USDA Proposes Changes to Food Program

[NoMoreJuice!]

"Disallowing grain‐based desserts from counting towards the grain component"

Anyone think this means granola bars? My food program rep counts them as a dessert (allowed 2x per week).

Also, I'm positive they mean deep frying. A little oil in a pan can't possibly be banned.

Other than that, no issues at all for me. I LOVE that they're lightening the restrictions on almond milk!!! I will be putting all my kids on it. Goodbye gross cow milk! I hated that USDA mandated that we forced it on all kids unless they had a medical restriction with a Dr's note.

[NoMoreJuice!]

I think they really need to focus more on the quality/nutrition of the food being served. They allow tons of junk and processed food.
We can serve donuts, coffee cake, a huge selection of sugary cereals, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, boxed mac and cheese..etc.

Oh my gosh, I agree completely. Get rid of processed boxed crap and maybe our kids wouldn't have an obesity issue(which has NOTHING to do with fat percentages in milk, give us a break)! Also, why are we not raising taxes like a billion percent on Happy Meals? Every time taxes go up on tobacco, usage drops, why not fast food? Oh, sorry...need to slow down my rant train.

[jenboo]

Oh my gosh, I agree completely. Get rid of processed boxed crap and maybe our kids wouldn't have an obesity issue(which has NOTHING to do with fat percentages in milk, give us a break)! Also, why are we not raising taxes like a billion percent on Happy Meals? Every time taxes go up on tobacco, usage drops, why not fast food? Oh, sorry...need to slow down my rant train.

[Unregistered]

On our fp we have had to serve whole or 2% to age 12-24 months and 1% or skim to age 2 and up, for a couple of years now. Requirement. I do the highest fat allowed.

[crazydaycarelady]

Being on the lower Tier already I'll just go off if they make too many more changes.

We are only allowed to serve 1% or skim milk here. Also only homemade chicken nuggets, no donuts or coffee cake, no cookies except homemade and only oatmeal. Only homemade mac -n cheese.

I don't like the one fruit and one veggie rule either. A lot of times I'll serve something like spaghetti (tomato sauce) with a garden salad.

[Leigh]

About the frying: I BELIEVE that they consider frying to be when you add fats to the pan (like butter on a grilled cheese or olive oil for saute). I could be wrong, but that's how I understood it. I'm FINE with not deep frying, but NO fats to the pan would wipe out a lot of my menu (I use olive oil a lot).

And, yes, granola bars would no longer be allowed (at least where I live). I don't like that no dessert grains, either. Once a week, my kids get donuts, strudel, monkey bread or the like for breakfast and they LOVE that. I'd hate to get rid of that...I don't think that the current twice a week rule is out of line at all.

[jenboo]

About the frying: I BELIEVE that they consider frying to be when you add fats to the pan (like butter on a grilled cheese or olive oil for saute). I could be wrong, but that's how I understood it. I'm FINE with not deep frying, but NO fats to the pan would wipe out a lot of my menu (I use olive oil a lot).

That would pretty much wipe out anything cooked in a pan.

[Unregistered]

"Disallowing grain‐based desserts from counting towards the grain component"

Anyone think this means granola bars? My food program rep counts them as a dessert (allowed 2x per week).

Also, I'm positive they mean deep frying. A little oil in a pan can't possibly be banned.

Other than that, no issues at all for me. I LOVE that they're lightening the restrictions on almond milk!!! I will be putting all my kids on it. Goodbye gross cow milk! I hated that USDA mandated that we forced it on all kids unless they had a medical restriction with a Dr's note.

Sounds like cookies to me. But I don't have any knowledge. It's just what a lot of people think of when we say snack. Cookies and milk.

[Leigh]

That would pretty much wipe out anything cooked in a pan.

That's what I was thinking, too!

