Morning Snack

[SilverSabre25]

I think I have to put it back.

My schedule is shifting for the school year and breakfast will be around 8, lunch around 12 or 12:30. My own kids can't make it that long without eating...so I think I (groan) need to put a simple morning snack back on the menu.

I'm thinking of making it something very standard, like a rotation of two or three things, very simple, little/no prep. Any ideas? I know they need to eat...I just don't want it to be complicated for me. I have enough trouble coming up with afternoon snack ideas and lunch ideas...

[coolconfidentme]

Kids would not eat lunch with the snack. I took mine out & shifted lunch earlier. This gave us more free time to play outside after nap. Works for us...

[Blackcat31]

I think I have to put it back.

My schedule is shifting for the school year and breakfast will be around 8, lunch around 12 or 12:30. My own kids can't make it that long without eating...so I think I (groan) need to put a simple morning snack back on the menu.

I'm thinking of making it something very standard, like a rotation of two or three things, very simple, little/no prep. Any ideas? I know they need to eat...I just don't want it to be complicated for me. I have enough trouble coming up with afternoon snack ideas and lunch ideas...

I require my DCKs to be fed BEFORE drop off.

That way I can get everyone in the door and settled into some sort of routine before doing any kind of snack/meal.

Once everyone arrives (usually by 9) I serve a small A.M. snack (contains all the components of breakfast per food program).

The kids are just full enough to make it until lunch time but not hungry enough to not be able to make it that long...kwim?

This has so far, been the best way to manage the morning hunger and the timeframe in between drop off and lunch.

[Familycare71]

I require my DCKs to be fed BEFORE drop off.

That way I can get everyone in the door and settled into some sort of routine before doing any kind of snack/meal.

Once everyone arrives (usually by 9) I serve a small A.M. snack (contains all the components of breakfast per food program).

The kids are just full enough to make it until lunch time but not hungry enough to not be able to make it that long...kwim?

This has so far, been the best way to manage the morning hunger and the timeframe in between drop off and lunch.

Do you do lunch at 12? I would also like to eliminate am snack. Most of my kids come fed or have eaten here(not provided) by 8am. I like having lunch at 12:15 because I don't think all mine would go down earlier than 12:45-1. But maybe I could do what you do and offer a 9am breakfast to tide them over...

[MyAngels]

After years of doing both breakfast and am snack I recently changed to the way BC is doing it, too. We still call it "snack" but it's really a small breakfast. My parents didn't mind making sure their kids ate before they came so it has worked out well.

[Meyou]

I expect kids to arrive well fed and then I do snack at 9-930 and lunch at 12. They always eat lots.

[Blackcat31]

Do you do lunch at 12? I would also like to eliminate am snack. Most of my kids come fed or have eaten here(not provided) by 8am. I like having lunch at 12:15 because I don't think all mine would go down earlier than 12:45-1. But maybe I could do what you do and offer a 9am breakfast to tide them over...

Yes, lunch is at noon or shortly after.

After years of doing both breakfast and am snack I recently changed to the way BC is doing it, too. We still call it "snack" but it's really a small breakfast. My parents didn't mind making sure their kids ate before they came so it has worked out well.

THIS ^^^^^ is exactly why I switched it up.....works perfect IMHO.

[SilverSabre25]

Yes, lunch is at noon or shortly after.



THIS ^^^^^ is exactly why I switched it up.....works perfect IMHO.

I don't think my parents feed their kids. No that's not true--one eats an "oatmeal square" every morning on the way here. I don't know about the others. My kiddos are all here around by 8...which is when my own kids are up and ready for breakfast. I can't make my kids wait until later, it doesn't work for our schedule and it isn't fair to force my kids out of bed at 6:30 to eat before dcks get here

[Laurel]

I don't think my parents feed their kids. No that's not true--one eats an "oatmeal square" every morning on the way here. I don't know about the others. My kiddos are all here around by 8...which is when my own kids are up and ready for breakfast. I can't make my kids wait until later, it doesn't work for our schedule and it isn't fair to force my kids out of bed at 6:30 to eat before dcks get here

I feed everyone breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch is at 11:15. I had to do lunch that early because I have them falling asleep at lunch if I wait until later. It works great though.

That said if you really just want easy snacks (like you asked for and not my advice : how about:

-dry cheerios mixed with raisins, milk
-graham crackers spread with peanut butter (could make them ahead). I put a lid on them in a sandwich like way, melon chunks (made ahead) milk
-yogurt cup, banana slices, water
-cheese chunks (mine like shredded cheese), oyster crackers, juice
-peanut butter toast, applesauce, milk

I don't do the food program so these might not be per their specifications. I just try to do a protein, a starch and fruit or veggie.

Laurel

[LK5kids]

I am leaving my am snack out and pushing breakfast to 9:00, since I like lunch @ noon! Oh, but I see that won't work for you.hmmmm.

[melilley]

I must have very hungry kids....
Here Breakfast is from 7-8 and usually kids get here almost at 8 so I feed them anyways. Then snack is at 9:15 or 9:30, lunch is between 11:30 and 12:00 and pm snack is around 3:30. My kids eat all the snacks and meals and act like they are starving by the time the next meal/snack comes around!
I am on the food program so I offer all of the components and they all eat really well.

Some of the morning snacks that I serve are:
Yogurt and cheerios
Cottage cheese and pineapple
Apples and peanut butter
Toast and a fruit or peanut butter or with milk
Cheese and crackers
Fruit and grain bars (on occasion) with milk

I was going to get rid of my morning snack, but by the time lunch comes, the kids are crying and really want to eat (my kids are all 2.5 and under-well I have 1 recently turned 3) so I decided to keep it.

[Play Care]

When I had a young group we had a small AM snack. I don't claim it so I would do 1 piece of fruit or veg and water. That was it. I didn't allow seconds and my mantra is "it's a snack, not a meal"

[AnneCordelia]

Our morning snack is always exactly the same. Half a banana and yogurt. Lunch and afternoon snack vary in composition but morning is always the same.

[Familycare71]

When I had a young group we had a small AM snack. I don't claim it so I would do 1 piece of fruit or veg and water. That was it. I didn't allow seconds and my mantra is "it's a snack, not a meal"

:: EXACTLY what I say

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

We are only permitted to have a 3 hour gap between feedings so I do breakfast at 8:00 and lunch at 11:00. All of the children do just fine waiting until 11:00!