Seeking Advice on Poor Nutrition at Daycare.

You definately have a very good reason to be concerned. I don't think you are over-reacting at all - it's important that they serve well balanced nutritious meals for all the kids. Maybe you could get other parents on board and voice your opinions together and make suggestions for improvement and this way the director may listen if it's more than one parent with the concern. Packing lunches for your daughter is a good idea but you shouldn't have to. Sounds to me the daycare center is finding the easiest and cheapest way to feed the children without realizing the impact they have on their eating habits. We pay enough for daycare and shouldn't have to worry about them proving nutrition to our children!

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I was assistant director at a day care for many years and part of my job was planning menus and buying food within our budget. I don't understand how they could afford poptarts or donuts for the kids. Cereal is pretty cheap and kids love to eat it without milk as well as with the milk so we had that and/or apples or bananas for morning snack. We also made a lot of muffins. Lunch was simple but hit all the food groups, I just had to be creative. Afternoon snack would sometimes get them cookies or ice cream but we tried to make sure it was more peanut butter and crackers or cheese with crackers. Something we could make up ahead of time while the kids were in other activities or down for a nap. It is hard if there is only one provider (like in a home day care). I take it they are going for easy.

My suggestion to you, since she likes the day care so well, is to pack lunches and snacks for your child. You do know she won't like watching others eat poptarts while she has a banana though, so be creative. Yes, this costs you more in time and money, but for the health of your daughter, it would be worth it.

You asked the day care provider to change the menu to healthy and while that is a very good idea, she must think it to be to much work on top of all the other, so she isn't going to do it. She probably has other children there that won't eat "healthy" and is trying to feed them something all kids like. So whatever the reason, she isn't going to change so it is complaining a lot if you keep bringing it up.

Day care work is very stressful and if this is a home day care, she is even more stressed. I know when I worked day care we had different advice coming from many different parents and while we would like to abide by them all, it is hard when you have much more to concider then one child. You know what they say "until you walk a mile in their shoes"

We had a good day care program and the waiting list was long on getting a child in. For those who had special needs for meals, it was simple, we requested that the parents pack a meal for them. We were there to watch the children and to make special meals along with regular ones would take eyes off the children way to long.

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Are there other parents who feel like you do about the food choices? It might be good to get all of you to send a letter or sign a petition. It actually costs more for the daycare to do fresh fruits and veggies. However canned is not necessarily bad if packed in own juices. Graham crackers can be a better snack choice. Fresh pop corn as well - no butter etc. These are easy to prepare and inexpensive as well.

My daughter is on a milk free diet & I would pack a lunch/snack for her at daycare. Now I do for school.

At daycare/preschool none of the kids ever said anything to her about it. She was never teased or anything. And now that I think about it, nothing has happened in school either.

I think there are enough people out there with food allergies/special diets that it really is not noticed.

In my opinion, the food issue is very minor part of daycare. More importantly is the good, loving care the kids receive. The work around is packing a lunch.

Hot topic here. We are all learning more about what is so bad for our bodies. We as parents do the best we can and when we feel our children aren't getting what we would have for them, then I would act on that. Obviously it is bothering you. That is not something to ignore.

I try to eat the right amount of veggies and fruits and protein along with my family with our meals. Sometimes that doesn't happen. So to keep our immune system where it needs to be, we take nutritionals that have a patent on absorbtion into the cells. Wow - did you know that there was such a thing? Getting a patent is extremely difficult, let alone a patent on cellular nutrition being absorbed. A patent means the process is tested over and over and it has to perform the same EVERY time, not just 90% of the time.

A Senate Document 264, 74th Congress, 1936 stated that our Soils Deteriorated. It would take 70 servings of spinach today to equal the same nutritional value found in 1 serving in 1949. That doesn't mean eat junk, but it does mean that even if we ate all fruits and veggies all day long, we would still not be getting what our bodies need.

I strongly suggest a mineral (absorbable only!!) and a multivitamin to ensure that the nutrition is up to par coupled with healthy eating.

As far as the daycare goes, I would see what options are out there. Change can be hard, but there may be something better for you that you didn't even know about.

