Snacks

[TwinMama]

I got so sick of throwing food away/money that I gave in. I'm realizing that was a huge mistake but I've noticed the same trend with families serving junk and me serving the good stuff. My dcg will say she's hungry but if I serve her something she doesn't like she's not. My son is pretty good and I hate to say she's an influence but I've noticed he has stopped eating veggies he used to love and will usually only eat them for dinner when no one is around.

This is another issue I have. I have 2 dcg that come after school. All they want is garbage. They'd literally sit and eat crackers the whole time. They refuse fruit and vegetables.

[Blackcat31]

I got so sick of throwing food away/money .

In the garbage or in their tummy. Either way its gone

Once you adopt that mantra/attitude its easy....

You serve - they eat (or dont)

But thats it.

In the tummy or in the trash. Either way its gone.

My kiddos ate a cucumber, 3 bell peppers (1 each red, yellow and orange) and carrot sticks today. Then they ate lunch... cooked mixed veggies, pasta and grilled chicken.

For snack they'll eat another array of fresh veggies with hummus.

NONE of my kiddos started with me eating that way right off but within a week or two of regular attendance, a little positive "peer pressure" (see/watch what friends are doing) and never being offered an alternative and they are ALL awesome eaters.

At least once a week I get a parent that will tell me Jr won't or doesn't eat that at home.
I just smile because they eat it here.

[CityGarden]

When my program launches this summer snack making will be a planned part of the curriculum that the children will help prepare/ make so there will be a weekly rhythm to it. I am not sure I am sticking to this order but here is a general idea:

Monday - Soup with chips or homemade croutons
Tuesday - Oatmeal with milk and pear
Wednesday - Fresh baked bread with fruit and butter
Thursday - Hummus, whole wheat pita and carrot sticks
Friday - Rotation of fruit salad, fresh made apple sauce or popcorn

[CityGarden]

My daughter's old preschool has a stellar cook and this is their PM Snack List this month:

Afternoon Snack
Fresh Fruit
Rice with Beans
Peaches & Cottage Cheese
Pizza
Banana Bread
Mixed Veggies
Lentils
Yogurt with Fruit
Fruit Salad
Apple Muffins
Soft Pretzel
Pineapple & Cottage Cheese
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Pasta with cheese
Quesadillas
Zucchini Bread
Cheese and crackers


I love this but since I plan to have the kids helping cook and want to min cost and potential waste it won't work for my program. Still great ideas

[Thriftylady]

This is another issue I have. I have 2 dcg that come after school. All they want is garbage. They'd literally sit and eat crackers the whole time. They refuse fruit and vegetables.

Crackers would come off the menu!

[TwinMama]

My daughter's old preschool has a stellar cook and this is their PM Snack List this month:

Afternoon Snack
Fresh Fruit
Rice with Beans
Peaches & Cottage Cheese
Pizza
Banana Bread
Mixed Veggies
Lentils
Yogurt with Fruit
Fruit Salad
Apple Muffins
Soft Pretzel
Pineapple & Cottage Cheese
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Pasta with cheese
Quesadillas
Zucchini Bread
Cheese and crackers


I love this but since I plan to have the kids helping cook and want to min cost and potential waste it won't work for my program. Still great ideas

Those are awesome ideas! I think I'll try it!!!

[TwinMama]

I served sugar snap peas and yellow pepper slices with hummus and ranch.The kids looked at me like I was serving dog turds because I didn't give them crackers. One of the 2 year olds asked for more and the 4 year old did too since he realized that was all he was getting. We'll see how bad the school aged kids complain when they get here

[Thriftylady]

I served sugar snap peas and yellow pepper slices with hummus and ranch.The kids looked at me like I was serving dog turds because I didn't give them crackers. One of the 2 year olds asked for more and the 4 year old did too since he realized that was all he was getting. We'll see how bad the school aged kids complain when they get here

Well if they complain to loud just tell them what I tell my kids. "This is the take it or leave it cafe, so take it or leave it but this is all you are getting since I am not a short order cook".

[TwinMama]

It was a hit!!!! When they realized that they weren't getting graham crackers or anything they ate it and asked for seconds. Then when we went outside to play they asked if I could bring more snap peas and peppers out for them to eat. They even bragged to their parents what they ate for snack!

[Thriftylady]

It was a hit!!!! When they realized that they weren't getting graham crackers or anything they ate it and asked for seconds. Then when we went outside to play they asked if I could bring more snap peas and peppers out for them to eat. They even bragged to their parents what they ate for snack!

Congrats!!! Sometimes I swear they just don't get veggies at home so they seem so foreign they fear them. I know that is the case with some of mine.

[MunchkinWrangler]

In the garbage or in their tummy. Either way its gone

Once you adopt that mantra/attitude its easy....

You serve - they eat (or dont)

But thats it.

In the tummy or in the trash. Either way its gone.

My kiddos ate a cucumber, 3 bell peppers (1 each red, yellow and orange) and carrot sticks today. Then they ate lunch... cooked mixed veggies, pasta and grilled chicken.

For snack they'll eat another array of fresh veggies with hummus.

NONE of my kiddos started with me eating that way right off but within a week or two of regular attendance, a little positive "peer pressure" (see/watch what friends are doing) and never being offered an alternative and they are ALL awesome eaters.

At least once a week I get a parent that will tell me Jr won't or doesn't eat that at home.
I just smile because they eat it here.

I got the state today with watermelon!!?! I understand what you are saying. I truly do but I would much rather have money in the belly not the garbage. I'm changing it up though. I don't want to be the type of provider that hands over junk on a daily basis so I'm going to take some good snack ideas from this thread and forge ahead.

At least the babies I have love pretty much everything I serve so I'm happy that I'm setting them up for good eating habits and their parents appreciate it also!