Anyone read through the propsed CACFP changes- Comments?

[spedmommy4]

http://www.cacfp.org/regulations-legislation-advocacy/cacfp-proposed-meal-patterns/

The link to the proposed changes is above. I got an urgent email from my sponsor yesterday encouraging me to make comments at the regulations.gov website. My big concern was that they seem to be getting stricter, and this generally discourages providers from participating. I was also a little concerned that they seem to be pushing solids at a young age. I know my own experiences are skewed because I have been working with little ones that are behind in their development, but I have met lots of parents that prefer to delay the introduction of solids until 9 months. Thoughts everyone?

[Thriftylady]

I don't understand the problem with flavored milks. You can get low sugar varieties. For the longest time that was all my son would drink, he just didn't like milk.

[spedmommy4]

I don't either. I drink it at lunch with the dck and we talk about how it builds strong bones but I still throw away so much milk. I wish I could just serve what I know they will drink and keep a pitcher on the table to offer more if needed.

[jenboo]

I hate milk! I think it is disgusting and not for humans.
My family does not drink cows milk.

[Gemma]

I don't understand the problem with flavored milks. You can get low sugar varieties. For the longest time that was all my son would drink, he just didn't like milk.

I don't get all the fuss over milk period! ...the only thing I see happening since I switched to 1%, is kids no longer drink the milk I serve, they take one or two sips and the rest of it ends up down the drain....what a waste!

[Thriftylady]

I don't get all the fuss over milk period! ...the only thing I see happening since I switched to 1%, is kids no longer drink the milk I serve, they take one or two sips and the rest of it ends up down the drain....what a waste!

Yes, there is no nutrition in what you don't eat or drink. I remember when I was a kid, we would stop at the small local dairy and buy fresh milk. Most states it isn't legal to buy it that way anymore, but I still think it was better for us.

[Blackcat31]

Other threads about the proposed CACFP changes

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76882&highlight=food+program

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76882

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Chocolate and other flavored milk? The new standards allow skim “flavored” milk (translation: sugar-sweetened). Otherwise, says USDA, kids might not drink milk and will not get enough calcium. Sigh. Milk, as I keep saying, is not an essential nutrient. Chocolate or strawberry milk is a dessert. Chalk this one up to dairy lobbying.

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Fwiw~ I don't think the push for certain foods has anything to do with what is or isn't "good" or healthy for people.

It's about funding/money from corn/milk industries.

Watch Food Inc or any of the "food industry" documentaries out there. Most will explain how one industry "supports" certain ideals and ways of thinking.

Do you really think corn chips (or some of the other ridiculous things listed as approved) are healthy options for kids?

Guidelines are not based on science but are designed to promote the products of commodity agriculture

Food industry pressure has made nutritional guidelines confusing.
"As Nestle explained in Food Politics, the food industry has a history of preferring scientific jargon to straight talk. As far back as 1977, public health officials attempted to include the advice "reduce consumption of meat" in an important report called Dietary Goals for the United States. The report’s authors capitulated to intense pushback from the cattle industry and used this less-direct and more ambiguous advice: "Choose meats, poultry, and fish which will reduce saturated fat intake."

The food industry funds front groups that fight anti-obesity public health initiatives.
Unless you follow politics closely, you wouldn’t necessarily realize that a group with a name like the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has anything to do with the food industry. In fact,Ludwig and Nestle point out, this group lobbies aggressively against obesity-related public health campaigns—such as the one directed at removing junk food from schools—and is funded, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, primarily through donations from big food companies such as Coca-Cola, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Wendy’s.
(http://www.yourwellness.com/2011/10/...t-you-to-know/)
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A frightening look at what the changes could look like:

http://civileats.com/2015/02/10/this-is-what-a-healthy-meal-in-your-kids-daycare-could-look-like/

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A really good site to follow that has lots of good ideas/education about the truth behind our food industry is food politics .com





my two cents.

[NoMoreJuice!]

All I want to say is Bravo Blackcat! I can't stand how the government is being manipulated by lobbyists and manipulating us in turn. But I'll still take that check every month.

[Thriftylady]

I do agree with you BC. But I also see that the way people eat without the lobbying and such in general is well, I am not even sure what to call it. I see people who don't eat anything that wasn't processed from a box. You see it in the daycare kids who don't want to even try fresh foods. It is a battle that I don't see us as providers winning.

[LindseyA]

I have so many 'picky eaters' it's really sad. Half of them don't even touch the fruits and veggies I serve everyday and that in itself is frustrating because they are expensive! It makes me not want to put it on their plates because I know it will be thrown in the garbage. But I serve it hopes that they will be hungry enough to try it. We've tried the No Thank You Bites until I got a dck with a nasty gag reflex and would vomit anything that was put in his mouth that he didn't like. Thats frustrating. I feel like I'm starving them, but I refuse to serve something different for the picky ones.

