Food Program - What?!

[gracepatiencelove]

I just got on the food program and I'm just not liking it.

I've been reading a lot about milk and so have my DCP. We all agree on whole milk being the safest choice.... Food program lady calls and says no. Don't do that. I serve pomegranates and they're not on the claiming list... she says, don't serve.

I do not like being told to serve certain things. I'm not happy with this program. I am running a very small in home care program and I have been told/read in my handbook for food program... no wild caught food.... no home grown food.... you must do this this this... etc.

Am I the only person who thinks it is not worth it? I'm about to quit and raise prices or ask for some things to be provided... idk.

[Leigh]

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.

[TwinKristi]

I don't take it that seriously. Pomegranate is on my list though so not sure why that would vary. I have an option for fruit salad it veggie plate or mixed veggies so if it's not on the list I do that option. We also serve only whole milk here and my FP rep has never asked. Plus, even if it's not on there, as long as it's not a day that your rep is there for an announced visit does it really matter it they have Pomegranate instead of pears?

[TwinKristi]

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.

Yes due to the increase in obesity they have recommended 1% but for children under 2 it's whole milk. Some lines of nutritional thinking recommend whole milk over low/nonfat.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-whole-milk-is-the-healthiest-choice.html

[SSWonders]

Pomegranates aren't on my list either. Perhaps they don't have enough nutritional value to qualify? Or is too hard to measure? Venison is and I would assume in most cases that is wild caught food. I serve veggies from my garden during the summer time. Haven't heard the no wild/no home grown rule. We serve whole milk until the age of two and then skim after that.

[Blackcat31]

Pomegranates aren't on my list either. Perhaps they don't have enough nutritional value to qualify? Or is too hard to measure? Venison is and I would assume in most cases that is wild caught food. I serve veggies from my garden during the summer time. Haven't heard the no wild/no home grown rule. We serve whole milk until the age of two and then skim after that.

The wild game rule in my area, is because meats are required to be inspected, processed and packaged by an approved facility. I assume one that follows the health and safety rules of the usda food guidlines.

[itlw8]

veggies home grown are fine but not canned you can freeze though.. BUT it could be your town not the FP some towns anyone that cooks must take a class a serve safe class. AnD those rules for resterants says no food from farmers markets because if there was a problem like the ecoli in the spinach who do they go after????

But the FP encourages fresh produce from the garden just not wild game. Whole up to age 2 then 1% or lower. But most kids get enough fat in their diet anyway.

[itlw8]

to count as a serving of fruit it has to be 1/4 cup and with the seed I would assume it would be 1/2 cup It is unlikely each child would eat or you would prepare a whole pomegranet per child. Yes serve them they are wonderful but as part of a fruit salad or and extra

[butterfly]

The wild game rule in my area, is because meats are required to be inspected, processed and packaged by an approved facility. I assume one that follows the health and safety rules of the usda food guidlines.

I serve wild game - venison. My husband shoots it and takes it to the locker to be processed. If just us are eating it, he can do all the processing on his own but then it can't be claimed on the food program if I were to serve it to the dcks.

And I grow and serve the majority of our vegetables. I freeze everything I can and serve it through the winter months. (I also home can a lot of my produce, but I'm not allowed to serve this to the dcks.)

[preschoolteacher]

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!!)

[melilley]

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.

I don't get the breakfast requirement either. I can see having to serve a grain on the side, but not to have some kind of protein? That's just odd.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I just got on the food program and I'm just not liking it.

I've been reading a lot about milk and so have my DCP. We all agree on whole milk being the safest choice.... Food program lady calls and says no. Don't do that. I serve pomegranates and they're not on the claiming list... she says, don't serve.

I do not like being told to serve certain things. I'm not happy with this program. I am running a very small in home care program and I have been told/read in my handbook for food program... no wild caught food.... no home grown food.... you must do this this this... etc.

Am I the only person who thinks it is not worth it? I'm about to quit and raise prices or ask for some things to be provided... idk.

I quit the food program for these exact type of reasons. Not worth it to me.

[Angelsj]

I quit the food program for these exact type of reasons. Not worth it to me.

I second the motion. For the record, you CAN take your food off of your taxes, so you do get reimbursed in a way. It just is not in the form of a monthly check.

[itlw8]

You CAN serve a protein at breakfast you just do not have to. In fact they want you to 1x a week and in the future it may be a reg but not yet. BUT they do not want you serving bacon, sausage etc high fat high sodium meats.

The infant cereal thing is for the iron it does not need to be rice in fact many drs start with oats

pretty sure the grain is optional for snack for that age heck they do not have to have ANy thing but bottle or formula until 8 months.

[TwinKristi]

These aren't the ONLY foods you can serve, just the only ones you can claim. My meals often have more than what I claim, but there's just no way to claim it. Do I count the sausage or cheese as protein for pizza? I don't know!? I claim cheese because sausage is HF but it has both plus more veggies than tomato sauce. I just play by their rules for claiming purposes but serve what I want in addition.