by Marlena from Wisconsin
There are so many ways to use WIC foods, some obvious and others that take a little more creativity. I am not much of a recipe follower when it comes to cooking.
My recipes below are things that pop off the top of my head; don’t ask how much mayo is in my egg salad because I truly measure with my heart when making dinner most nights.
Depending on your food package and any specific changes you have, you might not have all of these items. Allergens also make a difference and may affect your grocery list, but here are a few ideas of what I do using my monthly benefits with two small boys.
Breakfast
scrambled eggs with shredded cheddar cheese in a whole wheat tortilla (bonus: add diced tomatoes, diced onions, spinach)
egg cups (mix eggs, milk, choice of vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese and bake in muffin tins)
egg and sliced cheddar cheese on whole wheat toast
egg in a hole (cut a hole in whole wheat bread and fry in a pan, crack egg into center and cook to desired level of doneness)
cereal and any kind of milk on your food package
pancakes made with any kind of yogurt on your food package (recipe found here)
smoothies (so easy to make – take any frozen fruit and blend with yogurt and a splash of juice)
French toast bake (cube whole wheat bread, spread in pan and pour an egg/milk mix over it with cinnamon and sugar to flavor)
Lunch or Dinner
salads are a great way to use tons of fruits and vegetables, and I love chickpeas and hard-boiled eggs on mine
roasted veggies like potatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, squash served with grilled shrimp, chicken, or tofu
one of my favorites that the kids love is chicken pot pie casserole (cooked whole wheat pasta of choice, diced celery, onions, mushrooms, and carrots; add cream of mushroom soup and diced chicken)
fajitas using onions, peppers, mushrooms and whole wheat tortillas; add your choice of steak, chicken, shrimp, or tofu
grilled cheese using sliced cheddar cheese on whole wheat bread; serve with homemade tomato bisque (I use the recipe here but substitute milk in place of the half and half and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock)
classic kid favorite is peanut butter on whole wheat bread
Thai peanut ramen (cook a package of ramen, add tons of veggies like broccoli, onions, peppers, mushrooms, strain and stir in some peanut butter and a Thai chili sauce)
egg salad on whole wheat bread (using hard-boiled eggs, diced celery, diced onions)
BLTs on whole wheat bread (bonus: add a fried egg and sliced cheese)
But sometimes you need to get creative. . .
Crushed corn flake cereal can top a cheesy potato casserole or be used to coat chicken breast. I use Chex and make puppy chow with peanut butter for an easy snack, and I use Rice Krispies to make Rice Krispie treats.
WIC offers a variety of cereals, and I love to search Pinterest to get different recipe ideas so that I can use them in a way that makes sure they get utilized; nothing is more frustrating than wasted food. I find it’s best to shop for what you know you will use, so if you find your bananas are always going bad, buy frozen or canned fruit (although I love making banana bread and seem to make it often because my kids can’t decide if this is the week we are loving bananas or not).
Depending on your family situation, meal preparation for the week is also a great way to utilize lots of WIC foods: make salads for lunch, double a batch of stir fry and portion the leftovers out for lunches. Don’t hesitate to ask your dietitian for advice either; lots of these ideas have come from their suggestions!
This blog was written by one of our guest bloggers, Marlena.
About Marlena. . .
My name is Marlena and I am a mother to two rowdy boys in a house with two dogs and now three cats (I can't help myself and love animals). My fiance and I are getting married this month and also in the process of buying a house! The boys are definitely going stir crazy, even though it's been a mild winter in Wisconsin. We are looking forward to more sunshine and warmer (and less muddy) weather where we can get out and adventure!
Check out Marlena's other blog posts:
Want more inspiration in the kitchen? Check out our Health eKitchen at www.wichealth.org. We have beginner, intermediate, and experienced recipes for all ability levels.
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