lid.
Let the eggs sit for 10-12 minutes.
Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool them down and stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice water for at least 5 minutes.
Preparing the dye solution
Choose your desired food coloring or natural dyes (such as beet juice, turmeric, or red cabbage).
In a small bowl or cup, mix 1/2 cup of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 10-20 drops of food coloring (or the equivalent amount of natural dye).
Stir the dye solution until the color is evenly mixed.
Dyeing the eggs
Use a spoon or egg dipper to lower a cooled egg into the dye solution.
Let the egg soak in the dye for 5-10 minutes, or until the desired color is achieved. The longer the egg is submerged, the deeper the color will be.
Carefully remove the egg from the dye and place it on a drying rack or paper towel-lined plate to dry.
Decorating the eggs
You can use a variety of tools and materials to decorate your Easter eggs, such as markers, stickers, glitter, or paint.
For a simple design, you can use a white crayon to draw patterns on the eggshell before dyeing, which will create a resist effect and leave the drawn areas white.
You can also use rubber bands, tape, or stencils to create patterns and shapes on the eggs.
If you want to add more colors, repeat the dyeing process with different colors and let each layer dry in between.
Displaying your Easter eggs
Once the eggs are completely dry, you can place them in a decorative basket, egg cups, or create an Easter egg tree by hanging them with colorful ribbons.
Remember to be creative and have fun experimenting with different colors and designs. Happy Easter!
Once you have boiled Easter eggs, there are many delicious recipes you can make with them. Here are some ideas:
DEVILED EGGS
6 boiled Easter eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Paprika for garnish
Cut the eggs in half lengthwise, remove the yolks and place them in a bowl. Mash the yolks with a fork, then mix in the mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika and serve chilled.
EGG SALAD
6 boiled Easter eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mustard
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
Salt and pepper to taste
Chop the eggs and mix them with the mayonnaise, mustard, celery, and red onion. Season with salt and pepper. Serve on bread, toast, or with crackers.
AVOCADO EGG SALAD
Avocado egg salad is a delicious and creamy twist on the classic egg salad. It’s a perfect option for a light and healthy lunch or snack. Here’s a simple recipe to make avocado egg salad:
6 boiled eggs, chopped
2 ripe avocados, diced
1/4 cup mayonnaise (optional)
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
Juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a large mixing bowl, mash the diced avocados with a fork until they reach your desired consistency. You can leave it chunky or make it smoother, depending on your preference.
Add the mayonnaise (if using) to the mashed avocados and mix until well combined. The mayonnaise will add creaminess to the salad, but you can skip it for a healthier version or substitute it with Greek yogurt.
Gently fold in the chopped boiled eggs, red onion, celery, and cilantro or parsley. Make sure all the ingredients are well distributed throughout the mixture.
Squeeze the lemon or lime juice over the salad, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to ensure the flavors are evenly combined.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the avocado egg salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
Serve the avocado egg salad on its own, with crackers, on toast, in a sandwich, or on a bed of lettuce. Enjoy this creamy and flavorful twist on a classic egg salad recipe!
Note: Avocado egg salad is best consumed the same day it is prepared, as the avocado may start to brown over time.
COBB SALAD
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 boiled Easter eggs, chopped
1 avocado, diced
1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
1/2 cup diced cooked chicken or turkey
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Your favorite dressing
Arrange the lettuce on a large plate or platter. Top with rows of chopped eggs, avocado, bacon, chicken, tomatoes, and blue cheese. Drizzle with your favorite dressing and serve.
POTATO SALAD
4 cups cooked, cubed potatoes
4 boiled Easter eggs, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped pickles
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine the potatoes, eggs, mayonnaise, pickles, red onion, celery, and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Moms and moms-to-be all need savvy, time-saving hacks to save time, be healthy and to maintain sanity.
Infant and toddler moms don’t usually have a lot of spare time. Moms often feel a lot of stress to take care of tiny humans. That’s why we have come up with some great mom hacks to help save time while offering a little piece-of-mind.
Stress for expecting mothers can also be high. What can you eat? What should you not eat? It can be overwhelming. Not to mention, you are creating a human in your belly. That is very tiring.
PREGNANCY HACKS
Now is the perfect time to practice carrying a prepared bag (think diaper bag for moms). Except this bag will be filled with healthy snacks/water for mom. Here are a few ideas for your mom bag: water bottle, dry WIC-approved cereal – which is packed with iron and fiber. Other ideas for your “snack” bag: fresh fruit like bananas or peanut butter on whole wheat bread. Get more information about WIC foods and pregnancy here.
