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Posts tagged ‘food program’

A Lunch Time That Kids Love!

25tips_kidsLunch time can be a very busy time of the day and the time of day that the kids Really Love!

Today I am going to give you some ideas on how to have a smooth transition into lunch, how to get the kids involved and most of all some healthy meal ideas!

Lunch time is a great time to promote self-help skills and there many ways that you can get the children involved, including:

  • Selecting a child to help you clean  and set the table
  • Place the food in serving bowls to encourage the children to serve themselves and to serve the food Family style. (be sure to use child size serving utensils)

Also, Children love to sing songs and what a great way to start lunch time by singing a lunch time song. Here’s a lunch time song:

I smell lunch, I smell lunch,

(rub your tummy) um um good. um um good.

I can smell the______ (name the food) I can smell the_______ (name the food)

um um good um um good.

Then repeat!

According to the Missouri Eat Smart Childhood obesity and Missouri’s Eat Smart Guidelines for Child Care, “Overweight is now the most nutritional disease of children. Preschool children who are overweight are almost 5 times more likely to be overweight as young adults.”

Missouri Eat Smart Guidelines for Childcare also concludes that children may get 50%-75% of daily food needs in childcare. This is why it is vital that childcare programs serve nutritional balance meals.

Here are Five Healthy Lunch Ideas for your menus:

Day 1

Turkey Slices

Whole Grain Bread

Corn

Peaches

Low Fat Milk

Day 2

Tuna Salad

Whole Grain Crackers

Tossed Salad

Apple Slices

Low Fat Milk

Day 3

Turkey Meatballs

Mashed potatoes

Orange slices

Whole Grain Bread

Low-Fat Milk

Day 4

Beef Stew (with vegetables)

Whole Grain Cracker

Fruit Cocktail

Low Fat Milk

Day 5

Chicken & Rice Broccoli Casserole

(Boil the rice, drain the water when fully cooked, add canned chicken & cream of chicken, broccoli and cheese)

Blueberries

Low Fat Milk

**Menu ideas meet the Child Adult and Food program Guidelines

Need more menu ideas, be sure to download your copy of my Healthy Child Care Menus ebook.

With Healthy Kids in Mind!

Shiketa Morgan

Category:

Health/Safety, Menu Planning

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Serving Breakfast The Way That Kids Like it!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is vital that kids start their day with a healthy breakfast. Studies have shown that eating breakfast in the morning, helps a child concentrate better while in school.

Moreover, when parents come to visit your Child Care Program, they may ask to see your menus and having healthy menus is a great way to attract to families to your program.

Also, According to the Child Adult and food program, children ages 12months-12 years of age should be served the following food groups for a healthy breakfast:

  • Milk
  • Grain
  • Fruit/vegetable

Also, it is a good idea to rotate your menus so that children are served a variety of foods. If you have picky eaters in your care, I suggest that you get ideas from parents, to find out what their children love to eat for breakfast.

Could you use some new menu ideas? Do you desire to serve healthier food choices to the children in your care?

Below I have provided the top five breakfast choices that I have found that kids enrolled in my child care program loved!

Day 1

Pancakes, Hash browns and Low Fat Milk

Day 2

Blueberry Muffins, Strawberries and Low Fat Milk

Day 3

Cinnamon French Toast, Pineapples and Low Fat Milk

Day 4

Cinnamon Oatmeal (add raw sugar and sprinkle Cinnamon), Raisins and Milk

Day 5

Granola Bar, Pineapple slices and Low Fat Milk **Check for Nut allergies

If you would like more menu ideas and 12 weeks of healthy menus, be sure to download my Healthy Child Care Menu’s ebook below.

With Healthy Kids in mind!

Shiketa

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Category:

Quality Care

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