Serving Up Good Luck

Green Fruits, Vegetables Packed With More Than Good Luck For St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by incorporating some delicious green foods into your meals! Not only are green foods a festive way to celebrate the holiday, but they’re also packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that are important for overall health. These green fruits and vegetables are available through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program so you can celebrate the Luck of the Irish while eating healthy.

6 Green WIC Foods For St. Patrick’s Day

  1. Broccoli: This green veggie is a great source of vitamin C, folate, and fiber. It can be steamed, roasted, or stir-fried to make a delicious and healthy side dish.
  2. Limes: These fruits are small, green citrus fruits that are packed with nutrients and health benefits. They are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, and can be used in a variety of recipes to add a zesty flavor and boost of nutrition. Plus, they taste great squeezed into water. Looking for a recipes for broccoli? Try this recipe for broccoli tater tots.
  3. Lettuce: This leafy green is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, and iron. Lettuce also contains fiber and antioxidants, which can help to promote digestive health and protect against chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Additionally, the high water content of lettuce can help to keep the body hydrated and promote healthy skin. Lettuce is versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, making it a great addition to any healthy diet. Here are a few recipes for salads we love.
  4. Avocado: This creamy green fruit is a great source of healthy fats, fiber, and potassium. Mash it up to make guacamole, spread it on toast, or use it as a topping for tacos or salads. Avocado Toast Recipes To Try
  5. Peas: A nutritious vegetable that is high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are a great source of plant-based protein and are also low in fat and calories. Peas contain a range of important nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, iron, and zinc. They are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help to protect against cell damage and chronic diseases.  Enjoy them in a variety of ways, from salads and soups to side dishes and main meals, making them a versatile and delicious addition. Try this recipe featuring peas
  6. Cabbage: We can’t leave this one off for St. Patrick’s Day. This vegetable is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and may help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and even have anti-cancer effects. Additionally, cabbage is low in calories and can be easily incorporated into a healthy diet. Whether enjoyed raw in salads, fermented as sauerkraut, or cooked in a variety of dishes, cabbage is a nutritious and tasty addition to any meal.

These are just a few examples of the many WIC green foods that you can incorporate into your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. By choosing these healthy WIC options, you can ensure that your family is getting the nutrition they need while celebrating the holiday in a fun and festive way. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Here are a few recipes your family will enjoy:

ROASTED CABBAGE

1 head of green cabbage

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional toppings: grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh herbs, lemon juice

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove any damaged outer leaves from the cabbage and slice it into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Brush both sides of the cabbage rounds with olive oil and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Season the cabbage rounds with salt and pepper to taste. Roast the cabbage in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the edges are crispy and golden brown. Remove the cabbage from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Top the roasted cabbage with grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh herbs, or a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired. Enjoy your delicious and healthy roasted cabbage.

EASY WIC GROCERY SHOPPING

Visit a JC Food Mart store to pick up all your WIC foods in one easy stop. Find a store near you here.

You might also be interested in these articles:

Black-Eyed Peas, Cabbage Recipe

WIC Breakfast Foods

By |2023-03-14T11:03:20-05:00March 13th, 2023|Categories: Meal Planning, Recipes, Texas WIC, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Food, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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Toddler Snack Boxes Perfect For Busy Moms

WIC Food Tip Perfect For Busy Moms

Toddlers love snacks! Moms of little ones may find themselves running around trying to find snacks on demand. Here is a great WIC food tip to use your WIC foods to make a perfect snack box for your little one.

One stress-free way to help busy moms looking to save some time, are pre-made snack boxes. Dig around in your cupboard for some plastic containers with lids. It doesn’t have to be fancy. One with compartments is perfect, but a food storage container without dividers also works. (TIP: You can use cupcake liners to make your own compartments) 

Grab a few of your toddler’s favorite WIC foods. Create a fun assortment of 3 to 4 single serving snacks in each container to make a perfect toddler-size snack pack to store in the fridge. Some ideas for your containers include:  cheese cubes, sliced strawberries, orange slices, blueberries, avocados, healthy WIC cereal (without the milk),  yogurt, peanut butter and whole wheat bread.  Make a whole peanut butter sandwich and cut into 1/4ths. Put one fourth in a container. 

Store the snack packs in the fridge until needed.  Making 2 or 4 containers at a time is perfect to have on hand when your little one wants something quick to eat.

This is a great way to help make sure your little one is eating healthy WIC foods. You can also get your kids involved in making their “snack packs” so they are excited to eat healthy foods. 

HAVE TODDLERS ON WIC? SHARE YOUR MOM HACKS

Do you have a great mom hack? Leave it in the comments below. We would love to hear some of your favorite tips/tricks that save you time. 

The ultimate mom hack is getting all your WIC foods in one easy stop at JC Food Mart stores. Visit a location today to see how easy it can be.

Looking for more helpful ideas?  Check out our post about WIC Snacks.