TIME SAVING COOKING HACKS FOR MOMS
Every mom loves a good kitchen shortcut. Here are a few ideas you can use in the kitchen to help you save time or maintain your sanity.
First up: homemade teething rings. When toddlers start to teeth, it can be painful for your baby and hard on mom. No parent likes a little one to cry in pain. Make homemade teething ring popsicles. The cold pop is perfect for sore gums. Here is a recipe you can use:
BERRY YOGURT POPSICLES
1 ½ bananas (mom can eat the other half)
16 ounces of yogurt (any flavor)
4 ounces of blueberries
Blend all ingredients in a blender until it is very smooth. Place yogurt mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 6 hours. Keep in the freezer for the next time your child needs a treat.
2. Make pre-made snacks for hungry toddlers. Moms know that one of your main roles as a parent is to give your child healthy foods. It can often feel like a full-time job. For kiddos starting to eat table food, make sure you have easy foods you can grab for a snack or meal when your baby wants to eat. A few great examples are avocados and bananas that can be smashed for smaller children. Pre-cook boiled eggs to have on head in the fridge. These are great for children starting to eat real foods and older kids looking for a snack. Here are a few more ideas for snacks using WIC foods.
CRAFTY PROJECTS
Having a little fun can also be a great way to take a break and cut the stress. We have gathered a few hacks using containers from WIC foods. Use empty and cleaned milk and egg cartons for fun crafty projects. So are baby food jars. Here are a few ideas:
Turn your egg carton into a fun container for kid paint. Each egg holder can be for a different color. Your egg container could also be used to create a homemade sensory tray. Fill the egg carton with items with different textures that you can find around the house: a small ball of yarn, a block, a small piece of fabric. Just make sure the items are age-appropriate and are not a choking hazard for your little one.
For older kids, use the lids from your milk jugs to make checkers pieces. Just color the lid black or red. Save enough to make your own checkers pieces. Make a checkerboard out of cardboard or a piece of paper you have around the house.
Of course your imagination is the limit for using containers to help entertain your kids. Sometimes kids enjoy making toys out of the simplest items around your house.
The best mom hack of all is to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop at any JC Food Mart location. Since you won’t have to go searching down long aisles to get all your WIC foods, you will save time and your sanity. Find a location near you.
Do you have mom hacks you would like to share? Drop them in the comments below. Use hashtag #GSNmomhacks
Looking for more blog articles about these topics? Check these out:
Summer is in full swing. Que the fireworks because this July 4th is going to be HOT! We have summer WIC foods and fun activities your plans this holiday weekend.
If you are ready to kick off July 4th with a big bang, we have some great tips to help you cool down and chill and celebrate with your family this holiday weekend – all spotlighting foods WIC foods you can redeem with your EBT card.
The fun doesn’t stop there. We also rounded up some family-friendly activities for the entire family.
Many people will fire up the grill this holiday weekend. We have the perfect grill addition and a few sides that go perfect with your family picnic.
SUMMER WIC FOODS: GRILLED POTATOES
Wrap your russet potatoes up in foil and throw them on the grill. Before closing the foil, feel free to add your favorite seasoning blend and a little olive oil for some extra flavor. Place them on the grill rack and let them cook. You know they are done when a knife slides easily into the center of the potato. Remove from grill and let cool. Remove foil and get ready for the fluffiest, smokiest tasting “baked” potato you can imagine. Add toppings (cheese, plain yogurt, salt, and pepper to taste) of your choice.
SUMMER WIC FOODS: SALSA MADE WITH GRILLED PEACHES
While your grill is out, slice open peaches ( a great summer WIC food) in half and throw them cut side down on the grill for this amazing recipe you will want to keep eating ALL SUMMER LONG.
4 ripe peaches pitted and sliced in half
1 red onion diced
2 ripe tomato diced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional)
1 lime juiced
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush the peaches with olive oil and place them cut-side down onto the grill. Grill for about 5 minutes until the peaches are soft but not mushy. In a bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Remove hot peaches from the grill. Let them cool before dicing them. Add to bowl and mix with remaining ingredients. Serve.
INDEPENDENCE DAY FAMILY FUN
Spending time with loved ones is the best medicine. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to put a smile on a kid’s face and enjoy quality family time. In fact, sometimes the simpler things are the best. Here are a few ideas we loved for spending extra quality time with the family this holiday weekend.
Make Patriotic Crafts –It is fun to make something patriotic for the holiday. We found a few ideas you might like on Pinterest. Check them out here and here.
