Junk Food Lunches

[Gemma]

I am also on the food program and provide the meals. I tell my parents that because of that fact, they are not allowed to bring any food or drink into my daycare unless there is a medical need for which I would need a doctor's note.

I wouldn't allow that mother to bring any food or drink into your daycare.

I'm like this too!

the kids here know that they are free to eat or leave it and usually they clear their plates cause they know that's all there is

[daycarediva]

I know you will all flip out on me, but here it goes!
I know a bit about nutrition and what is best but as a parent I would much rather my child eat something they enjoy even if its considered junk food than barely eat something or not at all of a healthy item. While I understand you want the children to eat healthy as a mom I would rather know my child is eating something even if its day 65 of the same pb&J lunch sandwich. I am all for providers wanting to offer healthy alternatives but I find there is alot of parent bashing regarding parental choices. Not everyone eats healthy foods, some by choice some by need.

I am not parent bashing or flipping out on you. It IS hard to get them to eat healthy, but you are setting your child up for a lifetime of the effects of a bad diet.

I would offer something the child liked that WAS healthy and gradually increase it until they had a good mix of healthy fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains they happily consume.

Giving in doesn't do your child any justice. I would RATHER eat French fries, but I had a salad. If I gave my kids the choice, they would eat the fries. BUT, I pack the salad. They WILL NOT starve and unless there is a failure to thrive issue I would never give in just to 'fill them up'

From the provider's side, the issue is more of the consequences of the poor diet. The diet the OP describes is all sugar and carbs (which the body converts to sugar). That kid is probably bouncing off the walls, a terrible napper, and I'd bet has digestive issues to boot!

And from the provider's perspective, think of the other DCKs pouting because instead of popcorn/juice/chocolate they get chicken breast/carrots and peas/dinner roll/white milk. I hear a loud chorus of NOT FAIRs!

OP's DCM could pack 1 protein, ONE grain (ONE!), 1 veg, ONE fruit (ONE!), and white milk. There are plenty of options in each category that I'm sure she could find at least a few that appeal to her child's palette.

Yep, good parenting IS hard. Teaching kids to be healthy (and learn to like it) IS hard. But they are worth it!

I would just give mom a list of what the components of a healthy lunch should be. You probably aren't going to win the battle since Mom is educated enough to know better, and the kid is eating like that everywhere else.

[Alwaysgreener]

What is wrong with frozen food? I find it is often of much better quality. I can buy a big bag of frozen strawberries in the middle of winter and have more variety too.

I bought a fresh cauliflower the other day but I'm the only one who likes cauliflower. I am getting tired of eating it every day so I don't waste it though so I bought a bag of frozen for next time. Portion control.

Laurel

Just to clarify, DCM brought cold lunch because she did not want her child to have certain things. She brought a very healthy lunch, no processed no frozen and no can. If it was not fresh she did not give it to her child.

I myself use fzn veggies, for portion control.

[daycare]

Yes. When I had a dcm sending a cold lunch she did follow the rules. She did not want her child to have processed foods and only sent fresh foods never frozen or caned. Made her own soup and so forth.

sorry, I am confused are you the OP?

[Unregistered]

I know you will all flip out on me, but here it goes!
I know a bit about nutrition and what is best but as a parent I would much rather my child eat something they enjoy even if its considered junk food than barely eat something or not at all of a healthy item. While I understand you want the children to eat healthy as a mom I would rather know my child is eating something even if its day 65 of the same pb&J lunch sandwich. I am all for providers wanting to offer healthy alternatives but I find there is alot of parent bashing regarding parental choices. Not everyone eats healthy foods, some by choice some by need.

Yeah, it is easier to take that path but it doesn't make it right.

[daycare]

Yeah, it is easier to take that path but it doesn't make it right.

so you would rather jepordize their health than have them not eat.

missing a meal is not going to cause issues for a child, other than maybe being more hungry for the next one. It might affect their mood a little, but it will be temporary and not create long term issues.

for most kids eating is a power struggle because they know that this is one thing that we have NO control over.

It is our job as providers and parents to provide HEALTHY food that children need to grow and remain in good health.

It up to us to teach kids which behaviors will get positive results and which ones won't. Kids won't starve, but they will learn to be more flexible rather than go hungry.

I hit reply before I finished.