Good luck and email me if you want more info about the vitamins. They have a 90 day risk free on the adults. The kids vitamins are wonderful and have the same patent.

A.

You are NOT overreacting. Most of the items you have listed here are not even remotely considered "food" ~ they are filler or just plain junk. It is unfortunate that the people we rely on to care for our children haven't a clue about nutrition.

I had this same experience with my oldest and switched her to a home day care with good food and a caring atmosphere. Research the options in your area and find one that caters to kids with allergies - the reason here is that care providers that understand allergies often also understand nutrition. Ask about the food prep (is it canned or fresh) before you sign.

As to your daughter being upset - yes, she will be upset. But letting her visit her old daycare now and then will help her in the long run to see how easy it is to change the places you go and not lose the good feelings you have for the places you have left.

Give her fair warning. They will probably have a party for her when she leaves. Let her "tour" the new place she will be going before she gets there. The transition will be a lot easier if she is ready in her mind for the change.

I agree and disagree with the previous posts...
I think this IS a battle to fight. Centers follow a food guide that is incredibly unhealthy in my opinion.
I watch another 2yr old in my home all week and she eats as my family does- organic, homemade, healthy and mostly vegetarian. What we put into our bodies is incredibly important! It is what fuels us and if we feed our kids processed junk (I think that no fruit is better than canned fruit! there are tons of pesticides and sugar added!) that will only lead to problems in the future.
Even if you are not as crazy as I am about food I really think you need to either find a home that does provide healthy meals/is on the same page as you or continue to bag your daughter's lunch and ask for a discount.
No one should eat the meals they serve in centers let alone growing bodies!
I am not sure if she will have a complex...I think that if she understand that some foods are just not helpful for your body (and you pack similar, just better foods) she will learn to value that too. Come school age it is very common to have a bagged lunch... and as someone else said- some kids have allergies/religious beliefs etc. that "prevent" them from having center lunches.....
I worry about the same thing with my son so I know where you are coming from (he is two and already knows that we do not eat the free food when we're out or buy the same cookies as his friend) - I fortunately had the option to stop working at a center and start working from home!
I highly suggest finding a home/center that shares your views on health/nutrition/child rearing... I know a change may seem like a lot but I believe you (and your daughter) will benefit in the end...

If I were you I would find a new daycare. If you have expressed your concerns and the center does not seem to care then that is a big warning sign to me. It may be that the food they give the children is chosen because it is cheep, not because it is what they think is the best for the children. Find a center that puts children's health and well-being before the bottom line! I had a similar problem with my daughter's preschool when she was 4, she had gone to the same school when she was 2 and 3 and we had loved it, but when she was 4 the lead teacher quit to have a baby and the new teacher was so lazy that she was not allowing the children to get adequate exercise, they had a terrific playground and outside area but the new teacher would rather keep them indoors so she could sit on her butt instead of walk around outside with the children! I complained about the lack of exercise and skipped or shortened recesses. The school's director had no idea that the problem existed, she asked the teacher to incorporate more outdoor time and more exercise and it was done. That is the sort of responce that you should get when you complain about the food. If the center does not listen to parents and try to adress their concerns then it is not a good center. I used to work at a day care and I cared a lot about what the parents wanted, it was their children so it was their call! Good luck, I hope that you can find a place that is better for your family.

A.,

I hear you. I am trying to get my family to eat healthy because of our genetic disposition to be prone to heart disease and diabetes. My daughter's cholesterol was high enough to medicate her - which I refused - when she was 24 months old. No, we didn't live at McDonald's. It was because I fed her pasta, rice and bread that had be processed (white.) I switched everything to true whole grain, eliminated high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils and she and I both went down to normal.

What you described at the day care is fairly typical. That kind of food is cheap and doesn't spoil (because it is not real food, just a food like substance) so they probably won't change and you might not find another place much better.

I hate to tell you this, but it won't get any better as she gets older. I make my daughter pack a lunch for school because the school lunch menus are almost as bad. (I let her choose cafeteria lunch once a week.) And someone is always bringing junk food to the class for one reason or another. After track meets, we are supposed to take turns bringing a snack. It is always junk. Whatever happened to orange wedges? When the kids had testing last year, moms brought in snacks and the schools specifically requested "healthy snacks only." I guess not everyone gets that just because a package says "fruit" on it, doesn't make it healthy.

