How Do You Not Let Throwing Food Away Bother You?

[Angelsj]

Actually, these issues are much of why I am not on the food program. I believe nutrition comes from a daily, or sometimes weekly intake, not necessarily each meal.

The food program also wants you to serve way too many carb sources. I typically do not serve any carbs at lunch, but often snack will have some.
Lunch today was grapes, oranges, meatballs with milk. They had animal crackers and apple juice for snack.
I do give free range to apples and bananas; a kid can ask anytime for those, and can have them.
Overall, these are healthy food choices, but the food program would want a carb source at lunch, and if I choose to give them yogurt, chicken, broccoli, and apple juice at lunch, they disapprove, even though the same nutrients exist.
Too much hassle!

[spud912]

"How do you not let throwing food away bother you?"

You put a certain amount of food on the kids' plates. You are out that same amount of food whether the kids eat it or you throw out so really.... what difference does it make?

Thinking of it this way has really made all the difference in my frustration level. As others have suggested, place a small amount of food on the kids' plates. If they want more, it's easy enough to give them more. If they won't eat it, you don't waste much.

This is how I think of it too. The only frustration I have is when they whine or gag when I have them try one bite of food. The dramatics are annoying, but I can say that for any time during the day when they become overly dramatic.

[MizzCheryl]

I started composting. Then I just looked at the thrown out food and good compost for my garden.
I am getting lots of great black compost and a happy garden!

[Country Kids]

I have one that crys when he see's cucumbers! Gets the biggest lip sticking out.

The same one doesn't like most fruit/vegetables.

I had another one that also didn't like fruit or vegetables. The child couldn't even eat corn on the cob! Did know how-:confused:.

I'm thinking of making a menu for the month but not sure how to do one on the computer.

[countrymom]

i think the reason kids eat like poop is because they have been trained to eat like this and thats all their bodies know. My dd went to watch some of my dck's and I was asking her today if they had any fruit or veggies and she's says no, because she was going to give them some fruit for snack. These are the same ones who didn't know what a sliced carrot was. I get that not all kids like certain fruit or veggies but usually there is something that they like, but I have alot that don't like anything.

also, silver mentioned eating with the kids and modeling healthy eating, well in my house that isn't working. I eat with the kids, no one ever says anything negative about the food (even my own kids know better) but still they don't like to eat. Tommorrow is taco's (my ds doesn't like them but I make him eat one because I'm mean) my own kids are really good eaters, today I had to buy more fruit because they ate most of it in 2 days.

[Country Kids]

Actually, these issues are much of why I am not on the food program. I believe nutrition comes from a daily, or sometimes weekly intake, not necessarily each meal.

The food program also wants you to serve way too many carb sources. I typically do not serve any carbs at lunch, but often snack will have some.
Lunch today was grapes, oranges, meatballs with milk. They had animal crackers and apple juice for snack.
I do give free range to apples and bananas; a kid can ask anytime for those, and can have them.
Overall, these are healthy food choices, but the food program would want a carb source at lunch, and if I choose to give them yogurt, chicken, broccoli, and apple juice at lunch, they disapprove, even though the same nutrients exist.
Too much hassle!

See thats where the food programs differ so much. We only have one carb component for lunch,one meat/meat altenative/two fruits or vegies or one of each.

Same with snack-one meat/meat alternative or one carb or one fruit/veggie. We just have to make sure we serve two things from the above choice.

[cheerfuldom]

I started composting. Then I just looked at the thrown out food and good compost for my garden.
I am getting lots of great black compost and a happy garden!

I was going to suggest composting too.

[Heidi]

I guess what bothers me is having to have x amount available to the child. So even if I place a small amount on the plate I still have to have the x amount available in case they eat and want more. So if the child/ren don't even eat that small amount I end up throwing everything away.

I just wish we could make just the small amount and not worry about having to have more available (especially if we know they aren't eating it).

But if they don't eat it, you can freeze the leftovers...


If you are making ham sandwiches, then make what you think they will eat, and have bread and ham AVAILABLE to make more. You do not have to MAKE all the sandwiches up front. IF a miracle happens and they eat everything, then throw together another sandwich. Same with apple slices and anything else.

If it's a "hot dish", then put the rest in the freezer for next time. SInce my group is smaller, I don't need a whole box of pasta, for instance. But, I make the whole box and enough meat-sauce for a whole other meal.

I have NEVER had a food program person ask me if I made enough according to the USDA serving sizes. They have been here for meals, and they see there is always a little food left over, but honestly, I have never, ever measured out one USDA serving per kid and then made that much. I make it according to what I think they will eat, and according to what the package size is, if applicable. Not once has any child ever gotten less than the recommended serving and walked away saying "I'm still hungry". I just know my kids.

Of course, one little boy could get 3x the recommended amount and still claim to be hungry...

[JenNJ]

I guess what bothers me is having to have x amount available to the child. So even if I place a small amount on the plate I still have to have the x amount available in case they eat and want more. So if the child/ren don't even eat that small amount I end up throwing everything away.

