April 2025 Fun Facts

Wellness Wisdom: Activities for Building Happy, Healthy Families

Spring Cleaning Your Pantry: Stocking Up on WIC-Approved Foods

As the season of renewal approaches, it’s the perfect time to give your pantry a fresh start. Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets and garages—it’s also an excellent opportunity to organize your kitchen and ensure your family has easy access to healthy, WIC-approved foods. Begin by taking inventory of what’s in your pantry. Sort through the items, checking expiration dates, and setting aside any non-perishable foods you no longer need. Consider donating these items to a local food bank, helping others while making room for nutritious staples that will benefit your family.

Once your pantry is cleared, focus on stocking up with WIC-approved foods that will support your family’s health. Start by filling your shelves with whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, and oatmeal—these are excellent sources of fiber and essential nutrients. Don’t forget to include canned or dried beans, which are affordable, protein-packed options for family meals. Additionally, keep a variety of canned fruits and vegetables on hand, ensuring they are packed in water or their own juice with no added sugars or salt. With a well-organized pantry filled with nutritious foods, you’ll be ready to prepare balanced meals and snacks that support your family’s health and well-being throughout the spring and beyond.

Breastfed From the Start: Helpful Tips for Mastering Breastfeeding

Can I give my baby a pacifier if I breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is a learning process for both mom and baby, despite its naturalness. It's important to avoid introducing pacifiers early on, typically for the first 3-4 weeks, so that mom's milk supply can be well established. During this time, feeding should happen whenever the baby shows signs of hunger. Nursing stimulates milk production, so frequent breastfeeding helps build mom's supply naturally. It's crucial not to substitute breastfeeding with pacifiers or delay feeding times.

Once both mom and baby are comfortable with breastfeeding and mom understands baby's hunger cues, pacifiers can be used at naptime and bedtime to promote safe sleep practices and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

Delicious & Nutritious Recipes: Simple, Kid Approved Dishes to Try at Home

Carne Molido con Papas (Ground Beef with Potatoes)

Ingredients:

• 1-pound lean ground beef
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 8 ounces tomato sauce (no salt added)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 serrano pepper or pepper of your choice
• Black pepper to taste
• 8 corn or whole wheat tortillas

Directions:

1. Wash prep area, your hands, and all vegetables.
2. In a large skillet, brown ground beef for about 5 minutes. Add garlic powder and onion powder.
3. While beef is cooking, peel and dice potatoes to about ½ inch cubes.
4. Add tomato sauce and salt to beef. Stir. Add serrano pepper if you’re using.
5. Add potato and cook for 15-17 minutes or until potato is cooked. Add black pepper to taste.
6. Serve with warmed tortillas.

Tips: Serve with brown rice if you like.

Source: WICHealth.org Health eKitchen Meal Planner.