Serving Family Style Meals

[Heidi]

I am going to check with my food program today on the serving size and if they have to have it or just available.

We play music everyday during the day. I try to keep lunch time very relaxed and calm as I have a few that won't eat if they get distracted. No extra people in the dining area.

For the one saying their hungry, it doesn't really bother me. What it does is make me wonder! Child had just eaten breakfast (here), then snack and 15 minutes later is asking for lunch which continued for the next 1 1/2 hours. Then when given lunch they won't eat. Not a big child either that needs to consume tons of food either. So why ask for lunch if you have just eaten two things within two hour apart and then not eat it? This is also the child that only take about two sips of milk through the day.

I'm still going to mull it over and think about doing it. Not in any rush, just wanting to see how it worked for others.

Just do it a step at a time and see what works for you.

As for Mr. Hungry not hungry...some kids are wierd that way. I have a 9yo sa who asks me every day when the next meal is, then eats almost nothing. Other question? What's for lunch? I told her I am no longer going to answer that!

[Blackcat31]

What's for lunch?

Food.

That is the ONLY response I ever give.

[Country Kids]

Food.

That is the ONLY response I ever give.

What would you say for "when is lunch?" A 3 year old has no concept of time. Also, hearing "I'm hungry" every 10 sec. for the entire hour till lunch. Nothing will stop them-distractions,talking about something else, reading, etc.

My family has noticed this with the child. They wil repeat and repeat and repeat till the next issue.

After the hungry, its "I'm done" till the child gets down.

If you correct the child its "Why" no matter what you tell them, show them, etc.

Another "When will parent be here" over and over all day long. Another issue where no matter what you tell the child, they still repeat.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

For the one saying their hungry, it doesn't really bother me. What it does is make me wonder! Child had just eaten breakfast (here), then snack and 15 minutes later is asking for lunch which continued for the next 1 1/2 hours. Then when given lunch they won't eat. Not a big child either that needs to consume tons of food either. So why ask for lunch if you have just eaten two things within two hour apart and then not eat it? This is also the child that only take about two sips of milk through the day.

It sounds like food is a comfort item for this child. Maybe they're having a hard time finding something to do, miss their parents, or are stressed for some reason.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Today we had chicken, peas, noodles and bananas for lunch. One child wouldn't touch anything, while another child cleared their plate of everything.

So I ended up dumping all the ones childs food out-. Thats why I'm not sure if doing family style would work because they probably wouldn't take anything and even if I helped put it on the plate they won't eat it. This is the child that asked for 1 1/2 hours when was lunch!

I'll have to really think this one over and I may just stick to serving it myself.

You're throwing the food out anyway. The child who won't touch anything isn't likely to no matter how it's served, and the child who clears their plate will, however it's served. I'd just be sure to sit by the child who's not eating much, give them a first serving, model appreciation for its deliciousness, and not worry about it. They'll eat when they're hungry.

[SquirrellyMama]

I would definitely check with your food program. When I was on the CACFP I was told that as long as I put it on the table then I could claim it. The kids didn't have to eat it.

If you are worried about them taking too much you can use small serving cups. I balked at it for a time but found that it did make things easier for me.

I don't think I ever had a problem with someone sneezing or coughing in the food. I like the idea of only putting some of the food in the serving dish just in case so you'll have more on hand.

Kelly

[Heidi]

I would definitely check with your food program. When I was on the CACFP I was told that as long as I put it on the table then I could claim it. The kids didn't have to eat it.

If you are worried about them taking too much you can use small serving cups. I balked at it for a time but found that it did make things easier for me.

I don't think I ever had a problem with someone sneezing or coughing in the food. I like the idea of only putting some of the food in the serving dish just in case so you'll have more on hand.

Kelly

Hey Kelly! Your encroaching on my avatar...thought this was my post and then looked at the name.

JK!!! Welcome!

[SquirrellyMama]

Hey Kelly! Your encroaching on my avatar...thought this was my post and then looked at the name.

JK!!! Welcome!

I've been meaning to change it but I've been lazy. That does get confusing when looking at posts Let me see what I can find.

Kelly

[Heidi]

I've been meaning to change it but I've been lazy. That does get confusing when looking at posts Let me see what I can find.

Kelly

That's funny...it prompted me to change mine, too. It's only been a year, and I was still using a generic!

[Blackcat31]

What would you say for "when is lunch?" A 3 year old has no concept of time.

"At lunch time."

If they ask again I say "Lunch is the same time every day."

Also, hearing "I'm hungry" every 10 sec. for the entire hour till lunch. Nothing will stop them-distractions,talking about something else, reading, etc.

When I have a child like this, I ignore them for the most part but if they really feel the need to let me know how hungry they are, I will say "Oh me too." and leave it at that.

Another "When will parent be here" over and over all day long.

"When they get here."