Children need to eat healthy to get the nutrients their growing bodies need. If you let them have Candy, potato chips, junk food they will more than likely fill up on that and not leave room for. Also, food preferences are established early in life, so if we don't miss teach them how to develop a taste for nutritious foods, imagine what down the road is going to be like for this childs health.

My theory on kids eating junk, Kids can't run to the store to buy them, so just don't keep them in the house, no need to have to give into them. You CAN teach a child that only loves junk food to learn new eating habits, but it will take time and consistency from everyone in the childs life.

Why not help a child set a life long foundation of eating healthy? I see it much better option than letting them control the matter and eat their way into illness or worse.

[daycare]

So I quoted the wrong person.

[auntkk]

I know you will all flip out on me, but here it goes!
I know a bit about nutrition and what is best but as a parent I would much rather my child eat something they enjoy even if its considered junk food than barely eat something or not at all of a healthy item. While I understand you want the children to eat healthy as a mom I would rather know my child is eating something even if its day 65 of the same pb&J lunch sandwich. I am all for providers wanting to offer healthy alternatives but I find there is alot of parent bashing regarding parental choices. Not everyone eats healthy foods, some by choice some by need.

When I was a babysitter this is what I did. The kid went straight from baby food to bagel bites and pizza rolls. I hated it but there weren't nutritious alternatives in the house and I was a babysitter. Now with my daycare, I don't allow outside food and would never consider it except for legitimate reasons other than just being picky. Being at someone else's home with just their kid and their food is one thing, but I could never allow junk food when it's my program and I'm feeding multiple kids at once due to all the reasons already stated.

[TwinMama]

I know you will all flip out on me, but here it goes!
I know a bit about nutrition and what is best but as a parent I would much rather my child eat something they enjoy even if its considered junk food than barely eat something or not at all of a healthy item. While I understand you want the children to eat healthy as a mom I would rather know my child is eating something even if its day 65 of the same pb&J lunch sandwich. I am all for providers wanting to offer healthy alternatives but I find there is alot of parent bashing regarding parental choices. Not everyone eats healthy foods, some by choice some by need.

If a child has the choice they'll eat garbage, because that's what kids do. It's our job to teach them the difference between good and bad choices. My husband as an adult had struggled with his weight in the past. He blames his mother for not teaching him about eating and what was good and bad for him. She allowed him to eat whatever he wanted and he's paying the price now. In fact, all of his siblings and his Mother pay the price for it. They now have health issues.

I actually worked in Case Management before I chose to stay home, and I find that people who make comments like you have are the ones that choose to not eat healthy themselves. If you eat healthy....you have healthy foods in your home and don't have a need to buy junk food except for on occassion. Therefore you're setting an example for your children and how they should treat their bodies.

So what are you teaching them then? If you don't ask that they eat healthy what are you teaching them about nutrition and what good and bad food does to their bodies?

[Crazy8]

total opposite of most here - I am not on the food program and do not provide meals, the parents do. Its rare for a daycare in my area to provide meals. I state in my contract that they should provide a healthy meal but rarely do any of them do so (they usually follow the no chips/candy rule). I have had everything from the crunchy organic everything families to the chef boyardee all the time families. I just don't fight it much anymore.

If I felt what they ate was going to negatively impact their day I would send it back home, but we've had the occasional cupcakes after lunch celebration and never have an issue with kids not napping or "bouncing off the walls" because of it. If they aren't bringing enough food I address it with parents as well but aside from that these kids leave my daycare by age 4, then parents send them to school where they are going to send whatever they want so I don't see myself being to blame for the kids not learning about nutrition.

[KidGrind]

I am a licensed Family Child Care Provider. When I make lunches I have to follow a strict guideline for nutrition. I have a very stubborn and picky 4 year old eater here who refused to try anything. Basically lives off of toast, juice, cracker, pretzels, etc. The mother has chosen to start sending this childs lunch with him so "he can get used to taking his own lunch to school". Todays packed lunch consisted of Applesauce, apple juice, pretzels and popcorn. other days there may be a nutella and pretzel snack pack in there. And this is coming from a very well educated woman who actually works in social services and knows the rules in the child care field. Do you feel the kid this type of meal?

It wouldn’t happen in my business as I do not allow outside food. However, other than that parents can feed their children how they see fit, outside of abuse of course.