Ideas for Packing Food for Daycare

Yep, my 15 month old son is picky as well. He's actually fussy about texture and color. He is in daycare already, and it is true what another responder suggested - that other kids eating may influence ours to eat whatever is on their plate (-peer pressure already). Pickup food that has worked for my son, who is not eating independantly from a bowl yet, is:
- Turkey Meatballs i got from trader Joes (cut up)
- Dr Pragers Fish sticks (cooked the day before and the school microwaves it. My son doesn't care if it comes out mushy, yet)
- Other Dr Prager products with vegetables
- Organic Turkey Thighs (made for the family the night before in a pot of rice), cutup, mixed with with spicy brown mustard (we started with a "honey mustard" sauce, but now he's fine with just a little mustard)
- He actually gives asparagus spears a try every now and then (and he won't eat some of the other plain vegetables)
- Canned Cherries from Whole foods (although now there are reports about chemicls leaching from the can into the food)
- Fresh ripened Kiwi (peeled and cut up)
- Manderin orange slices from a can from Whole foods (no sugar added, but again there is reported risk with cans now)
(Pasta would have been great, but he doesn't seem to like the texture)

We always try to limit sugar, sodium, non-organic, etc. from prepared foods, but it's not always easy and we try to create a balance.

My son is picky too and will only eat certain things. I pack whatever we ate for dinner the night before, usually chicken and rice or something similar. They heat it up, and she'll learn that lunch time is lunch time by watching the other children. You'd be amazed the things they do at school. We caught a glimpse of my son one day in the middle of the day (not before pickup) My husband had to drop something off, and my son was like the mayor.. you know schmoozing and socializing like he owned the place... Our school provides snack too, but all the parents also send the kids with two snacks as well, so I pack crackers, rasins, cookies, yogurt (make sure you include an ice pack in the lunch bag for this), pretzels, fruit snacks, and fruit. I try to change it up a bit to keep him intrested. Also my so is there all day, so when I pick him up he is hugry and ready to eat. so I bring a snack with me for the ride home. The snack holds him over and gives me some time to cook something once we get home. Good luck and don't stress too much about it, if she doesn't eat enough there, she'll make up for it at home. You may also want to talk to the teachers to pay special attention, at least to start, and make sure she eats.

I pack my daughter yogurt, cheese sticks, whole wheat crackers, bread with jelly, other cheeses, diced peaches/fruit in its own toss out container (or applesauce), go-gurts, cut up broccoli, string beans, chicken (all re-heatable). Pasta with veggies is easy. Whatever she will eat, they will serve her. Just send what she likes.

I have this problem also with my son -- what worked for me is table foods, such as chopped up grilled or poached chicken, healthy frozen pizzas cut into small pieces (baked so that the crust is still soft, not yet crunchy) and "hand foods" like veggie sticks and crackers, chopped up fruit (like peaches), and cheese slices. Applesauce or other pureed fruits that I prepare (I blend frozen fruits like mango and blueberries into a puree mixed with a little milk or water) work in a bowl well since my son was able to scoop it up pretty easily with a spoon. In my household we eat lots of rice and beans and that was actually a good choice for day care, believe it or not. He ate it neatly and, again, scooped it up with a spoon in a small bowl. Still, I always packed a yogurt or two in there in case he did not eat so I at least felt he had something.

I make banana, pumpkin and zuccini breads...but instead of putting them in loaves I make them into mini muffins and I freeze them...then I pull out daily a muffin or two for each child....they dethaw quickly, are healthy and last for a long time...plus kids think they're having a treat...(I do put choc chips in the banana muffins...just a few...)anything can be dipped in peanut butter...carrots/appleslices/celery/grahmcrackers...my kids love to dip!

Hi L.-
My daughter has always been n daycare. here are some of our staples:
- Dr Pragers broccoli or spinach cakes
- pasta with veggies
- 'roll ups' of cheese with ham or turkey
- cheese sticks
- yogurt or applesauce
- any kind of fruit, we would include fruit every day; sliced apples, banana, pineapple, mango, berries or strawberries, sliced peaches, sliced plums etc. Whatever she likes!
- grilled chicken
- carrot sticks
- frsh mozzerella, tomatoes, procuitto
- bagel with cream cheese
- macaroni and cheese
I would not receommend using the previous night's leftovers, even if she loves the dish it might be too much in a row. I hope your little girl loves daycare and has a great time!

she will see other kids eating... and this might help. noodles are good.. like elbows or ziti.. kids can hold them.. and eat them.. chicken fingers, cut up fruit, applesauce, cut up veggies or peas are good. cheese wedges or little cheese chunks.. rolled up ham slices or turkey slices, small animal crackers, cut up hot dogs.. cut real small.