In Season Now: Peppers

Did you know that one cup of bell peppers has more vitamin C than one cup of oranges? I know it sounds crazy but it is true. One cup of bell peppers has 195.8% of your recommended daily value for vitamin C where one cup of oranges contain 116.1% of the daily value for vitamin C.

When most people think of vitamin C they immediately think of oranges or other citrus fruits but peppers are a great source of vitamin C. If you have low iron, it helps to combine any food containing iron with a food containing vitamin C to increase your absorption of iron. Stuffed peppers anyone?

Hot peppers are also in season now. If you enjoy hot peppers you also enjoy a great source of a phytonutrient called "capsaicin" which is what gives hot peppers their "heat". There has been alot of reasearch that suggest that capsaicin has many health benefits such as anti cancer properties.



Be sure to enjoy this Summer food while they last!

- Allison Leonard RD

In Season Now: Muskmelon (Cantaloupe)

Just like I love tomatoes, cantaloupe is one of the reasons I can make it through our long, hot, and humid summers.



Enjoy this summer treat for dessert, snacks, or breakfast and you will also enjoy one of the best sources of vitamin A around (along with a healthy dose of vitamin C and antioxidants).

Any time a fruit or vegetable is orange, it is a good source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for eye and skin health and it helps your immune system. If your kids don't like to eat alot of orange colored or dark green colored vegetables (like carrots, sweet potatoes, or spinach), be sure to offer them orange colored fruits like cantaloupe, apricots, papaya, and mango.

- Allison Leonard RD

Be Prepared: Making a Disaster Kit

The kids are going back to school and summer is ending, but hurricane season is far from over.  Since we have already had some storms this season, it's a good idea to make sure our disaster kits are still well stocked. 

Food and water:  Check the expiration dates on your non-perishable food items and water.  It is important to have plenty of food and a gallon of water for each person that will last at least three days. 

Baby:  Don't forget diapers and feeding supplies for the baby.

Batteries: Make sure the batteries in your battery powered radio and your flashlights are still good, and that your radio and flashlights are still working. 

Restock your first aid kit.  Click the link for information on making your own first aid kit.

Other supplies to have in your disaster kit:
manual can opener, dust masks, duct tape, moist towelettes and/or hand sanitizer, garbage bags, local maps, tools, coloring books and crayons for the kids and a car charger for your cell phone

Follow the link for more information about hurricane preparedness.  For more information about putting together a disaster kit, visit this site. 

Valerie Marcellus, Nutritionist Senior

In Season Now: Tomatoes

One of my favorite things about summer is tomatoes. I absolutely love them, especially from our garden.



Now is the time to check out your local grocery store or Farmer's Market to enjoy tomatoes as they are in season (but not for too much longer!)

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins C and A as well as health supporting antioxidants (which come from the pigments that give tomatoes their bright color). Enjoy them for their health benefits, but even better because they taste good!



Stay tuned for more information about what is in season now in our area.

- Allison Leonard RD

The Boob Group

Have you heard of their show?  If not, you should check it out!

The BoobGroup.com is a weekly radio show based out of San Diego, CA.  The shows are hosted by a lactation consultant and a group of moms that discuss their success and struggles with breastfeeding.  The episodes are recorded and you can listen to them from the website.  There is also a free downloadable app for iPhone and Android if you have a smart phone so you can listen to the show on the go.

In addition to the radio show that features a new topic each week, they also have a blog and a newsletter that you can subscribe to with topics that range from “babywearing and breastfeeding” to “going back to work and breastfeeding.”  It's always great to hear stories from other moms out there that are going through the same experience, so definitely check them out for breastfeeding information and support. 

Happy Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

Valerie Marcellus, Nutritionist Senior

WIC FRAUD

Got any leftover WIC items that you have not used? Maybe some formula, baby foods, or cereals? Bring them to your local WIC office!

We want to kindly remind all WIC participants that food or formula obtained through the WIC program  either with your WIC checks or sample formula is NOT under any circumstances to be sold on the Internet, through the newspaper or on the street. This type of activity is illegal and will result in disqualification from the WIC program and/or criminal prosecution.

WIC actively works with many online corporations to stop fraud and your local WIC offices are frequently checking Internet sites and newspapers for illegal activity as well.