By |2023-02-09T14:07:25-05:00February 9th, 2023|Categories: Child Health, Mom Health, Recipes, Recipes, San Antonio, WIC Food|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Product Spotlight: Nicho’s Best Soup Mix

All The Vegetables You Need To Make Homemade Soup In One Bag!

If you are looking for an amazing family meal this winter, pick up Nicho’s Best Soup Mix at JC Food Mart. 

This soup mix comes with fresh vegetables to make a hearty, homemade soup for your family. Inside the bag are the fresh vegetables you need to start your soup: cabbage, carrots, potato, celery, squash, corn and bell pepper.  

Cut and dice these veggies to start the base of your homemade soup. Add water, and any additional spices and seasonings you like to make it your own. Add any combination of your favorite soup flavors, including any rinsed and drained canned beans, peppers, canned tomatoes or sauces, garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, cumin, salt and pepper. 

Your homemade soup will definitely be a family favorite. 

Pick up your Best Soup Mix at any JC Food Mart in San Antonio. JC Food Mart makes it easy to redeem all your WIC benefits in one easy stop. Find a location near you, and visit today!

 

By |2023-01-24T19:19:59-05:00January 12th, 2023|Categories: JC Food Mart, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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WIC Produce Benefits Update

Expanded Dollar Amount For Fruit, Vegetable Benefits Offered Through Sept. 2023

Good news! Texas WIC’s temporary fruit and vegetable dollar amount increase is now being offered through September 30, 2023!  The increased dollar amount for WIC produce benefits (fruits and vegetables) are for the following amounts:

  • Children get $25 each month 
  • Pregnant, postpartum and some breastfeeding clients get $44 each month 
  • Fully and partially breastfeeding clients get $49 each month 

Texas WIC professionals provided the following example: if you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $94 ($44 mom + $25 child + $25 child = $94) to buy fruit and vegetables. 

You will see this new amount on your shopping list under your benefit amount, according to Texas WIC.

The fruit and vegetable benefits are expected to return to the normal amounts on Oct. 1, 2023.  WIC clients can use their benefits to buy fruits and vegetables that are fresh, frozen and in cans, glass jars and plastic containers.

USE WIC PRODUCE BENEFITS FOR THESE RECIPES

Pick up all your WIC foods at JC Food Mart. There are 10 San Antonio locations to help you get your WIC foods in one easy, fast top. Visit today to find out how easy WIC shopping can be. Here are a few recipes using WIC-approved fruits, vegetables you might like:

Two Recipes Featuring WIC Foods

Ratatouille Recipe

For even more recipes, visit our blog.

By |2023-01-24T19:21:08-05:00January 11th, 2023|Categories: Recipes, Recipes, Texas WIC, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Texas WIC’s Expanded Fruit & Vegetable Benefits Extended Thru Dec. 16

The WIC Fruit, Vegetable Bump Extended Thru Dec. 16

Texas WIC’s extended fruit and vegetable benefits are now extended thru December! Congress approved the expanded benefits last week, which were set to expire at the end of September.

The new benefits are now available thru Dec. 16.

According to Texas WIC, “Participants who receive the increased benefits in December are able to redeem them throughout the entire month.”

According to Texas WIC, the new Cash Value Benefits (CVB) amounts for fruits and vegetables are:

  • $25 monthly for children
  • $44 monthly for pregnant and postpartum participants
  • $49 monthly for fully and partially breastfeeding participants
  • $73.50 for mothers breastfeeding multiple children

The expanded WIC fruit and vegetable benefits was expected to return to $11 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $9 for children Oct. 1.

WIC clients should contact a local WIC office if they have questions about these benefits.

WIC clients can get all their WIC groceries in one easy stop at any JC Food Mart ocation in San Antonio. There are 10 stores conveniently located near WIC clinics. Find a location online.

By |2022-10-11T15:42:31-05:00October 3rd, 2022|Categories: JC Food Mart, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments
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Expanded WIC Fruit, Vegetable Benefits Extended Thru September

Texas WIC has extended it’s expanded fruit and vegetable benefits thru the end of September.

According to Texas WIC the new benefits offer the following:

  • Children get $24 each month 
  • Pregnant, postpartum and some breastfeeding clients get $43 each month 
  • Fully and partially breastfeeding clients get $47 each month.

For example, if you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $91 ($43 mom + $24 child + $24 child = $91) each month in April, May and June to buy fruit and vegetables, according to WIC.

WIC clients should contact a local WIC office if they have questions about these benefits. 

The expanded WIC produce benefits are expected to return to $11 for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and $9 for children Oct. 1.

WIC clients can get all their WIC groceries in one easy stop at any JC Food Mart location in San Antonio. JC Food Mart caters to WIC clients and locations are located conveniently to WIC offices to help customers get WIC in one trip. 

By |2022-07-18T13:27:36-05:00July 13th, 2022|Categories: JC Food Mart, San Antonio, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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Vegetables Are WIC Foods

Summer Salads You Will Want To Eat!

