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When a family uses the WIC program, that can sometimes mean that money is a little bit tight. But whether you use this program or not, you’ll find plenty of budget-friendly, real food ideas on this list!
Breakfast Ideas
- Cereal with milk
- Eggs with extras: Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash, Orange Veggie Egg Muffins, omelets with your favorite chopped veggies, Breakfast Grilled Cheese, or scrambled eggs with peanut butter toast
- Oatmeal: in a bowl like Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal, in muffins like Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins (or any of the muffins in Oat Flour Muffins), in pancakes like Oat Flour Pancakes
- Yogurt and granola and fruit: try Honey Nut Granola or Peanut Butter Cup Granola
- French Toast
Lunch Ideas
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Tuna Sandwiches
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
- Southwest Salads: we like this one with a dressing of sour cream and salsa
- Simple Chili
- Black Bean Tortilla Pizzas
- Easy Apple Quesadillas
- Beans and Rice Bowls topped with cheese
- Salad Bar: set out several types of chopped veggies and have each person pick at least two to put on their salad
- Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
- Peanut Butter Banana Wrap-Ups: tortillas with peanut butter and sliced bananas
Dinner Ideas
I tried to keep these mostly vegetarian, as you do not get meat with WIC vouchers. However, those that do include meat can be made with just a small amount, or with additional vegetables to substitute, making them an affordable choice!
- Black Bean Fajita Casserole
- Black Bean Burgers
- Broccoli Fried Rice
- Peanut Butter Veggie Stir Fry
- Cheesy Corn and Potato Chowder
- Baked Potato Bar: we like ours topped with broccoli and cheese, but any veggies or even chili would work too!
- Chicken Pepper Bake
- Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Ham Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Stew
Snack and Dessert Ideas
- Simple cut up fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, etc.
- Simple cut up veggies like carrots, celery sticks, bell peppers, etc.
- Black Bean Brownies
- Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Fruit smoothies
- Treat hummus: our favorites are Cookie Dough and Chocolate
- Energy Bites
- Vanilla Cinnamon Fruit Salad
You’ll notice that quite a few of these are my own recipes. That’s because we’ve been blessed to receive vouchers from WIC for a few years now, and those foods have become staple items in my kitchen! Even without this program, items like beans, rice, cheese, and oats are staples in my kitchen.
If you’re looking for more ways to use some of your WIC items, especially the beans, I highly recommend The Everything Beans Book by Katie Kimball. You’ll find recipes from appetizers to desserts, all using this frugal staple.
I also recommend reading Erin Odom’s More Than Just Making It: Hope For The Heart Of The Financially Frustrated. This book will not only offer practical tips on saving money and moving out of “just making it”, but also give you hope and inspiration and challenge some of the preconceptions you may have experienced.
Whether you make use of the WIC program or not, which of these budget-friendly recipes will you try first?
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