Wellness Wisdom: Activities for Building Happy, Healthy Families
Get the most out of your benefits!
WIC and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are programs available to those who qualify in South Dakota which include benefits to buy healthy foods. Here are a few ways to get the most out of your benefits from these programs:
- Use your WIC card first when checking out…
- The WIC program provides a specific food package tailored to the needs of you and your family members who are enrolled. By using your WIC card first, you will make sure you use WIC benefits for the specific foods available on your card.
- …then use your SNAP benefits
- This can stretch your SNAP benefit, allowing you to purchase more food items such as fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, or dried vegetables and fruits.
- Use your SNAP benefits to purchase the remaining formula your baby needs.
- If your baby needs more formula than WIC can provide, SNAP can be used to purchase the rest.
- If you’re not currently participating in SNAP…
- For more information call: 1.877.999.5612 or find out more online at: https://dss.sd.gov/economicassistance/snap/
Breastfed From the Start: Helpful Tips for Mastering Breastfeeding
When Should I Ask for Help?
Plugged Duct: This is when your milk duct plugs with milk. It can be caused by consistent pressure on breast (from a tight-fitting bra, underwire, etc). It will feel like a hard marble deep in your breast where the pain is. It will also be very sore.
Mastitis: This is an infection in your breast. Breast will be red, feel warm to the touch, and you will likely have a fever and feel pretty rotten. It may be caused by an unresolved plugged duct, among other things.
Thrush: It is a type of yeast infection that babies or moms can get while breastfeeding. If you have shooting pains in your breast and baby has white on her tongue that can’t be scraped off, it could be thrush. Make sure to treat both baby and yourself.
Inadequate Feedings: If baby is breastfeeding fewer than 8 times, or more than 12 times in 24 hours, baby may have issues removing milk adequately.
Latching Problems: This can occur when baby pulls off the breast often, falls asleep within minutes of latching, you can’t hear her swallowing, breastfeeding is painful, or if baby clicks or gags while eating.
Irregular Diapers: This can be a concern if baby has less than 3 stools per day after Day 4. Or when baby has less than 3-4 wet diapers per day in the first month.
In all of these situations, contact your WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (605-789-4357). They can help with many of these issues and connect you with an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant)!
Contact your local WIC office to get connected to a local Breastfeeding Peer Counselor if you don’t have one already.
Delicious & Nutritious Recipes: Simple, Kid Approved Dishes to Try at Home
Keep your family cool this summer with this sweet treat!
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces orange juice
- 1 ½ cups kale
- 1 cup frozen berries
- ½ frozen banana
Directions:
- Wash your prep area, hands, and all fresh produce.
- Remove kale leaves from stems and chop the leaves.
- Chop banana.
- Blend orange juice and kale together until well blended.
- Add berries and banana and blend until smooth.
- Pour into popsicle mold and freeze at least 4 hours or until completely set.
Tip:
If you don’t have a popsicle mold, the pureed mixture can be frozen in plastic cups, an ice cube tray, or a muffin tin. With any of these alternatives, wrap aluminum foil around the container and pierce through the top with popsicle sticks. The aluminum foil helps the popsicle sticks stay in place!
This post was last updated on June 30th, 2021 at 10:15 AM
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.