It is also hard because I know if I never let my kids touch it, junk food will become the forbidden fruit and they will eventually get it and eat way worse than if I teach them the concept of occasional treats.

You may want to shop around for a new day care since your daughter is old enough to do preschool now. Maybe a Montessori? (I don't know how long their days are.) It is probably the best time if there is one. You may get lucky and find one with a more health conscious menu. No matter what, make sure you feed her a healthy breakfast and dinner and feed her really well on the weekends. Hopefully it will be enough to counteract all the junk she gets during the week.

Good luck,
S.

I think this is a battle worth fighting. I think most daycares that are licensed have regulations to follow by the state, so I'm guessing this is an in-home daycare. If the workers are ignoring your complaints, maybe you should talk to some of the other parents. You might not be the only one with concerns. If you work together, maybe the daycare with be more willing to listen to you and change some of the food menu choices.

I would definitely have a hard time with the unhealthy breakfast - breakfast is easy to make nutritious and there isn't a good excuse to have powdered doughnuts and pop tarts. I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the canned fruits and veggies. Could you try feeding her a good breakfast at home first? That would start her out well for the day.

is this a home daycare?? if the daycare is on the food program, i think it is more regulated...your daughter will feel different if you pack a lunch everyday and the other kids eat the daycares lunch...i would keep doing what you are doing and pack lunch/breakfast a couple days a week. it is surprsing thought they are not preparing more healthy meals...fresh fruit/vegs are VERY expensive so I can see why they serve canned...make sure to give her fresh as much as you can at home. At 3 she is probably not eating a lot anyways!! Stuff her full of good stuff at home!

Pick and choose your battles...

If I sent my kids to daycare I'd be packing their meals as well as we are vegetarian and eat a lot of organic as well as a diet without processed foods (unless they're treats...which I certainly believe in).

I wouldn't worry about your daughter developing a complex as I'm sure there are other kids there with packed meals as well. There are so many kids these days with allergies and special nutritional requirements that I'm sure she's not alone.

And if she is, this is a good lesson for her as there are many times in life you should do your own thing and not worry about others. A self-confident child will become a confident, self-sufficient adult...and that's what we should all be raising our children to be. Sounds to me like you're doing a great job! Keep it up!

I'm sure that some of this will be a repeat but you'll need to look at the contract that you've signed with this daycare. You also need to find out when they were first licensed, what their plan is and that also should include a nutritional plan. Make sure all you're homework is done before you move on to the next step. If they licensed, then they have state rules to follow and depending on the state, they may be in violation but you'll need to check this out. You're right, that menu stinks. All they are basically serving is snack foods. Even when I used to babysit for a person all day, I would make sure that the child got nutritional foods and my budget was so tight that every time I would open my wallet you could see moths flying around. With what people charge parents for daycare these days can afford to feed these children better. If you do find that they might be in violation, then report them to whoever it is that does their license. When you do report them, make sure that they should do a surprise inspection because you're afraid that they might hide the fact that they aren't feeding these kids the way they should. Taking a lunch from home is about the only thing that you can do, but your daughter may start to fight you about that every once in a while which is normal. After a while, she may just ask for a bag lunch all of the time. But please check into your contract and how this place is licensed.

Dear A., this is just the beginning.
Trust your instincts on this - don't talk yourself out of protecting your daughter. If you don't speak up for her best interests, who will? You will run into this very same issue all through her childhood, and if you let it slide now, it will be very difficult to try to change later.

Yes, nutrition IS important enough to change daycares over. Even if you send a healthy lunch that she eats every day, she is still seeing everyone else eat the junk, and it teaches her that it is normal to eat junk. It is hard to tell a child that what she eats is good, but the other children eat things that are unhealthy. Then you end up with questions like - why does Mrs. daycare give my friends bad foods? Why don't their mommies send them good foods? Etc. It is hard to understand at that age.

Surround her with the values you hold important now, because she takes it all in and it becomes a part of who she is.

Fast forward to school - same thing. If she has a solid background of eating healthy lunches before she encounters the horrid school lunches, bringing a lunch will make more sense to her.