Visit A Local Park
Make A Snack Together – Check out our blog for great kid-friendly recipes the whole family will love.
Find Fireworks Displays Where You Live – If you are looking for a fireworks display close to where you live check this out. You are sure to find one near you.
DON’T WASTE TIME, GET YOUR SUMMER WIC FOODS TODAY!
With so much family fun planned, stop by any of 10JC Food Martlocations around San Antonio to pick up all your WIC groceries in one easy stop. Don’t search aisles for WIC-approved foods. JC Food Mart caters to WIC clients, and everything in the store is WIC approved. You will be in and out with your groceries for your family picnic. Find a location near a WIC clinic near you on our website.
Who said you couldn’t play with your food? Getting kids into the kitchen is a great activity to get their creative juices flowing. It’s also a great way to keep them interested in eating healthy, WIC foods.
Healthy WIC foods don’t have to be boring. In fact, you and the kids can turn their little plates into works of art all with some of your favorite WIC ingredients. Gather up some of your favorite WIC foods (oatmeal, fruits, vegetables and tuna fish) for these fun ideas that will get your kiddos excited to help out in the kitchen.
WIC FOOD: OATMEAL
Oatmeal is a super healthy WIC food. It’s also a super healthy snack. For the first snack of the day. Let your kids help “decorate” a bowl of oatmeal like their pets or animals. These fruits make great faces: sliced bananas, berries of all kinds, apple pieces cut into fun shapes and maybe even a little peanut butter to hold pieces together. What little one wouldn’t love eating this yummy, healthy creation once they are done.
Oatmeal is a great WIC food because it’s full of fiber, iron and other vitamins and minerals like zinc.
WIC FOOD: FRUIT CRITTERS
Getting your kids to eat more fruit is easy when you make fruit critters. Slice up some of your favorite fruits and let your toddlers “color” their plate by turning the fruit into fun animals. You can get them started by making a few of your own. It’s also fun to cut fruit into fun shapes using kid-friendly cookie cutters.
WIC FOOD: VEGGIE PALS
Having a hard time getting enough vegetables into your tot’s stomach? Serve them a plate of green peas that look like a friendly frog.
WIC FOOD: TUNA FISHY
First, make a bowl of tuna fish, using this greatTexas WIC recipe. Then let the little ones help by spreading it on a piece of toasted whole wheat bread. Place another piece of whole wheat bread on top. Let the kids decorate the sandwich into fruit to make it look like a fish. See photo above. Orange quarters, banana slices and berries can all be used to make fun fish faces and fins. Looking for a little more creative inspiration? Check out this recipe idea from Texas WIC.
Texas WIC is an advocate of getting kids in the kitchen to help in “age-appropriate ways,” and these recipes are a great way to get them involved. For more tips from including kids in the kitchen, check out these tips online.
RENEW YOUR WIC BENEFITS AND REDEEM THEM IN THE SAME TRIP
Next time you visit a WIC clinic to renew your WIC benefits, visit a nearby JC Food Mart store to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. JC Food Mart locations are located near WIC offices to make it super convenient for clients to get everything they need.
Ideas, Recipes For Celebrating May 5 With The Entire Family
Make Queso Using WIC Cheese & Homemade Tortilla Chips
There are so many fun ways to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with your family. Go for a picnic, or even just decorate your home in the colors of the Mexican flag. No matter how you choose to celebrate, Cinco De Mayo is a great time to remember heritage and spend time with loved ones.
Cinco De Mayo is a holiday that celebrates when Mexican army’s victory in 1862 over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.
Making traditional Mexican food and snacks is one way to celebrate! Yum! Here are some great foods to add a little flavor for the holiday using WIC-approved foods: queso dip using WIC cheese and homemade tortilla chips:
HOMEMADE TORTILLA CHIPS
12 corn tortillas
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush oil on both sides of the tortilla. Cut each tortilla into sixths to make triangle chips. Place cut tortillas in a single layer on baking sheets and season with salt. Bake until crispy.
QUESO DIP WITH WIC CHEESE
1 pound American cheese slices, quartered
¼ cup milk
½ cup jarred salsa
Combine cheese and milk in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until cheese is melted. Add salsa, mix and enjoy.
Get all your WIC groceries at JC Food Mart, a chain of stores that caters to WIC clients. Our unique shopping format features personalized bilingual customer service to help you get in and out with all your WIC foods as easy and fast as possible. Find out how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. Visit any of our locations in San Antonio Today.
WIC FOOD: VEGGIE PALS