Salads don’t have to be boring. In fact, they can be so refreshing and tasty that your toddler might even be asking for more.  

Sometimes salads get a bad reputation. After all, they are made mostly with vegetables. If you aren’t a salad lover, we have a few ideas that might change your mind. If you already love a nice crisp salad a few tips to change things up might be just what you need.  They are also a healthy side or quick meal and are a great way to eat healthy WIC foods.

Here are a few tips that will make your salad a little extra special.

ADD FRESH FRUIT

Adding sliced fresh apples or mandarins, really add something unexpected to a lettuce and tomato salad. Mangos, fresh berries, and watermelon can also be a wonderful addition. Add some of your favorites for extra color and taste.

ADD CHEESE

Grated or crumbled cheese of your choice is a great salad topper. Try anything from shredded cheddar to cubed mozzarella. It also adds great nutrition to your meal in a bowl. 

ADD HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING

The healthiest, and the most cost-effective salad dressings are the ones you make yourself. Plus, they are super simple and fast and taste a lot more delicious. 

To make your own, here are a few ingredients you will want to have on hand. Of course, they won’t all go into the same recipe, but they are fun to mix and match to find the perfect combination. Some great dressing ingredients include: lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, oil such as olive oil, honey mustard, and seasonings (such as garlic powder, black pepper, and Italian seasonings.)

ADD PROTEIN

Drained canned beans, boiled eggs, and canned tuna are great protein toppers for summer salads. They aren’t heavy but provide a healthy protein punch to your meal. 

ADD EXTRA CRUNCH

Depending on the flavor of your salad, it’s fun to add a little extra crunch like baked tortilla strips made homemade with tortillas. Simply take a corn tortilla and brush it with the oil of your choice. Slice it up and bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees (turning halfway) until they are nice and crispy. 

 

VEGETABLES ARE WIC FOODS – TRY THIS SALAD RECIPE

SUMMER APPLE SALAD

1 bag of fresh salad mix

2 apples, chopped

Tomatoes, chopped

Mozzarella cheese, shredded

¼ onion, chopped

Chopped carrots

Homemade Apple Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. 

APPLE CIDAR VINAIGRETTE

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

Ground black pepper

¼ cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk or add all ingredients to a mason jar, close the lid, and shake. Pour as much as you would like over your salad.

PICK UP YOUR VEGETABLES & OTHER WIC FOODS AT JC FOOD MART

Get all your summer salad ingredients at JC Food Mart. All 10  locations in San Antonio are conveniently located near WIC clinics for easy WIC grocery shopping. Everything in the store is WIC approved. Find a location near you today.

Vegetables are WIC foods. Plus, WIC is also currently offering expanded fruit and vegetable benefits. Learn more here.

 

By |2022-07-13T09:41:25-05:00July 5th, 2022|Categories: Meal Planning, Recipes, Recipes, San Antonio, Texas WIC, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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Government Food Program Serves Up Produce

Expanded WIC Fruit, Vegetable Benefits Extended Thru September 

Congress has approved another extension of WIC’s expanded fruit and vegetable benefits thru September 2022.

WIC is a government food program that provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and monthly food packages of healthy foods for pregnant women, babies and children up to age 5.

“With the rising cost of food and the ongoing burden of healthcare costs, we must double down on effective measures like the WIC benefit bump that help children build nutritious diets and get a healthy start,” according to a statement from the National WIC Association.

WIC’s extended fruit and vegetable benefits now provide:

  • Children $24/month
  • Pregnant and postpartum participants receive $43/month
  • Breastfeeding participants receive $47/month

Texas WIC offers the following example about how a family may see additional benefits on their WIC EBT cards: 

If you are pregnant and have two children (ages 1-5) receiving WIC, you will get $91 ($43 mom + $24 child + $24 child = $91) each month to buy fruit and vegetables thru September. 

WIC clients will see this new amount on your shopping list under your benefit amount. 

WIC shoppers can use the expanded fruit and vegetable benefit to buy produce fresh, frozen, cans, glass jars, and plastic containers. For more information about WIC food benefits, visit TexasWIC.org.

GOVERNMENT FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT

Since April 2021, more than 4.75 million women and children participating in WIC have received enhanced fruit and vegetable benefits in accordance with science-based recommendations. The WIC benefit bump has resulted in more than triple the amount of fruit and vegetable purchases, a greater variety of produce redeemed by WIC families, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption for young children, according to a statement released by the National WIC Association.

WIC GROCERY SHOPPING

Visit JC Food Mart in San Antonio to redeem your WIC benefits in one easy stop. JC Food Mart is a PWIC grocery store chain that specializes in catering to WIC clients. Shoppers can check their EBT balance BEFORE shopping and bilingual clerks assist shoppers throughout the shopping experience. Plus, everything in the store is WIC approved. SNAP is also accepted. Find a location here.

 

By |2022-05-17T08:16:48-05:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: San Antonio, Texas WIC, WIC Food, WIC Grocery Shopping, WIC Nutrition|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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