Daycare Lunch Menu

As to Sue H who replied...please keep in mind there are all sorts of childcare all over the country and other places where this site goes to! Where I live in the metro area in Minnesota, there are every sort of childcare arrangements you can think of. Home childcares might offer meals or have children of all ages bring meals, as might centers! A "state facility" such as Head Start may have different regulations, but just because a place offers meal service does not mean you have to partake of it. Have you ever seen what regular school lunch programs offer for their meal programs...gross in my opinion and loaded with sodium among other things..and the child care guidelines are very similar as both are a USDA food program...my own child has always brought her own lunch to regular school! I do home based childcare, and am on a food program, but I have the luxury of offering very healthy meals within those guidelines as I am only making food for less than 10 children.

But many childcares of all kind do not want the bother of cooking and serving and buying all the food required...having the refrigeration and food service certification and special sinks and such for all of that as required by the health departments of the specific area. This is why alot of childcares either do a catered food service or offer nothing but snacks of crackers/beverage, etc.

Ok...so to the question of food options...I think it really depends on what your child likes to eat and if there are any "rules" about what can be brought. I know many places near me say no yogurt (it has alot of sugar) or applesause cups(again the sugar), etc...too strict if you ask me.....

Also, what sort of container you have. There was a post here yesterday or the day before about some wonderful eco friendly lunchboxes. Some are a bit costly investment, but for something you use everysingle day, is easy to wash (and easy for those teachers to open for your child!)....one was planetlunch box I think. Its a stainless food tray with a lid and it all seals in...has seperated sections (some kids need that sepration of food)..but its all one lid over it. I saw this and thought "what a great idea for little kids!" You can put a few fruits or veggies, cut up some sort of sandwich, cheese and meat cubes, roll ups or wraps, etc in other sections.

By the way...our food program requirements are for a meat/protein item (yogurt, REAL cheese & eggs qualify as well), a grain item (pasta, crackers or pretzels, breads/rolls/wraps, and 2 fruits/veggie combo (one of each or 2 of one )...plus liquid milk. Pretty easy to follow as any parents guideline for making a childs meal....

My daughter is also 17 months and she loves the gerber foods for toddlers like the raviolis and little hot dogs. She also likes spagetti, strawberries, bananas, pasta, and turkey wraps. I don't know if your daughter is picky, but mine isn't. So really anything she can feed herself, she is game!

Grilled cheese on whole grain bread, spinach or other tortillas with just cheese or flavored cream cheese and sliced turkey, string cheese, unsweetened applesauce, veggie chips or pita chips, sliced fruit...
If you get a thermos, you can put leftovers from the night before and serve that as her lunch.
Check to see if they have a peanut ban at her school - if so, soy butter and jelly sandwiches are a good substitute.
I would definitely try to use resuseable containers - saves money and less avoidable trash.

We also have to provide lunch for my 15 month old. For the most part I send him some cheese cut into small cubes, sliced up lunch meat, crackers or pieces of bread, then at least one container of fresh fruit, depending on what is in the house I will either send another small container of fresh fruit or some of the veggies from dinner the night before. He has an issue with veggies for lunch (eats them fine for dinner) so he prefers two fruits. Occasionally we have sent a container of yogurt in lieu of the meat and cheese. His lunch bag has two sections so I put an ice pack in the bottom one an dhis food in the top. This takes me ~5 minutes to make in the morning which I try to do before getting him out of bed.

wow! I've never heard of a daycare allowing individual lunches brought in! In a nursery setting, yes. NOT for toddler & up. It causes hurt feelings, it causes dissension amongst the children, & it's a freakin' hassel for the teachers! AND!!!!....isn't lunch provided as part of the fee? Is this a state-licensed facility who's receiving state pay to provide meals? In Missouri, that's how the system works. So are they "pocketing" the $$$ & letting you provide your child's meals?

Okay, now that my angst is out, I'll try to be productive & answer your actual request! A simple sandwich or wrap, a piece of fruit, some vegies (parboiled to soften) & healthy dip. For the convienence of the staff, try to avoid containers which need to be opened. (ooops, I'm back on the whole ...omgosh, I can't imagine a staff dealing with individual lunches!!!)

Enough! I wish you Peace & hope your little one enjoys her new daycare!