Do You Accommodate

[MissAnn]

Picky eaters?

So far.....I usually don't although I'd like to hear what you do.

I serve very healthy meals. I've had picky eaters and most of the time they start eating healthier. Well, at least here they do. Some will still not eat healthy foods at home.....but I can't help that.

Currently I have 6 who eat my healthy foods with gusto. 1 who only eats bread and cheese mom wants me to serve more of those foods, but I feel she will not even try new foods as long as her cheese is on the plate.

[childcaremom]

I don't. At all.

When I have one like yours, I serve all other components first. Then offer the cheese (or whatever). For her, it works. She has expanded what she will try/eat and still gets to have what is familiar for her. That is as accomodating as I get.

I don't have battles over food and don't cater to picky eaters but my dcps all know this.

[MissAnn]

I don't. At all.

When I have one like yours, I serve all other components first. Then offer the cheese (or whatever). For her, it works. She has expanded what she will try/eat and still gets to have what is familiar for her. That is as accomodating as I get.

I don't have battles over food and don't cater to picky eaters but my dcps all know this.

This is exactly how I feel. My healthy meals are part of this program. If you can't deal with that...don't enroll your child.

This mom came in the other day and chewed off all the brownish parts of her daughters Apple. She had come in during breakfast so her Apple was already starting to brown. I told her to never do that again. It was disgusting. How is this girl going to learn to try new things if her mom wants to fix everything for her?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I serve all food components required and no, I do not accommodate poor eating habits.

I had a Mom that wanted to bring in her own food (the same type of kid food each day, actually) and a dye and sugar filled drink because that's all her child would eat. I said no, and assured her that I would feed appropriate, healthy food here. The child eats better than when they began attending a year ago but it certainly isn't as well as all of my other kids. My kids love to finish lunch before lunch time is over (11:00-11:30) so that they can go play with the Magnatiles and dollhouse dolls. Come 30 minutes after lunch begins, the tables are cleared and it is book reading time on their cots while potty breaks occur.

[Second Home]

The only way I am willing to adjust my menu is if the picky child is part time and will not be here for lunch on a certain day . Then I just serve the picky food items when they are not here . But this is not something I would be able to do for a full time child if they would never eat what I serve.

[MissAnn]

I serve all food components required and no, I do not accommodate poor eating habits.

I had a Mom that wanted to bring in her own food (the same type of kid food each day, actually) and a dye and sugar filled drink because that's all her child would eat. I said no, and assured her that I would feed appropriate, healthy food here. The child eats better than when they began attending a year ago but it certainly isn't as well as all of my other kids. My kids love to finish lunch before lunch time is over (11:00-11:30) so that they can go play with the Magnatiles and dollhouse dolls. Come 30 minutes after lunch begins, the tables are cleared and it is book reading time on their cots while potty breaks occur.

Yes...the kids who make the best change in eating habits are those with parents who change what they buy/serve their kids at home. If you continue to serve junk at home.....your child will remain a junk food junkie. Also.....will most likely go home hungry every day because they will hold out all day in order to get what they want at home.

[Thriftylady]

I don't cater to it at all. And I have started serving the veggies first. Then the other stuff after it is eaten. I am not on food program, so I can do this. Otherwise, the real food wasn't getting eaten. I think some of them, this is the only place they ever see a veggie.

[Leigh]

I don't cater to them. I try to include things in my menus that they DO eat, but I don't plan around them.

[midaycare]

I serve healthy too, and I also don't accomodate. With that said, I make kid friendly healthy things.

I might make spaghetti, but it is veggie spaghetti. I make pizza, but it is with a cauliflower crust. Etc, etc.

[MissAnn]

I serve healthy too, and I also don't accomodate. With that said, I make kid friendly healthy things.

I might make spaghetti, but it is veggie spaghetti. I make pizza, but it is with a cauliflower crust. Etc, etc.

You serve healthier than I do. We are having spaghetti tomorrow but with gluten free noodles. We are having zoodles on the side and honeydew melon. I guess by healthy I mean not chicken nuggets, pop tarts and hot dogs! LOL.

Do you have any good dried bean recipes? I have the best luck with black beans with either taco seasoning or BBQ sauce and refried beans from pintos. I'd like to try the cauliflower crust. I'm gluten intolerant.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

You are on the right track. Over the years if the child was a picky eater, after awhile here they got over it and ate the healthy food served at my child care. I attribute this to "good" peer pressure. If the other kids are eating, most likely they will at least try it. Also, unlike at home (I am assuming here) this is what's being served or you don't eat.

If a parent insists on another meal being served to their child, I present it as a welcome option that the PARENT can supply. Usually, they will act like they have no problem with that and then soon realize that its a pain to tote a meal just because "Johnny" doesn't want to eat the healthy food. Same thing for "gluten free" needs. The parents need to supply.

If they ask why, well most providers are enrolled in a food program which requires that meals are composed of balanced healthy options. So if they want their child to eat something else, they will need to absorb the cost and supply it as well.

Hope that helps.

[midaycare]

You serve healthier than I do. We are having spaghetti tomorrow but with gluten free noodles. We are having zoodles on the side and honeydew melon. I guess by healthy I mean not chicken nuggets, pop tarts and hot dogs! LOL.

Do you have any good dried bean recipes? I have the best luck with black beans with either taco seasoning or BBQ sauce and refried beans from pintos. I'd like to try the cauliflower crust. I'm gluten intolerant.

I'm allergic to gluten, too. And many other foods. Sigh...

The cauliflower crust is amazing. Google or Pinterest the recipe, most are the same. All are delicious.

The only time I serve beans is with white chicken chili or regular chili. I've just never been a big bean eater, unless it's hummus - yum!

Also try muffin tin meals for a Google search. Talk about 100's of recipes!

I do eggplant parm here a lot - the kids love it. I never tell them what they are eating though, because then they won't They think they have chicken every day::

Also cucumber sandwiches with guacamole for a condiment.

Almond butter is waaaay too expensive for me to give it to the kiddos, but my favorite treat is celery and almond butter.

[midaycare]

You serve healthier than I do. We are having spaghetti tomorrow but with gluten free noodles. We are having zoodles on the side and honeydew melon. I guess by healthy I mean not chicken nuggets, pop tarts and hot dogs! LOL.

Do you have any good dried bean recipes? I have the best luck with black beans with either taco seasoning or BBQ sauce and refried beans from pintos. I'd like to try the cauliflower crust. I'm gluten intolerant.

I also wanted to add I have had bad luck giving gluten free noodles to the kids - and even I won't eat them! They are pasty. Maybe try to make veggie ones, or feed them regular pasta and you eat during nap. I eat during nap so it here is no chance I cross contaminate any of the foods I'm allergic to.

[Sunshine74]

I also wanted to add I have had bad luck giving gluten free noodles to the kids - and even I won't eat them! They are pasty. Maybe try to make veggie ones, or feed them regular pasta and you eat during nap. I eat during nap so it here is no chance I cross contaminate any of the foods I'm allergic to.

Do you have Trader Joe's by you? They have the best gluten free pasta, even my husband likes it, and he is really picky.

[midaycare]

Do you have Trader Joe's by you? They have the best gluten free pasta, even my husband likes it, and he is really picky.

About an hour away. Not worth the gas, but when I'm in the area, I may have to check it out. Thanks happyface