Food Program - What?!

[LaLa1923]

I'm on the food program too, and there are things I don't like about it at all.

Like breakfast. To get reimbursement, you have to serve a whole grain alongside a fruit or a vegetable. You can't get reimubursed for any protein at breakfast--no eggs, no yogurt, no sausage, nada. I would much rather serve filling and long-lasting protein based breakfasts than carbs that don't stay with you long and lead to a snack attack later.

And then the rule about HAVING to serve iron-fortified rice cereal to babies who are between 6 months and 11 months at breakfast. Also the only snack you can be reimbursed for when you have a 6-11 month old is a cracker or whole grain type snack... really? Let's just fill those little guys up with carbs and not give anyone credit for introducing fruits and vegetables. My son never had rice cereal, and he was chowing down on sweet potatoes, peas, bananas, and so much more at 6-7 months old.

I may go off of it some day... right now, I'm making it work.

The milk thing is confusing, too. Yes, lots of kids are obese. But maybe it's because we have to feed them carbs and nutrient-poor meals and don't get credited for protein, veggies and fruits at snacks, or things like pomegranates (which my kids LOVE!!)

You can serve what you want. You just cant claim it. I am loving my $1000 monthly checks! I'm smiling all the way to the bank....

[Lucy]

You can serve things not on the list, you just can't CLAIM them. If you choose to serve Pomegranates, just make sure that you serve something else on the approved list, as well (maybe fruit juice).

As far as whole milk goes, all recommendations I have heard from our nutritionist and doctor that 1% is what is now recommended.

I'm surprised at this. I thought they needed the fat for the fat-soluble vitamins?

[Lucy]

I'm on the food program too, and there are things I don't like about it at all.

Like breakfast. To get reimbursement, you have to serve a whole grain alongside a fruit or a vegetable. You can't get reimubursed for any protein at breakfast--no eggs, no yogurt, no sausage, nada. I would much rather serve filling and long-lasting protein based breakfasts than carbs that don't stay with you long and lead to a snack attack later.

And then the rule about HAVING to serve iron-fortified rice cereal to babies who are between 6 months and 11 months at breakfast. Also the only snack you can be reimbursed for when you have a 6-11 month old is a cracker or whole grain type snack... really? Let's just fill those little guys up with carbs and not give anyone credit for introducing fruits and vegetables. My son never had rice cereal, and he was chowing down on sweet potatoes, peas, bananas, and so much more at 6-7 months old.

I may go off of it some day... right now, I'm making it work.

The milk thing is confusing, too. Yes, lots of kids are obese. But maybe it's because we have to feed them carbs and nutrient-poor meals and don't get credited for protein, veggies and fruits at snacks, or things like pomegranates (which my kids LOVE!!)

Those are some of the higher carb fruit/veg

[Leigh]

I'm surprised at this. I thought they needed the fat for the fat-soluble vitamins?

1% still has fat, as do other foods they eat. I am no expert on this, but the nutritionist that I work with, the county health nurse, and my pediatrician (as well as my state's food program and WIC programs) recommend 1% for kids over 12 months. My own drinks soy milk, so it doesn't affect me personally, but this is what I am required to serve to daycare kids over 12 months. Our state's WIC program recommends 1%, but allows skim, 1%, 2%, or whole.

[CedarCreek]

You can serve what you want. You just cant claim it. I am loving my $1000 monthly checks! I'm smiling all the way to the bank....

The cost of food must be higher in your area, when I was full with 6 full time dcks, I never got close to $1000 reimbursement!

[Blackcat31]

The cost of food must be higher in your area, when I was full with 6 full time dcks, I never got close to $1000 reimbursement!

Yeah, the ONLY way I see anything close to that is if ALL my 10-12 kids are present for all 3 meals/snacks and not absent at all during the month.

[Angelsj]

The cost of food must be higher in your area, when I was full with 6 full time dcks, I never got close to $1000 reimbursement!

Me either...and I am in an area that is Tier 2 anyway, so I was getting maybe 300 a month. Not worth the paperwork in my case, and too many odd rules, including that grain rule. Personally, I think the diet suggested by the food program is too high in carbs and not high enough in protein. I also serve whole milk to all the children regardless of age, but I do not feel the need to serve liquid milk at every meal.

[crazydaycarelady]

I'm surprised at this. I thought they needed the fat for the fat-soluble vitamins?

They do! I am still serving whole milk. The FP rep has never said anything.

I find some of the rules ridiculous also - like the kids could not eat the freezer jam that they made here. Whatever! I do like TwinKristi- I mark down the closest thing on the list to what I am serving.

Yeah, the ONLY way I see anything close to that is if ALL my 10-12 kids are present for all 3 meals/snacks and not absent at all during the month.

I am on Tier 2 so I rarely even get half that and that is if I have 12 kids here all day every day.

[CedarCreek]

Me either...and I am in an area that is Tier 2 anyway, so I was getting maybe 300 a month. Not worth the paperwork in my case, and too many odd rules, including that grain rule. Personally, I think the diet suggested by the food program is too high in carbs and not high enough in protein. I also serve whole milk to all the children regardless of age, but I do not feel the need to serve liquid milk at every meal.

I agree that it's too carby! I want to be able to claim an egg at breakfast!

I am in an area that is tier 1 so I get higher reimbursement but still, some days I don't feel like it's worth it.

[Leigh]

Carbohydrates are an important part of a child's diet (50%-60% of a child's diet who is 2 or older should be healthy carbs).

These carbs are a major source of energy for the body. Good carb choices are important (whole grains), which is why the food program demands them.

[CedarCreek]

Protein is an important part too. I'm not saying do away with the carbs, I'm saying add more protein

[Blackcat31]

Carbohydrates are an important part of a child's diet (50%-60% of a child 2 or older should be healthy carbs).

These carbs are a major source of energy for the body. Good carb choices are important (whole grains), which is why the food program demands them.

Protein is an important part too. I'm not saying do away with the carbs, I'm saying add more protein

Healthy carbs are absolutely necessary for your body to process the protein.

If you eat a high protein diet with little or no carbs you will have just as many health issues as someone who eats a high carb/low protein diet.

Foods are definitely designed to work together.

My mom used to be a big time carb counter...then my DH got Type 1 diabetes and we learned about the necessity and importance of carbs (GOOD carbs) and their tie to protein.

[CedarCreek]

That's what I'm trying to get at BC, thanks!

What I don't like about the food program is this: there is an option for cinnamon rolls but not for an egg for breakfast. There should be an option for a protein and a grain. An egg and a piece of whole grain toast is better than a cinnamon roll IMO.

But like someone else said, we can serve it, we just won't get reimbursed for it! And that's ****y.

This reminds me of the ritz cracker supplemented lunch.

[MarinaVanessa]

Carbohydrates are an important part of a child's diet (50%-60% of a child's diet who is 2 or older should be healthy carbs).

These carbs are a major source of energy for the body. Good carb choices are important (whole grains), which is why the food program demands them.

[LaLa1923]

Yeah, the ONLY way I see anything close to that is if ALL my 10-12 kids are present for all 3 meals/snacks and not absent at all during the month.

I am open Monday-Saturday from 7am-9pm (used to be 6am). I have 7 DCKs and 5 kids of my own. If school is in session I may make a little less.
I also serve all meals and snack and I claim 3 for each child. It is a little more work but I have a system down now.