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 Lone Star Family Market location in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Lone Star Family market caters to WIC clients and locations are located conveniently to WIC offices to help customers get WIC in one trip. Find a location near you.
Fire Up The Grill For Corn On the Cob
There’s just something about corn on the cob that screams summer.
Maybe it’s the fact that it’s a quintessential BBQ side dish, or maybe it’s because it’s the perfect portable food for a picnic. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that corn on the cob is one of the best things about summertime.
And while there are plenty of ways to cook it, nothing quite compares to the simplicity of boiling it in water and slathering on some butter. Whether you eat it plain or add a little salt and pepper, corn on the cob is the perfect way to enjoy the summer sun. So go ahead, fire up the grill and toss on some corn. It’s not summer without it!
Here are a few recipes to help you enjoy this summer.
CORN ON THE COB RECIPES
SUMMER CORN SALAD
3 cups corn kernels ( or kernels removed from about 4 cobs of corn)
Diced tomatoes about 1 cup
Diced cucumbers, about 1 cup
¼ cup diced red onion
3 tablespoons of olive oil
3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped herbs for garnishing
Either boil or grill corn. If grilling, preheat the grill to medium high heat. Remove silk and husk. Brush corn with olive oil and season. Grill about 3 minutes per side. Cool before adding to the recipe.
Once the corn has cooked, let cool once they have cooked. Remove kernels from cobs. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and toss. Chill before serving or serve hot.
CORN, BLACK BEAN SALSA
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
Cooked corn from 4 cobs of corn, either boiled or grilled corn
1 red bell pepper diced
1 cup pico de gallo
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt to taste
Mix all the ingredients together and let chill before serving. Serve with tacos, eggs or as a side.
Pick up your corn on the cob and other WIC foods at Lone Star Family Market, and find out how easy WIC grocery shopping can be. Lone Star Family Market locations cater to WIC clients and are conveniently located near WIC offices. Everything in the stores are WIC approved so you will be in and out fast. Find a location near a WIC clinic near you.
WIC Income Requirements
Pregnant & Need Help?
Are you pregnant and need help with your pregnancy, but not sure where to start? Start with Texas WIC.
The program is open to pregnant women that are Texas residents. The free program can begin as soon as you learn that you are expecting a baby. To qualify, expecting Texas mothers must meet the following WIC income requirements, which are provided by Texas WIC.
WIC INCOME REQUIREMENTS
Households with the following gross yearly income per member:
- 1 household member can qualify making up to $25,142 gross yearly income per household;
- 2 household members up to $33,874 gross yearly income;
- 3 household members up to $42,606 gross yearly income;
- 4 household members up to $51,338 gross yearly income;
- 5 household members up to $60,070 gross yearly income and
- 6 household members up to $68,802 gross yearly income
Texas WIC can help you give your baby a healthy start with education, counseling and nutritional foods. The program provides FREE resources to help you along your pregnancy, including nutrition counseling and FREE healthy food packages to help ensure you and your baby have a healthy pregnancy. To see if you qualify for the program, apply online at texaswic.com/apply.
Visit our blog, to get more information about Texas WIC.
Lone Star Family Market is a chain of grocery stores near WIC clinics that caters to WIC clients. There are locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos to help make WIC grocery shopping easy. Customers can check their WIC balance before shopping and can get personal shopping assistance from bilingual clerks that are familiar with the WIC program.
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 LONE STAR FAMILY MARKET
Get all your summer salad ingredients at Lone Star Family Market. All 7 locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos 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.
Enjoy Summer WIC Foods This July 4!
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.
SUMMER WIC FOODS: PICNIC PERFECT (SPOTLIGHTING WIC INGREDIENTS)
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 Lone Star Family Market locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos to pick up all your WIC groceries in one easy stop. Don’t search aisles for WIC-approved foods. Lone Star Family Market 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.