If you have any leftover food, formula or checks, please bring the items to your nearest WIC office. If there are any questions about appropriate use of WIC vouchers or if you know of illegal activity taking place, please contact your local WIC office immediately.

Caroline County WIC:
Caroline County Health Department
17202 Richmond Turnpike
P.O. Box 6
Milford, VA 22514
(804) 633-5465

King George County WIC:
King George County Health Department
10079 Kings Highway
P.O. Box 92
King George, VA 22485
(540) 775-3111

Fredericksburg City WIC:
Fredericksburg City Health Department
608 Jackson Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 899-4142

Spotsylvania County WIC:
Spotsylvania County Health Department
9104 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
(540) 507-7400

Stafford County WIC:
Stafford County Health Department
1300 Courthouse Rd.
P.O. Box 27
Stafford, VA 22554
(540) 659-3101

Pedia-UNsure?

Have you seen those PediaSure commercials on TV?  The one commercial that comes to mind shows a mom coming home from the grocery store, and when she unpacks all her groceries, they float up into the air above her childrens' heads.  One by one, foods that the children don't like are replaced by PediaSure.  Sounds like PediaSure must be good for picky eaters, right?  WRONG!

We get a LOT of questions about PediaSure here in the WIC clinic.  The most common thing we hear from moms is, "My child doesn't like broccoli, so should I give her PediaSure?"  We wanted to answer all those questions and go over what PediaSure is and isn't.

What PediaSure IS:

PediaSure is a nutrition shake that can provide extra calories and help your child gain weight.  It can be very helpful for kids who are underweight (meaning their weight falls below the 5th percentile) or if they have been diagnosed with failure to thrive.  WIC can provide PediaSure for your child if your doctor prescribes it.

What PediaSure IS NOT:

PediaSure isn't a "magic pill" that will replace all of the foods that your child doesn't like to eat.  The commercials are misleading because they don't mention that PediaSure is for underweight children.  If your child is a healthy weight and drinks PediaSure, there is a chance she could gain too much weight or be even more picky (because all she wants to eat is PediaSure!). 

If you still have questions about PediaSure, contact your WIC nutritionist or your child's pediatrician.  Click here for more information about picky eaters!

- Sarah Whitson, Nutritionist Senior

Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

Even though World Breastfeeding Week ends today, you can continue to celebrate all month long!  Governor McDonnell has declared August to be Breastfeeding Awareness Month in the state of Virginia.  Check out his proclamation below:

Pretty cool that our governor supports all of you breastfeeding mommies out there!

- Sarah Whitson, Breastfeeding Coordinator

Fronanas

Have you guys ever heard of "fronanas". It stands for "frozen bananas" and they are delicious. There are advertisements on TV for a special gadget you can buy to make fronanas "ice cream" but you don't have to waste your money to get yummy fronanas ice cream...



Get some ripe bananas. This is the perfect time to use up all those bananas that are turning brown.



Peel and slice your bananas and arrange on a single layer on a plate or cookie sheet.



Place your bananas in the freezer for 1-2 hours.



Put your frozen bananas in a food processor and blend them until they start to look like soft serve ice cream. Scrape the sides along the way...



Why not add some extra nutrition and flavor to your treat? I added a few scoops of peanut butter and a couple spoonfuls of ovaltine but you can experiment and try adding other flavorings like cinnamon, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, etc...



Doesn't this look like ice cream? Your kids will think you are a genius.



You can enjoy your fronanas "ice cream" now or put it back in the freezer for later.

It is no Carl's Ice Cream but you can't really complain for being made entirely of fruit!

- Allison Leonard RD

World Breastfeeding Week!!

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week the Rappahannock District is having two exciting events.  One is a breastfeeding baby shower for all our pregnant and breastfeeding participants.  The shower is a great way to come out and meet other moms in the area and there are giveaways!! 

That's not the only event we are having.  On Saturday we are having a Zumba Party and everyone is welcome to come.  So bring your family and come out and enjoy a good workout on your Saturday afternoon.  There will be a lot of different community organizations at the event with tons of information.

Even if you can't come out to the events celebrate world breastfeeding week at home and support and encourage other mom's to make the best choice for their baby!

-Eileen Alwang, WIC coordinator