Refreshing Tuna Fish Ceviche Using WIC-Approved Foods

Looking for a quick and delicious meal that’s approved using WIC-approved foods? Turn canned tuna fish into a refreshing ceviche.

Ceviche is a vibrant and refreshing dish that’s popular in many Latin American countries. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and can be tailored to include a variety of fresh ingredients. Whether you’re enjoying it as a topping or on its own, ceviche is a delicious way to enjoy the benefits of produce and lean protein.

TUNA FISH CEVICHE

1 can of tuna fish, drained

¼ cup diced onion

¼ cup diced tomatoes

Juice of 1 lime

½ avocado, diced

¼ cup diced mango (fresh or frozen)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tortillas

1 teaspoon of oil

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.

Toast the tortilla (or two)  in the pan until it’s golden and crispy.

In a bowl, combine the tuna, onion, tomatoes, lime juice, avocado, and mango. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add tuna mixture to the tortilla and enjoy!

Pick up all your WIC foods at a JC Food Mart store.

WIC Foods Perfect For Toddlers

WIC foods are a great way to make sure your little ones are getting good nutrition. When WIC foods are part of a recipe, you know you are giving them healthy choices. Coming up with new ways to get your little ones to try new foods can be very challenging.

These easy recipes are perfect for toddlers, and they feature WIC-approved foods.

PEANUT BUTTER, BERRY OATMEAL

Oatmeal

Berries

Peanut butter

Cook oatmeal according to package directions.

Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter and mashed berries. Mix until well combined and serve warm.

 

Here is another recipe perfect for your little one, but tasty enough for the entire family to try.

VEGETABLE, LENTIL SOUP

1 cup dried lentils, rinsed and drained

4 cups vegetable broth

2 cups water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups diced tomatoes, fresh or canned

2 cups chopped spinach

Juice of 1 lemon

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add diced vegetables. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add spices to the pot. Cook for another couple of minutes. Add dried lentils, broth, and water to the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Stir in diced tomatoes, spinach and cook another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

TUNA, AVOCADO SANDWICH BITES

Canned tuna, drained

Avocado, mashed

Whole-wheat bread, toasted

Mash avocado and mix with canned tuna

Spread mixture on whole-grain bread and cut into triangles.

Protein-Packed Snack!

Roasted chickpeas are a delicious and healthy snack that can be made using canned chickpeas.

ROASTED CHICKPEAS

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas

(garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

(adjust all spices to your preference)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: a pinch of any other

spices you like (e.g., curry powder,

chili powder, onion powder, etc.)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.

Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas thoroughly. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.

In a mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, olive oil, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. You can add any other optional spices at this point as well. Toss the chickpeas until they are evenly coated with the oil and spices.

Spread the seasoned chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Roast the chickpeas in the preheated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes or until they become golden brown and crispy. You can shake the baking sheet or toss the chickpeas halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking.

Once roasted to your desired crispiness, remove the chickpeas from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Pick up your chickpeas and other WIC foods at JCFoodMart.com

Save Time This December

Get Your WIC Groceries at JC Food Mart

December can be a busy time. 

On top of the already stressful kid routine, parents usually have a lot of added stress during a very busy month.

Instead of searching long aisles for WIC-approved foods, let us help you get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. WIC customers can get in-out-out fast, giving parents extra time to do everything else on their to-do lists. 

Bilingual clerks at JC Food Mart will help you get everything you need in one easy, fast stop. Visit today to let us show you how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. 

Potato Sides Perfect For Thanksgiving, Fall

Using WIC-Approved Foods For Your Family Dinner

Fall is the perfect time to dish out comfort food, and Thanksgiving is the perfect place for these foods. Many may argue that the perfect side dish is the potato. It’s also a perfect side for Thanksgiving.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving you might already be thinking about your menu. To help make preparing for the day easier, you might need a few ideas of sides your family will love. Here are a few recipes – featuring WIC-approved foods – we think you will like.

What’s better than hot, comforting cheesy potatoes? This dish is so good it can be a dinner on its own.

SCALLOPED POTATOES

4 cups of thinly sliced russet potatoes (about 4-5 medium-sized potatoes)

2 cups of grated cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)

3 cups of whole milk

1/4 cup of unsalted butter

1/4 cup of all-purpose flour

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon of salt (adjust to taste)

1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the roux is light golden brown. Whisk in the milk to the roux, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook and whisk until the mixture thickens, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, black pepper. Layer half of the sliced potatoes in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce evenly over the first layer of potatoes. Repeat with another layer. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake until the top is golden brown, and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

This next recipe is classic, and many like to serve for Thanksgiving. It’s also perfect for fall. 

MASHED POTATOES

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup milk 

Salt and pepper to taste

Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly-sized pieces. Place the potato chunks in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and let the potatoes simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until they are fork-tender. You should be able to easily pierce the potatoes with a fork without them falling apart. Drain the cooked potatoes in a colander. Return the drained potatoes to the pot and place it back on the stove over low heat. Add the butter and milk to the potatoes. Start by adding half of the milk and butter and then adjust to your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mash the potatoes using a potato masher or a hand mixer. Mash until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix.

