USDA Proposes Changes to Food Program

[Angelsj]

The milk thing already did it for me. I serve ALL the children whole milk.

[Unregistered]

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".

I've made quesadillas and grilled cheese in the oven on broil ;-)

[lovemylittles]

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

Actually, I attended the webinar and they stated that they "have not defined frying as of yet" and that they want providers to write in about what they constitute frying and what the providers feel about frying and how it should be handled. I have an issue with the fact that they have not defined much of this: the frying and the dessert.
You can watch the webinar now at http://frac.peachnewmedia.com/store/...el3ljwiFMXE%3D

I really take issue with the separation of the fruit and veggie components at lunch time because I serve my children fruit for breakfast and snack, and two vegetables at lunch. Sometimes this is the only time the children will eat vegetables because they will not eat them at home for their parents and I believe that they are important parts of a meal.
I'm waiting to see what happens, I plan to write in, but I am seriously considering removing myself from the program if they separate the two components and make us serve one fruit and one vegetable...I refuse to fight with kids who will only eat the fruit at lunch and then scream during nap because they are hungry because all they want is the fruit. Nope, just won't do it.

[Unregistered]

"The things I personally have a problem with are:
- Infants can't start solid foods until 6 months. (Some children are ready before that.)
- Restricts cheese for infants 6-12 months. (Because they can chew other forms of protein better??)
- Requires whole milk from 12-24 months. (My registered dietician sister in law who specializes in childhood obesity and diabetes says they get enough fat in their diets and you can't tell which children are at risk for obesity that young.)
- Allows non-dairy milk substitute with parent signature, not a doctor's signature. (Imagine if 1 child is on soy, another on almond, 12 mo old on whole and everyone else on 1% - my refrigerator isn't that big!)
- Separates fruits/veggies into separate components. (You can't serve 2 veggies anymore, just 1 of each. Seems less healthy to me...)

Infants shouldn't start solids until they are 6 months. It leads to food allergies. All my daughters had up until 6 months was my milk. That's all they need until then.

I will be so glad that all the children in my care don't have to have cow's milk. It's the dairy association that pushes all this cow's milk on people; we don't need it in our diet. Cow's don't drink milk!!! And their calves only drink fresh milk from their moms. They would die if given a steady diet of the cooked (pasteurized) milk given to humans. Do some research on this; people really don't need milk. I've had several kids that just don't like milk and won't drink it. It will be so much easier not having to push it on them!

Vegetables and fruits are both healthy and good for us, so it shouldn't be a problem giving them one of each. I mostly do that now.

I like most of the proposed changes. I still think until the parents get it about proper nutrition, the kids won't care much about eating healthier food, but I've taught a few kids to like veggies!

[Jack Sprat]

In KS we are allowed to serve 1 or 2% to children over the age of 12 months. I was told when DD was an infant to serve her whole milk till she was 2 unless her father or I had issues with cholesterol then she would be tested and we would go from there. This was 12yrs ago though.


I'm not sure if its a food program rule or a suggestion but, boxed and processed foods are a no no. Sugary cereals I think can be served 2x a week. I really don't know for sure. I don't buy those cereals. As far as the veg and fruit component at each meal I have thought for two years I had to serve one of each at lunch so I have.

[daycarediva]

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.

REALLY?! Ours limit sugar in cereals to 6g or less.

I serve boxed mac & cheese (organic) and homemade nuggets once/month.

[daycarediva]

Most of the changes do not affect me, I did the survey that I agreed with them, especially the whole grain addition!

I do serve organic animal crackers every now and then, I will just switch it up to organic cheddar bunnies or chex mix.

[laundrymom]

I make "toasted" cheese. Works for both the kids, and my desire not to fry. I just make grilled cheese in a pan w no butter.

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.

[Annalee]

We make grilled cheese in the heated sandwich makers....