[Countrygal]

I am using WECA, and am allowed to serve family style, or to serve smaller portions as long as I allow seconds up to and including the recommended serving size. I asked my provider all of this before I started! I hate waste. I have one very picky eater and one who eats very little - either here or at home. So I serve small portions and allow 2nds or even thirds if they have eaten everything, including a bite per age of unwanted food. (Actually, I'm changing this BACK to the 2-bite rule. There are foods I don't like, either. The goal for me is to get them to try new foods. Two bites is enough) Sometimes I serve family style if it is something very simple like cheese on crackers or quartered sandwiches. The rule here is one at a time. When you have finished everything on your plate you may have seconds, one of whatever you want, and then thirds. I usually do this at snack, but occasionally at lunch, especially if we're having a picnic or eating outside.I don't think I could handle family-style all the time. In the first place, there are just too many dishes to wash!!!!

I am going to check with my food program today on the serving size and if they have to have it or just available.


I'm still going to mull it over and think about doing it. Not in any rush, just wanting to see how it worked for others.

[Country Kids]

I am using WECA, and am allowed to serve family style, or to serve smaller portions as long as I allow seconds up to and including the recommended serving size. I asked my provider all of this before I started! I hate waste. I have one very picky eater and one who eats very little - either here or at home. So I serve small portions and allow 2nds or even thirds if they have eaten everything, including a bite per age of unwanted food. (Actually, I'm changing this BACK to the 2-bite rule. There are foods I don't like, either. The goal for me is to get them to try new foods. Two bites is enough) Sometimes I serve family style if it is something very simple like cheese on crackers or quartered sandwiches. The rule here is one at a time. When you have finished everything on your plate you may have seconds, one of whatever you want, and then thirds. I usually do this at snack, but occasionally at lunch, especially if we're having a picnic or eating outside.I don't think I could handle family-style all the time. In the first place, there are just too many dishes to wash!!!!

The washing of dishes was another thing I was thinking about. I don't have a dishwasher and I usually end up in the kitchen for sometimes over two hours in the evening by the time I make dinner, eat and then the clean up. I really don't want to spend that in the afternoons also.

Another thing is my kids never ask for second and I would gladly give it to them if they asked after they had eaten.

Todays lunch, one of them took a bit of the quarter of a sandwich and was done. Completly done and cried when I said to take a bite of the other foods-tator tots/cantaloupe. Another child just ate the cantaloupe and nothing else.

I don't know how to introduce new foods to kids these days if they won't even try them. I liked it so much better when everyone didn't eat fast foods all the time or junk food at home.

[Country Kids]

Just finished talking to my gal and here's what she said.

We can serve family style as long as there is the proper serving in the bowls per child. A child doesn't have to take any of the food if they don't want. Its been offered, thats what counts. Any food that isn't taken has to be thrown away. It can't be reserved.

She has seen a few providers do family style but most serve restaurant style as she called it. Where the food is already on the plate for the child.

Suggested offering two of everything-two fruits, two vegetables, two main things so that there is a choice.

If a child coughs or sneezes while serving themselves, food would need to be thrown away. Great, I would need to recook!

Not allowed to reserve uneaten food for snacks. So if child doesn't eat food that is on plate it has to be thrown away, no reserving.

You also can't serve left overs from dinner. If you are serving what your family had for dinner, it has to be seperated and put into seperate dishes before it goes onto your dinner table.

It also sounds like alot of people don't serve morning snack as children aren't hungry for lunch if they have one. So maybe getting rid of the morning snack is what we will do.

It makes me wonder how centers and head start does it as they have breakfast, snack, lunch and snack. Maybe thats why alot of kids don't eat dinner at night because they aren't hungry by that time.

[snbauser]

It also sounds like alot of people don't serve morning snack as children aren't hungry for lunch if they have one. So maybe getting rid of the morning snack is what we will do.

It makes me wonder how centers and head start does it as they have breakfast, snack, lunch and snack. Maybe thats why alot of kids don't eat dinner at night because they aren't hungry by that time.

I do not serve morning snack. I found that no matter what time I served breakfast, parents were racing to get here so they didn't have to feed their kids in the morning So I moved breakfast to 8:00 and lunch is at 12:00. It makes my mornings much smoother too because to stop in the middle of everything and wash up and feed 12 kids snack takes a good 45 minutes out of the day. So instead they have a good hot breakfast at 8:00 and are more than ready for lunch at noon.

[Country Kids]

I do not serve morning snack. I found that no matter what time I served breakfast, parents were racing to get here so they didn't have to feed their kids in the morning So I moved breakfast to 8:00 and lunch is at 12:00. It makes my mornings much smoother too because to stop in the middle of everything and wash up and feed 12 kids snack takes a good 45 minutes out of the day. So instead they have a good hot breakfast at 8:00 and are more than ready for lunch at noon.

Do they complain that they are hungry in those 4 hours?

I was thinking they would be more hungry for morning snack/lunch because they are so busy playing, running, using energy in the mornings. It surprises me how much hungrier they are for afternoon snack after taking a nap!