[Blackcat31]

I do agree with you BC. But I also see that the way people eat without the lobbying and such in general is well, I am not even sure what to call it. I see people who don't eat anything that wasn't processed from a box. You see it in the daycare kids who don't want to even try fresh foods. It is a battle that I don't see us as providers winning.

I have so many 'picky eaters' it's really sad. Half of them don't even touch the fruits and veggies I serve everyday and that in itself is frustrating because they are expensive! It makes me not want to put it on their plates because I know it will be thrown in the garbage. But I serve it hopes that they will be hungry enough to try it. We've tried the No Thank You Bites until I got a dck with a nasty gag reflex and would vomit anything that was put in his mouth that he didn't like. Thats frustrating. I feel like I'm starving them, but I refuse to serve something different for the picky ones.

The money spent on the food program would be better spent on parent education.

Schools and child cares already understand and promote healthy eating as part of the curriculum of teaching and caring for kids.

There needs to be a better way to educate and support parents in teaching their kids to eat healthy. It starts at home.

I've had DCK's from infancy to birth become fantastic eaters while here....willing to try everything, liking and asking for seconds on vegetables etc.

Then the child goes off to school and I have them back one day when school is out and EVERY.SINGLE thing healthy eating habit has been erased. :confused:
I've seen it happen time and time again.

[LysesKids]

The money spent on the food program would be better spent on parent education.

Schools and child cares already understand and promote healthy eating as part of the curriculum of teaching and caring for kids.

There needs to be a better way to educate and support parents in teaching their kids to eat healthy. It starts at home.

I've had DCK's from infancy to birth become fantastic eaters while here....willing to try everything, liking and asking for seconds on vegetables etc.

Then the child goes off to school and I have them back one day when school is out and EVERY.SINGLE thing healthy eating habit has been erased. :confused:
I've seen it happen time and time again.

I had one just age out ( she;s just turning 2)... she's having problems in the new daycare center; she hates their food & is constantly asking for water to drink, but they still don't give her more than 2 small cups a day - the child is constipated and mom has opted out of FP so she can send meals we know little miss will eat ... BTW, I serve a variety of organic veg starting at first foods - this child will scarf down broccoli, asparagus & mushrooms, but she avoids the chicken nuggets & fries they tried pushing on her at the new place ( their menu rarely varies week to week). She has never seen a nugget or hotdog until 2 weeks ago... I always serve roasted chicken, fish etc, not pre-packaged crap. How many babes do you know will eat cheddar on rye bread for grilled cheese? Samosas with mango chutney? Her mom is doing Bento lunches now and the school hates it

[Thriftylady]

I had one just age out ( she;s just turning 2)... she's having problems in the new daycare center; she hates their food & is constantly asking for water to drink, but they still don't give her more than 2 small cups a day - the child is constipated and mom has opted out of FP so she can send meals we know little miss will eat ... BTW, I serve a variety of organic veg starting at first foods - this child will scarf down broccoli, asparagus & mushrooms, but she avoids the chicken nuggets & fries they tried pushing on her at the new place ( their menu rarely varies week to week). She has never seen a nugget or hotdog until 2 weeks ago... I always serve roasted chicken, fish etc, not pre-packaged crap. How many babes do you know will eat cheddar on rye bread for grilled cheese? Samosas with mango chutney? Her mom is doing Bento lunches now and the school hates it

How are they getting by with limiting her water? That doesn't make any sense to me. I mean it is free, well mostly anyway. It is the one thing I allow my kiddos to have freely and unlimited.

[daycarediva]

I don't think flavored milk should be allowed. There is a TON of added sugar, preservatives, food dyes and the 'low sugar' variety is full of horrible sugar substitutes.

I think milk should be OPTIONAL, and water should be the substitute. I am all for NO juice.

Why can I serve pop tarts and doughnuts? Why is my whole wheat/whole grain, 3-4 ingredient/bakery fresh bread credited for the same amount as someone who serves preservative and processed plain white bread.

I think the food program pushes too much fruit, and wayyy too much grain.

I also think providers should have to list EVERYTHING they serve kids. Eg. parties- no more than once/month for sweets and then limited servings (1!!!!!!!!)

I had to take 3 candy bars and 1 doughnut away from kids coming in this morning. ALL happily ate my plain homemade whole wheat organic pancakes with applesauce to dip and organic bananas with organic skim milk.

Education starts at home. If you serve junk, they will eat junk. THAT is why we have an obesity epidemic, the same reason we have an entitlement epidemic. Bad/lazy parenting.

[Thriftylady]

I really don't have any issue with flavored milk in moderation. But then that is the problem right? Moderation is not typically used anymore. I remember when I was little pop was a treat we had once in awhile. Now kids seem to drink it daily. Same with things like pop tarts and candy bars, they were a treat back in the day. Now they are an everyday diet staple.