Look up on Google about the school district in Appleton Wisconsin that tested out a whole, fresh food school lunch program in their high school - the behavior was so much improved among the students that the school continued the program at their own expense. Type in Junk food school Appleton or something like that. Nutrition makes a big difference.

Support your daughter's health. You will be glad. Good luck!

I'm in a situation where my son will be starting preschool this fall, and for the entire foreseeable future, he will always be bringing his own lunches and snacks to school. I've considered the him-feeling-left-out thing, but he has so many food allergies there's nothing I can do. You do what you have to do. Maybe you could compromise and she could eat some of the less-horrifying choices, but send food with her so she doesn't have to eat the really nasty stuff. Maybe its ok to have canned fruit once in a while, but powder donuts are a definite no! I know its a hassle to have to send food every day (and you're still paying the same amount for care as everyone else, yet you have to buy all her food!) But for her health and your sanity, maybe sending food with her is the best option.

And she won't always be the only one bringing food from home - there are plenty of children like my son who are so limited in what they can eat, she'll probably feel pretty lucky she can have the delicious choices you send to school with her!

A few unhealthy foods here and there won't overall affect your daughter's health, but a daily diet of the food at that daycare will - which I suspect you already know. I think that you sending her healthy foods in a lunch could be an education to other kids that not everyone needs to eat one way. When my daughter sees other kids at Super Target get the sugary processed "Princess" cereal, she wants it too, but I say, "no we don't eat that food as it's not good to have that in our bodies, this is what we eat." Thankfully, there are good alternative kiddie foods at SuperTarget, Wholefoods, co-ops, etc. I understand the daycare is probably saving money by buying that kind of food, but you can politely choose not to have your daughter eat it. She's still young enough to respect your opinion above all others. Processed foods DO affect children's behavior and you're not doing your daughter any favors by letting her be one of the crowd in this situation. Later, she'll meet other kids who have moms just like you and know she wasn't the only child whose mom provided her a lunch.

As long as you are providing healthy meals at home and educating your daughter about the importance of nutrition I think it will be fine. Also, you do realize how much more it would cost the daycare (and therefore you and all the other parents) if they served only fresh, organic, non-processed foods. I'm almost 100% sure that the reason for the lackluster food at the daycare is convenience and cost, not that they just don't care what they put into the children. Additionally, have you asked your daughter how she feels about packing a lunch? Maybe she is totally fine with it and doesn't feel singled out at all.

Get out of that daycare! If their menu is that horrible they know nothing about children! Providing our children with good habits around eating and sleeping is a major parenting role. All the good you are trying to do at home with healthy eating is being undone by her daycare! Her nutrition habits begin now! Do not let this place serve your child things you do not approve of! I can tell you there are places out there that will support and reinforce your choice to feed your child healthy food. They will also love and care for her like you would yourself. My daughter ( and my son, in the fall) go to Children's Workshop Montessori in Plymouth. Not only do they teach the children about making healthy food choices, they provide fresh food for snacks and require parents to pack healthy lunches. They do not allow treats, cookies, and sugary snacks. I love this school for my children. Do some research and find a better place that is more in line with your beliefs. If you have to be away from your child for work you need to be sure you feel good about where she is!

I agree with Laura Pick and choose your battles. Nutrition is important, but if that is the only thing you have to complain about? I would say you are over-reacting. Yes, fresh veggies and frut are better, but seriously canned ones are better than none at all.

Ha, I was going to respond and I see that Mandi I beat me to my response! I would TOTALLY choose this battle! Nutrition is SO important and let me tell you, my kids have never even eaten 80% of the foods that you listed! Has your provider never heard of MSG? High fructose corn syrup?
I really don't think she will have a complex from eating something different unless the provider instigates her being singled out.
Treats on occasion are totally fine but SMOKIES? Yuck. That's not even food!

there is nothing wrong with sending lunch with her and i don"t blame you. i work in a daycare and i have several children that brings their own lunch with them. The other kids at the daycare won"t really mind that either if they have a good teacher and she does not really make a big deal out of it. so don"t really panic it will be fine.

D.

