The Mushroom Council is among the groups applauding recent enhancements to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, that give 7 million participants access to four times the number of fruits and vegetables previously offered.
The USDA unveiled updates to foods provided through WIC on April 9. WIC provides pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children with the critical nutritional assistance they need and deserve. The permanent benefit increases the amount of fruit and vegetables provided and the varieties available for purchase, according to a news release.
“Delicious, nutritious and versatile, fresh mushrooms are an important part of the fruit and vegetable mix, and we greatly appreciate WIC’s new updates that will bring more produce to women and children throughout the United States,” Bart Minor, president and CEO of the Mushroom Council, said in the release. “These changes are especially critical and timely considering the current economic challenges families are experiencing.”
5 tips for incorporating mushrooms into recipes
The Mushroom Council says its website features hundreds of quick and easy recipes, highlighting multiple ways families can incorporate fresh mushrooms and other WIC foods into daily meal plans.
The Mushroom Council offers the following tips for incorporating mushrooms into recipes for Mushroom Monday or any day of the week:
- Keep it simple — Simply sauté mushrooms in a skillet for about 7 minutes for a quick and tasty side dish.
- Blend with meat or legumes — Chop up a favorite mushroom variety and blend with meat and/or legumes.
- Bulk up your breakfast — Add sliced mushrooms, cheese, peppers and onions to scrambled eggs. Make breakfast for dinner with a veggie and cheese stuffed omelette.
- Mix into tacos — Mushrooms can easily be incorporated into any favorite taco recipe.
- Top off favorite breads — Top pizza crust, flatbread and/or naan with mushrooms, cheese, onions and peppers.
