~WIC TRICK #1 ~

If you are a fortunate woman, infant, or child receiving WIC coupons monthly, you know what an incredible blessing these food-freebies can be --- and how incredibly creative you have to be sometimes in order to use the abundance abundantly given!

This week's WIC trick: I had the opportunity to know someone who knew Wolfgang Puck once, and he said the secret to popular American cuisine was to make foods crunchy. Puck says we are suckers for this textural eating experience. I think he may be on to something....

So okay, if you like ho-made sushi, tempura, or other yummy crunchies that require PANKO bread crumbs, you know that they have a great effect, but can be pretty spendy. Well, most WIC programs give you a minimum of 36 ounces of free cereal each month. This WIC mama likes to pick up rice krispies and use them for ALL my panko needs! Just about any veggie, ho-made fish sticks, fried chicken, dipped in egg wash or batter, tossed in smashed up rice cereal, and fried is uh-mazing and delish and won't break the bank!

I always have the sneaking suspicion that WIC is not as much about actual nutrition as they are about fattening you up for pregnancy and nursing and child rearing, but they do seem to be coming around. I expect that before too long WIC will support organics, and maybe even gluten-free options which are necessarily becoming more in-demand.

Stay tuned, women infants and kids! More soon!