I think whether or not anyone else thinks you're overreacting is irrelevant. You, like lots of parents, have chosen to feed your child a certain diet. People do this all the time, be it kosher, organic, wheat-free, etc. The food the daycare provides is not what you want it to be. You have to decide what is more detrimental: her eating the food the school provides, or her possibly feeling excluded because she eats a packed lunch.

You didn't mention what, if anything, the director said when you approaced him/her. Are there barriers to them providing healthier foods, such as cost, lack of facilities or workers?

There is strength in numbers; do any other parents feel the same way you do? Could you approach the daycare as a united group? Are you willing to pay more for healthier food? Will the daycare give reduced rates for those that bring their own food? Could the parents take turns providing the snacks?

Yes you should pick your battles and so I think this is one I would pick. I am a childcare provider and healthy food is very important. Children need healthy eating habits and I would not allow my child to eat that menu on a daily basis. If your child is a people person then she would propably not have a problem moving and finding new friends.
I think you need to really think about this and help your child learn how to eat healthy and also maybe you should really look into your childcare. I would be wondering what else is going on if the provider doesnt care about eating healthy.
Just my opinion and thoughts!

That sounds awful! And yes, you're daughter will probably go through something because she's not eating junk with the rest of the poor children. Are you in effect paying for extra meals if you have to bring your own lunch to avoid the junk? Hmm.

I'm not sure how the daycare is structured or if it's a private home, or a bigger daycare, but I'd definitely find how to file a formal complaint and do it. Considering there are children with bonifide health issues that can't eat that kind of stuff, there should be more inclusive consideration of the overall diet of the kids at the daycare. It's not just a personal preference issue, it's an actual health concern and possibly a liability. What about kids who may have wheat gluten allergies, ADHD, peanut allergies, tooth enamal issues (lot's of kids have that these days!) and so on. Are these kids forced to bring their own lunches too? Are they then relagated to a different part of the house if they have a peanut allergy? Not fair, and quite ridiculous if so.

If it's a private daycare, and cost is an issue, perhaps ask your provider if she'd be too upset if you organized a poll and enlist parents to get their support in paying for a better/healthier lunch menu of their choice and recommendation. Or perhaps, you could collectively come up with recommendations regarding how sweets and treats are administred to the kids such as only special ocassions..not as an actual meal option.

If this is a bigger daycare, I'd go through appropriate channels and file a formal complaint. If there is a board of directors, appeal to them. If there's a parent office, go there.

You are paying for the care of your child. You shouldn't have to worry if she/he's getting a bad diet that will lead to not only bad eating habits, but obesity, tooth decay, and in many cases hyperactivity and poor brain function.

Last but not least. If they won't take your concerns to heart, do you really want your daughter to stay there for convenience sake? Afterall, anyone who insists on feeding her junk isn't doesn't really care about her overall wellbeing. It seems they're running it like a business rather than a place for nurturing and growth and expect you the payer to get with the program. The message they're giving now is they only care about the bottom-line (dollars) and what's convenient for them.

She can always keep in touch with her buddies, and if you can find a more fitting daycare, will probably be happier not having to eat different meals than her friends.

you are NOT overreacting. good nutrition is a BIG deal, and KUDOS to you for caring enough to want to say something.

you should ask them if they are on a federally funded food program, and if they are not, encourage them to join one. they will be reimbursed for each meal and snack served to the kids, as long as they fulfill the requirements for each meal. breakfasts, lunches and dinners must serve milk, breakfasts must have a grain and fruit/veggie and lunches must have a protein, grain, and 2 fruit/veggies. snacks must have TWO of a grain, protein, fruit and veggie, drink can be juice only if the snack is NOT a fruit or veggie.

