Cooking Matters® teaches parents & caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for & cook healthy meals – building a world where healthy eating choices are available for everyone. See below for great recipes, tips and discussions. Check back frequently, this feed is updated every day!
$35 of Fruits and Veggies
Did you know that as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the WIC Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fresh fruits and vegetables will be temporarily increased to $35 for each WIC participant over 1 year of age. Cooking Matters has put together tips and tricks to help you make the most of your increased benefits.
Now's the time to load up on in-season green beans at your local farmer's market or supermarket! If you store them correctly, they can last until your Thanksgiving dinner. #greenbeans #stringbeans #StarOfTheWeek
𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦! MyPlate nutrition information is now available just by asking Alexa. Perfect for those moments when your hands are full with your little one. Just say, “𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢, 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘺𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭” or enable in the app.
The MyPlate Alexa skill provides healthy eating tips for parents and caregivers on what and how to feed babies and toddlers based on their age (between 4 to 24 months). Parents and caregivers can receive science-based food and nutrition advice to set their child up for lifelong healthy eating habits. *𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯!
#MyPlate #USDA #CookingMatters #AmazonAlexa
Is getting to the grocery store a hassle for you and your family? Well, we are excited to see several grocery stores across the country now accepting SNAP/EBT payments for their online grocery delivery services! Grocery shopping just got a little easier! Be sure to check out which stores deliver to your neighborhood!
Did you grow up helping prepare green beans for dinner? Some of us 'snapped' green beans. Bring your toddler along in their cooking journey by inviting them to help. They could also practice counting, even if just 1, 2. Identifying 2 green beans vs 1 is a great math skill. #stringbeans #SOTW
It is also great for toddlers to help with peas as the picture shows peas😉
Summer is the time to enjoy these fruits and veggies at their best! Which ones have you had so far this season? We are going to share all things green beans this week...so stay tuned! #greenbeans #StarOfTheWeek
I have had 16
All but seven! 🥰
Who doesn't love a pasta salad?! They are a great summer staple. Keep it simple with this easy dressing that can be whipped up in seconds using common ingredients from your pantry! Maybe let your kids pick the pasta shape!
Yum! There are so many ways to tailor this to your family's particular taste by adding in veggies too! I love it!
Since it’s lettuce month – which type of salad is your favorite? Crispy romaine or leafy mixed green? #comment below!
A if it’s grilled!! B if it’s cold! 😘
That, the more colors the better 🙂
A!
B
Depends on the rest of the toppings! I think all salad greens have their place and time 🙂
Keep your carrots longer by storing them in an air tight container submerged in water. They will stay fresh and crisp for a month. If the water looks foggy, just change it!
Great tip! Thank you for sharing!
Do you garden? If your tomatoes are starting to come in, bring your baby out with you. Let them play and experience the feeling of grass and squishy tomatoes. You can bite the tomato a little first, to make it easier for baby. Note that the focus is on experiencing the feel, and not worrying if they eat it. Baby here is 8 months, and has 4 teeth. He chewed on the tomato, but did not actually eat it.
I’d know that cutie anywhere
There's a reason people reach for ginger ale to tame a stomach ache. Ginger is known for it's anti-nausea effects, so it's fitting that the herb looks like the digestive organ. Most ginger ales on the market are full of sugar and don't actually contain ginger, so when a tummy ache strikes, try drinking small amounts of ginger tea. Just add fresh slices of ginger to hot tea or water and let steep for a few minutes. Pro tip: you don't need much, a little ginger goes a long way.
Do you have an air fryer or pressure cooker? Want more recipe ideas to try in them? #comment below what you want to see more of!
Any kid approved items for an air Fryer
Change up your breakfast potatoes with a sweet potato breakfast bowl! The trick is cooking the potato before blending. We think the cinnamon and berries pair perfectly with the puree, but feel free to make it your own by swapping out additions for your faves! #tryittoday #somethingnew #breakfastbowl
Get kids involved with washing fruits and veggies – a core food safety principle. Once they feel comfortable and confident in the skill, maybe they will take over the task and save you time in the kitchen! #healthyhabits
Salads can be a vehicle for fruits, veggies, proteins, and more! Try this quick spinach salad. cookingmatters.org/recipes/spinach-salad-eggs
Overnight oats are great all day long! Have them at lunch or as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. We love sharing them with friends and family and making them taste like our favorite sweet treats. What’s your favorite sweet treat? Maybe we can create a related overnight oats recipe! #comment below
Tomato, mozzarella, and basil can be a fun salad to build with your kids. You can chop up all the ingredients and mix together, or have fun arranging them on a plate, or on toothpicks. Your imagination is the only limit on how to arrange it. This salad also has a fancy Italian name, Caprese!
For national junk food day, try making your favorites healthier at home! Start with a basic salt and pepper but experiment with other flavors and seasonings. Have your kids get out their ruler and let you know when they are the right thickness! What's your favorite chip flavor?
DYK that many farmer's markets accept SNAP benefits?! In several states, there are even programs that will match the value of your purchase so you can get MORE fruits & veggies!. For example, if you spend $10, you could get another $10 worth of fruits & veggies at no extra cost to you. Use this website to see if your local farmer's market takes SNAP www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets
and ask your state's health department about SNAP matching programs!
DYK that keeping uncut tomatoes on the counter will keep them from shriveling up and losing their flavor? Just make sure to store tomatoes in the fridge after you cut them.
Do you know how many servings of protein to aim for each day? These simple ranges from MyPlate make it easy! From plant sources like beans, legumes and nuts to animal sources like chicken, eggs and fish, meeting your protein goal should be super simple. Learn more here! www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/protein-foods
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