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Nature's Calling

There are many physical and mental health benefits of spending more time in nature for both children and adults, including improved mood, better sleep, and overall well-being. Kids learn and grow in new ways when they are outdoors.

Getting Kid's Outside

Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature

Grow a Garden

One way to connect with nature is through gardening. Find children's books at your local library to read together about gardening. Then start small with indoor herbs or try container gardening with easy-to-grow plants like lettuce, radishes, peas, beans, or cucumbers. You can purchase vegetable, fruit, and herb seeds and plant starts with 3SquaresVT benefits. 

Gardening Books for Kids

Kids' Gardening Activities

Purchase Seeds and Plants with 3SquaresVT

WIC's Connection to Communities

Celebrate 50 years of WIC's connection to communities and commitment to advancing health equity.

The WIC food packages are getting a makeover! The changes will provide WIC participants with more choices, balance, flexibility, and support. Look for more information in future newsletters.

• Updates to the WIC Food Packages

• WIC Food Package video

• Changes to the WIC Food Packages Q&As

Part of the updated WIC food packages includes continued higher monthly WIC fruit and vegetable benefits, shown below. Purchase fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables.

• $26 for child participants
• $47 for pregnant, postpartum, and "some" breastfeeding/chestfeeding participants
• $52 for fully and "mostly" breastfeeding/chestfeeding participants

With WIC's fruit and vegetable benefit, you can purchase more vegetables to include in your family's meals and snacks. Vegetables are nutrition stars, with vitamins (like vitamin A and C), minerals (like potassium), and dietary fiber. They can be used in so many ways, adding color, flavor, and variety to your favorite dishes. Try the recipe below for spring vegetables.

Spring Vegetable Sauté

This recipe includes lots of spring vegetables, cooked quickly and simply. Serve as a side dish, or put on top of brown rice, add some leftover chicken, tofu, and/or a hard-cooked egg, to make a grain bowl. You can use any combination of your favorite vegetables for this recipe – about 6 cups total.

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 scallions,* root ends trimmed off, greens and whites chopped

2 handfuls green beans,* stem ends trimmed or snapped off, cut in half

1 bunch asparagus,* ends snapped off, cut in half

2 zucchini,* cut in half lengthwise, then cut across into half-moon slices

1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, like basil or parsley (optional)

1/8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper, or to taste

Directions

Put a skillet on the stove and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the scallions and cook, stirring, until they are bright green, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the green beans, asparagus, and zucchini and cook, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 5 minutes.

Mix in fresh herbs (if desired), and season with salt and pepper.

Serve! 

*WIC foods

Nutrition information per serving: calories 191, protein 4 grams, carbohydrates 13 grams, fat 16 grams, sodium 831 milligrams, dietary fiber 5 grams

Recipe and image source

Learn about resources that may be helpful to your family.

Understanding Your Lactation Rights

Did you know that nursing employees have rights when it comes to breastfeeding/chestfeeding at work? The law states that the employer shall provide:

1. A reasonable break time for an employee to express milk for their nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth when needed.
2. A place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public that may be used by an employee to express milk.

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning? Protect your environment and your health by:

• De-cluttering! Try repurposing, regifting, donating, or finding a sustainable way to get rid of unwanted items rather than heading straight to the trash. Pro tip: many solid waste facilities now accept items like furniture, clothes, and footwear!

• Using nontoxic cleaning products.

• Properly disposing of items in your home that may contain mercury or lead.

• Opening windows to let that fresh spring breeze in and for ventilation – this will improve the quality of air in your home.

Do you know someone who may qualify for WIC? Tell them about us!

It's easy to sign up for Vermont WIC. Click Apply to WIC to start an application online.

Vermont WIC | HealthVermont.gov/WIC

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.