HOWEVER, if they are on a food program, request the phone number of their food program coordinator. there needs to be a report made that they are NOT serving legal foods. however, it really doesnt sound like they are serving proper foods so often that they couldnt be on a food program.

i am a licensed day care provider, and its a pretty big deal that kids get the proper nutrition. with costs of everything its hard to imagine a place not wanting to be reimbursed for meals.

another thing i would suggest is maybe saying, "ok, you wont serve healthier foods for my daughter, im going to send her foods with her and i want a discount" i would certainly thing that would be the fair thing to do if they wont change their meal plans. if you have to send food because they wont serve healthier meals, you DESERVE a discount.

please let me know what happens, as i am really concerned that a day care would be so careless when it comes to nutrition.

i can also send you a list of snacks and the approximate cost that would show you (and them) how much cheaper it is to serve healthy snacks instead of junk.

i am SO SORRY for your difficulty in this matter. it is reall sad to me that a place that should be taking care of children and a safe, healthy place to be is NOT doing that !

above all, you are NOT being rediculous to ask for healthier foods to be served to your daughter. they should just do what you ask. how rude!

if you lived in my area i would totally tell you all about the provider's choice food program that i am on. tell the day care provider about provider's choice, and their phone number is : ###-###-#### • 1-800-356-5983. they are in minneapolis, but have coordinators all over the state. they dont reimburse FULL what the food costs, but a little is better than none in my opinion.

Hello A.,
I'm a mom of a 3(boy) & 4 (girl) yr old - they have kindy & day-care (I live in Western Australia - but orig. from Minneapolis) I cook as much as possible and try try try to make sure that 95% of all the stuff that goes into my, my kids & my husbands mouths - is good quality food and that 5% is just to help me out on those days (we all have those days!) NO YOUR NOT OVER REACTING - I think GOOD ON YOU -for saying things to your day-care - somebody has to do it otherwise things would probably never change - I hate the fact as mothers we try to do the right things, but people are constantly making it hard for us to do this – if you look at it this way (per year) if they’re in:

Day-care 2 days a week = 104

Birthday parties (2 x’s month - normally horrible food) = 24

Grand parents (2 a month) = 24

Other (unexpected & holidays 1 day per month) = 12

This = 164 days a year of bad food out of 365 that’s 45% and then you add on your extra 5% and it goes up to 50% and I think this is underestimated!

- Wow I hadn’t even thought of how bad it was until I did this math!

So EVERY BIT DOES COUNT! So many people are always saying -oooh it’s just one day.... well it’s actually not!
So I can sympathize with you – stick up for your kid’s right to grow healthy and strong – not too many other people are going to! Good luck – and remember you’re teaching you kids good habits that could last a lifetime! Just think those moms that say it doesn't really matter - probably have to (or will have to in the future) do finger pricks for sugar levels or fill bottles with drugs for ADD, ADHD etc... for their kids!
Cheers, L.

There are a lot of responses that I'm sure are adequate, so I won't add to it.

I was just wondering what the name of the daycare center was? If nothing else, maybe word of mouth will get the directors to wake up.

I went and toured a center one time and I specifically asked if they served healthy meals and snacks, which they said, "yes," to, but then as I was touring, snack time came and they gave the kids cheetos on napkins. One of the staff commented that it was "healthy" because it was served with Juicy Juice. Of course I didn't go back. The name of the place was The Crayon Box - and I have no idea if they've modified their program since I was there, over a year ago.

Either way, good luck. Thanks!

It is interesting that someone commented that the big daycare centers have to meet certain standards. Unfortunately those standards are very low. Both my kids went to a large nationwide center for awhile and the food was awful. I complained to them but it didn't change. It was that among other things that made us leave. It was hard but so worth it. We are now at a daycare center that is not a "chain" and has a professional chef on staff to cook most meals from scratch. We pay a little more but really not that much more. The center is in Woodbury if you live out this way and is called Stepping Stones. I think my kids now get better meals than they do at home! Sometimes I wish I was eating there.

You are not at all over reacting!! What they are serving is junk!!! Maybe they are trying to cut costs, but that is terrible. Who would feed their kids that for meals? The examples you gave are foods that an adult might eat for a snack ONCE IN A WHILE. Not suitable for a meal for children. Wafers cookies for snacks? Why couldn't they serve apple slices? Two or three slices would probably fill a tiny belly and I can't imagine wafer cookies would be cheaper to serve. That is really appalling and you are not over reacting one bit!

I have seen this in my child's daycare , sometimes they have hotdogs more than once a month. I just send a lunch the days i don't want him eating what is served. He does have a food allergy too so I have to very vigilent about food. They have the Lunch calendar posted and I mark off the foods he can't have. It costs more but i know what he is eating.