THE PERFECT OVEN FRIED POTATOES 

4-5 medium-sized russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into wedges

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, toss the potato with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any optional seasonings like paprika and garlic powder. Ensure the potatoes are evenly coated. Spread the seasoned potato pieces in a single layer on the hot baking sheet. Make sure they are not overcrowded to allow them to crisp up. Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, flipping them once or twice during cooking, until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

Texas WIC Fruit, Vegetable Benefit Increase Extended

Texas WIC has announced that the WIC fruit and vegetable dollar amount increase is now extended through September. 

This extension, which is now being offered through Sept. 30, 2024,  has different dollar amounts based on your category. Eligible clients will receive the following:

  • Children get $26 each month 
  • Pregnant, postpartum and some breastfeeding clients get $47 each month 
  • Fully and partially breastfeeding clients get $52 each month  

If your benefits for November and December are for the lower dollar amount, WIC advises: “Use the myWIC app or contact your WIC office to schedule an appointment to update your card. In myWIC, choose the appointment called “Load WIC Card” to schedule a time to update your card with the higher dollar amount, according to its website.

You can check your WIC benefits by requesting a balance receipt from the cashier at JC Food Mart.

WIC benefits are expected to return to their normal levels Oct. 2024, which are $12 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $10 for children ages 1 to 5. 

Halloween Stuffed Peppers

Use WIC approved foods to make these Halloween stuffed peppers!

Ingredients:

1 cup steamed rice

1 can black beans

½ can of corn

1 cup of diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)

½ cup minced cilantro

1 cup shredded cheese

4 large bell peppers

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. 

Mix the first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl, then mix in ¾ of the shredded cheese.

Use a small knife to cut the bell peppers like a jack-o-lantern and use a spoon to fill the bell peppers with the mixture. Set the filled peppers into a baking tray and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes then let them cool for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Our Favorite Recipes for July 4th

Use WIC Foods For Festive Holiday Spread This Weekend

We searched our blog for some of the best recipes for July 4th weekend, all of them made with WIC foods. Here is a list of some recipes you might like to try. Of course, you can find even more on our blog.

You can never go wrong with fresh produce served up cold and fresh. Here are some of our favorite presentation ideas using in-season favorites like watermelon, berries and cubed cheese. Pick up all your WIC foods for a festive July 4th weekend at any JC Food Mart store near you.

Click the links below for recipes:

limeade

Refreshing Limeade

Texas WIC Fruit

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Colorful Rainbow Pasta Salad

Grilled Potatoes

Peach Salsa

Fruit Drink Sparkler

Vegetables are WIC foods

Summer Apple Salad

Yogurt Freezer Pops

Veggie Kabobs

Pinto Beans

WIC Inspired Recipes – Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes

These Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes with minimal ingredients make a great fresh snack (or meal) for those hot summer days when you don’t feel like cooking, and they only take a few minutes to make! 

TUNA STUFFED TOMATOES

3 cans of tuna (drained)

2 – 3 large tomatoes (the bigger the better!)

½ cup of chopped parsley

Black pepper & onion powder to taste

Optional: Add 1 – 2 tbsp of plain yogurt to make the tuna mix creamy

Drain 3 cans of tuna and empty into a medium sized bowl. Chop ½ cup of parsley and mix in with the tuna, along with black pepper and onion powder to taste. 

Rinse tomatoes with water and use a knife to cut a circle around the stems. Remove the top of the tomato and gently hollow out the insides with a spoon. Fill the tomatoes with the tuna mixture and enjoy! 

Summer Sheet Pan Recipes With WIC Foods

Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy quick and healthy meals with your family.

A quick healthy summer meal for the entire family is just a sheet pan and a few WIC ingredients away.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a sheet pan and a few WIC ingredients. Simply preheat your oven, line your sheet pan with foil, and add your favorite vegetables. Season everything with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs, and roast in the oven until cooked through. 

Sheet pan meals are not only healthy and delicious, but are also quick and easy to make. Plus, cleanup is a breeze! So next time you’re looking for a summertime meal that the whole family will enjoy, reach for a sheet pan and a few WIC ingredients. Here are a few ideas to kick-start your dinner.

For breakfast, lunch or dinner this sheet pan meal is tasty any time of day!

ROASTED VEGGIES & EGGS

Round up all your leftover vegetables you can find here are a few ideas:

Onion, chopped

Carrots, chopped 

Bell peppers, chopped

Tomatoes, quartered

Roasted Vegetables:

Toss vegetables on the pan and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can also add any other seasonings you may like such as a sprinkle of dried Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder or cumin. Put the vegetables on one side of the pan. Bake at 375 for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Once they are cooked, remove from the pan. Serve.

For the Eggs:

Spray pan with non-stick spray and break eggs (as many as you would like) onto a sheet pan. Cook at 425 degrees for about 5 minutes or until eggs are set and cooked to the way you like them. Place vegetables on a plate and top with egg. 

This recipe is a spin on fish and chips, and can all be done on one sheet pan. 

TUNA PATTIES AND ROASTED POTATOES

2 cans Tuna

2 potatoes, diced

1/2 onion, diced, divided

¼ cup of breadcrumbs

1 egg

Celery, chopped

Salt and pepper

Put drained tuna in a bowl. Add ½ of the onion you diced (keeping some of the potatoes). Add breadcrumbs, egg, chopped celery. Form into patties, and place on a baking sheet. Brush the top with olive oil. Place diced potatoes on the other side of the baking sheet and the remaining onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook at 400 for 15 minutes. Flip the tuna patties and cook for another 10 minutes. Serve.

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