I just wish we could make just the small amount and not worry about having to have more available (especially if we know they aren't eating it).

I prepare and cook the small amount. If the children are hungry, I cook/prepare more. That way, I have it AVAILABLE, but it is not wasted if they are not hungry that day.

[DaycareMomma]

I am the type of person that will cook enough to feed an army even though I only have a small group. But I am very savy in that I only serve what each kid will eat and if they want more, then I give them more, but then I freeze what is left over for another meal. Usually I will make a big meal for daycare and have the leftovers for supper the next night with my family.

[Blackcat31]

The food program also wants you to serve way too many carb sources. I typically do not serve any carbs at lunch, but often snack will have some.
Lunch today was grapes, oranges, meatballs with milk. They had animal crackers and apple juice for snack.

See thats where the food programs differ so much. We only have one carb component for lunch,one meat/meat altenative/two fruits or vegies or one of each.

Same with snack-one meat/meat alternative or one carb or one fruit/veggie. We just have to make sure we serve two things from the above choice.

What are you referring to when you say carbs? Are you talking about grains? Which are absolutely necessary for healthy digestion, energy and overall health or are you talking about carbs as in carbohydrates?

ALL fruit and veggies have carbs in them. The lunch with grapes, oranges, meatballs with milk has so many carbs in it that as a diabetic, my DH would have had to taken a rather large insulin shot to counteract all the carbs.

The meatballs and milk would have been a much healthier meal if it had included veggies instead of fruit which is loaded with sugar carbs. The carbs from fruit are much better than sugar carbs from candy and junk food but no where near as beneficial as the carbs you get from whole grains.

The snack with apple juice and animal crackers IMPO, has very little nutrients but ALOT of carbs, unless the animal crackers were whole grain and the apple juice was an actual apple instead so I guess I am just confused as to the carb comments. :confused:

Whole grains are vital to digestion and processing of other foods, protiens and other nutrients in our bodies. Skipping those grains is not healthy.

[Blackcat31]

one medium apple has 17 grams of carbs
8 oz of apple juice has 29 grams of carbs
one slice of whole grain wheat bread has 14 grams of carbs

Whole grains is a much healthier and better choice either way.

[Country Kids]

See Blackcat, I think thats where ALL the confusion comes in. When I think of carbs I'm thinking of the actual bread, pasta, cracker, etc. type of carb. I wouldn't even think of fruit/veggies having carbs let alone being bad for me.

So here's what I don't get. When you on a weight lose program they push the fruit/veggies, so why would they do that if they aren't as good for you? Maybe thats why I put all that weight on when I was trying to lose as I ate ton's of fruit/veggies.

[Blackcat31]

See Blackcat, I think thats where ALL the confusion comes in. When I think of carbs I'm thinking of the actual bread, pasta, cracker, etc. type of carb. I wouldn't even think of fruit/veggies having carbs let alone being bad for me.

So here's what I don't get. When you on a weight lose program they push the fruit/veggies, so why would they do that if they aren't as good for you? Maybe thats why I put all that weight on when I was trying to lose as I ate ton's of fruit/veggies.

I am not a dietician so don't quote me but I think they push the fruits and veggies because they are healthy.....healthier than junk food anyways, but I think it is probably because most people don't eat enough fruit and veggie servings in a day and eat way more bad carbs than good carbs.

Fruit and veggies are good carbs but so are grains. There are complex and simple carbs and your body needs the complex carbs. They take longer in your body to digest than simple carbs and that helps keep your bloodsugar even and make you feel fuller longer. Simple carbs give your bloodsugar a spike but then a crash so you are hungry and not hungry and hungry and etc etc....a continually moving roller coaster.

I think dieting in general is bad. If you cut out all carbs you ARE going to lose weight but you will need to eat that way forever or you will gain it all back. Diets should be a no-no. Changing your eating habits should be what everyone does.

Don't diet...make a life style change and live that way. If everyone ate like a diabetic eats, we would all be healthy and fit.

[cindys]

not eating meals

Girls,
stop paying attention, It will drive you crazy. You will start to resent the children. If you are recieving subsidies, you didn't pay for the food anyway. For the parents that are concerned about their childs eating habits. Very tactfully explain that you do not force children to eat. It is against all regulations to force or withhold food. There is simply no seconds until the plate is clean. Sometimes (probably every time) they are going to go home hungry. You will have parents who ask you to supplement their childs meal with say hot dogs because it is all they will eat. Very tactfully explain, This is a child care home not a restaurant. you do not have the time or income to prepare individual meals. It also is not fair to the other children in your care. If that parent brings food from home (and they will) explain that it must be enough for all the children. It must meet nutrional guidelines or they can not have it. It took me over twenty years to follow my own advice. However, it only takes one nuerotic parent to send me down crazy lane again. So just accept it and move on. I promise the sun will shine tomorrow. You will have the occasional parent that will not accept these rules and will leave. I feel sorry for them. You are a good and competant provider, and you deserve respect. Apoligize for not being able to meet their needs, and wish them luck in finding a provider they will be more comfortable with.