[grateday]

Anyone heard of GAPS

Contrary to popular belief, the fat from cows milk is healthy for children and contributes to there health but doesn't take away from it. Many replacements for fat are in the form of sugar/carbs or sugar substitutes and that is not healthy at all. Not requiring a dr. note for a different kind of milk is a great idea.


I know I sound terrible but here is why the milk thing is absurd. There are children who have issues with milk that does not show up on a standard medical test. There are children with food issues and it will not show up with allergy testing. These children react in ways to food that unless you've dealt with it is a big deal. I know it is not a main stream diagnosis but it something that a doctor (neurologist) who is also a mom came up with: Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS). These kids have a range of reactions to foods if they eat the wrong thing and that is why I don't think that one dr's opinion is the one and only answer to everything. It is time we came together to suppport healthy children and if it means moms pitching in with food costs and providers who can support them, than try it is worth it to see that struggling child doing better and that family healthier.

I am going through a terrible time with the food program requirements milk thing right now because of a doctors note (actually the mom is). I am just trying to be compliant.

I have seen a seven year old in my occasional care go absolutely nuts when consuming wheat/dairy, so bad I have had to call mom to pick up......It is out of control raging fits, screaming ..like something just clicks in the child and there is no way to reach them.....

[grateday]

Should be clearer on the frying

That's what I was thinking, too!

Pan fry vs. deep fryer frying.........

Microwaving is not all that great of a way to cook food it changes the molecular make up of the food......

I hope we don't have to microwave everything.....

[LysesKids]

Pan fry vs. deep fryer frying.........

Microwaving is not all that great of a way to cook food it changes the molecular make up of the food......

I hope we don't have to microwave everything.....

I don't own a microwave ... everything is done old school here; occasional deep-fry but only for my Indian Somosas and the like. I do a lot of ethnic cooking, including homemade tortilla ( really not that hard)

[grandmom]

FRY

verb

cook (food) in hot fat or oil, typically in a shallow pan.

synonyms: cook, sauté, sear, brown, sizzle, frizzle, pan-fry, deep-fry, flash-fry
"fry the onions in the skillet"

DEEP FRY

verb

fry (food) in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely.
"deep-fried onion rings"


I think we should assume it means no oil/butter/etc in the pan at all. Bummer.

[snbauser]

FRY

verb

cook (food) in hot fat or oil, typically in a shallow pan.

synonyms: cook, sauté, sear, brown, sizzle, frizzle, pan-fry, deep-fry, flash-fry
"fry the onions in the skillet"

DEEP FRY

verb

fry (food) in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely.
"deep-fried onion rings"


I think we should assume it means no oil/butter/etc in the pan at all. Bummer.

I'm curious to see what they come back with. My sponsor said she has no idea what they are thinking because it is vague. I wouldn't be suprised to see them come back and say nothing in a pan/skillet/griddle. I know when I was a center I wasn't even allowed to make pancakes, grilled cheese, quesadillas, eggs, etc because that was considered "frying".

[daycarechick]

changes good/bad

some changes are good -- like allowing protein at breakfast. Eggs, YAY!!
some are ok -- like parent notes, not doctors. what a PITA to get an appt, etc just for a milk note.
some are stupid -- like the ambiguity of "fry". I take it to mean 1/2" or more of oil but could be wrong. obviously DEEP fried anything should be out, but total no-fry would include many chicken dishes, fajitas, potato pancakes, eggrolls & many other ethnic foods, but they want us to serve a variety of ethnic foods and celebrate ethnic holidays. they need to make up their minds.
I do babies/toddlers only and it is already a pain to have different formulas & breast milks, there really has to be some kind of moderation in all this. and definitely a raise in reimb rates to compensate for the extra fridge, etc... otherwise everyone will drop the FP and have parents brown bag it, which means capri-sun, chips and a lunchable. that's certainly heading in the right direction!!!
but one change that does NEED to be made is consistency across the board, not each state having their own take on the rules. some require 2 hot meals a week, others no minimum. some consider granola bars a dessert, and others not, just a regular bread alternative.