VERMONT WIC'S E-NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020

Keeping you up to date on events, nutrition and health information, recipes, and new products.

Enjoy Eating with Your Family

COVID-19 is keeping us closer to home this holiday season, and we hope that you can still enjoy the pleasure of eating with your family during holidays and throughout the year. Cooking together, enjoying food together, spending time together around the table, and creating new family traditions are all things we can be grateful for. WIC helps to keep nourishing foods on your table. Your WIC staff can share ideas to make family mealtimes easier by offering recipes and creative ways to use WIC foods. We can also provide referrals to other nutrition and food programs to stretch your budget even further.

STRETCH YOUR BUDGET

The Farmers to Families food box program has been extended through the end of this year! Starting November 16, Farmers to Families food boxes will be available at distribution sites throughout the state. This program continues until the end of December 2020. To keep wait times to a minimum, reservations are required. Each reservation will receive one box with about 30 pounds of food, including fresh produce, dairy products, and meat. You are welcome to pick up food for other families who are not able to be at the pickup site; just be sure to make a separate reservation for each household. These events are filling up quickly.

RESERVE FARMERS TO FAMILIES FOOD BOX

Roasted Vegetables

Here's a simple recipe, with lots of vitamin A from fall vegetables: Brussels sprouts, which look like little cabbages because they’re part of the same family, and sweet potatoes. You can substitute winter squash, peeled and cubed, for some or all of the sweet potatoes.

Makes 8 Servings Ingredients 2 sweet potatoes*, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch cubes 6 cups Brussels sprouts* (ends trimmed off ), cut in half 1 red or white onion*, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoon olive oil 1⁄2 teaspoon salt Instructions Set the oven to 425 degrees. Put the sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, onion, olive oil, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Pour onto a baking sheet, making sure the vegetables are in a single layer. Bake in the oven until the vegetables are tender and starting to brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm. Nutrition information per serving: calories 80, protein 3 grams, carbohydrates 10 grams, fat 3.5 grams, sodium 170 milligrams, dietary fiber 3 grams, vitamin A 70% Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet *WIC foods Recipe and image from ChopChop.

WIC Shopping Tips

Here are a few reminders and tips to make WIC shopping easier: Can’t get to the store or need help with shopping? A trusted family member or friend can shop with your WIC card if you are unable to. You will need to provide your friend or family member with your WIC card and PIN number.  When you shop with WIC, store coupons, reward points and other savings are applied. If you don’t want to use your store rewards points or coupons for WIC items, separate your WIC foods and then don't enter your phone number on the store’s pin pad for the WIC transaction.

SHOPPING WITH WIC

Holiday Plans

What are you planning for the holidays this year? It’s hard to imagine breaking with tradition and celebrating at home, but that is what a lot of Vermont families are deciding to do in 2020. If you travel then you will need to quarantine for two weeks when you return. More information can be found on the Health Department website. STAY SAFE, VERMONT

To help you weigh the risk of COVID-19 when making plans or going out, consider these three things: Six-Foot Spaces, Masks on Faces, Uncrowded Places. Any of these will lower your risk of getting or spreading COVID-19. The more, the better!

Preventing Picky Eating

Do you have a picky eater at home? Learn how your child's development influences their eating behaviors and recognize your role as a parent when it comes to creating peaceful mealtimes. Check out this and other virtual nutrition and breastfeeding classes offered.

WIC VIRTUAL CLASSES

Refer a Friend to WIC!

WIC is here to keep your family healthy and strong during COVID-19. Only half of the eligible women, infants and children are currently on WIC. 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 or text VTWIC to 855-11.* *Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt­‐out (to stop receiving text messages). HELP for help. See end user privacy and terms and conditions.

APPLY TO WIC

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Vermont WIC | healthvermont.gov/wic This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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