[apick]

I didn't read all of the comments, but I actually this these are AWESOME changes!!! Some that are long over due!! happyface

It doesn't say that you have to give babies solids at 6 months, but that you could and they would reimburse you for them. I like that! It gives you more options if the parents want their kid eating solids earlier than 8 months. I mean the 8 month thing was stupid and just gave providers more ways of being cheap and denying babies food they probably wanted badly. Also the getting reimbursed for a mom nursing on site ---- YES!!! This will help so many providers be more breastfeeding friendly! The #1 complaint I heard from people about not letting mom nurse on site was that it would take away from the meals they could claim for the baby. I love this and have been hoping to see this change since I begin doing daycare! I don't really get the restricting cheese part though. Maybe because it's due to it being hard for their tummies to digest?

For the older kids, I also like requiring whole make for 1 year olds. It's what they need for their little brains to grow properly. I have had up to 4 kinds of milk in my fridge to accommodate allergies, ages or parent preferences - 1%, whole, almond and goat. I really don't think that's a big deal and its part of my job to provide those things. LOVE the adding a protein for breakfast!!! The kids really need it so I'm super super happy to see that! Love the whole grains too, seriously 50% or more of the grains we serve should be whole wheat! I don't fry anything for the kids so that's not an issue for me. I mostly bake or grill stuff to keep it healthy, kids get enough crap food from their parents.

I don't really understand the dividing of the fruit/veggie thing though. Maybe their thinking is most kids don't like veggies so if you serve all veggies the kids aren't eating as much? Or maybe they caught people using a mixed veggie and trying to claim it as their full veggie component? I'm sure there is some thought behind this, I just wish it was explained better.

I personally am VERY happy to see them making changes to improve healthy eating. Sorry to see that many of you don't agree.

[Unregistered]

I don't really understand the dividing of the fruit/veggie thing though. Maybe their thinking is most kids don't like veggies so if you serve all veggies the kids aren't eating as much? Or maybe they caught people using a mixed veggie and trying to claim it as their full veggie component? I'm sure there is some thought behind this, I just wish it was explained better.

I think they are dividing the fruit veggie group because of providers only doing fruit. Just a thought! I serve both all the time so it doesn't matter to me.

[Missani]

I do think most of the changes are fine and won't affect me much. I love the idea of adding proteins for breakfast, but the "no frying" rule would make it very difficult for me. Ideally, I try to serve protein for breakfast as often as possible, but I have a lot of peanut and tree nut allergies as well as a sunflower seed allergy so no but butters or most alternative nut butters are not an option. I serve eggs in 5 different ways, which would no longer be allowed as I have to fry them in a pan. (Scrambled eggs, egg sandwiches on whole wheat bread, spinach omlettes, breakfast burritos on whole wheat tortillas, etc.). I've done hard boiled eggs, but I serve 15 for breakfast, which means peeling about 30 eggs so it's very time consuming. There's only so much turkey sausage one can handle, and even that I usually cook on a griddle, which wouldn't be allowed. So, besides hard boiled eggs, what are protein breakfast options? Also, I try to minimize cereals in favor of a hot breakfast, but without anything made with eggs, pancakes, turkey sausage, French toast, etc, I'm thinking it might be toast and hard boiled eggs everyday. Maybe egg bakes or quiche? What else?

[Unregistered]

What's the difference between buttering ( I use organic real butter-IMHO there is issues with margarine) toast or having bread and butter and making a grilled cheese? I use the same about of butter on a grilled cheese, frying pancakes, etc as I do buttering toast.

I'm careful to use a light hand with butter. When I make scrambled eggs I use a tiny amount of butter(like really tiny). And then there's my breakfast skillet I serve at lunch...potatoes, eggs and cheese. I use a tiny amount of butter there too. I do use a ceramic skillet, so not much butter is needed.

I make homemade pizza crust ......the non yeast kind, and there's butter in there and I have to oil the pan a bit. What's the difference? I don't know... I feel we need fats, good fats...avocado, nuts, olives and a tiny bit of butter even!

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I can't believe flavored milk is a part of the food program. I had no idea. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Unregistered]

Our fp does not allow homemade mac and cheese (or box) unless another protein is also served.