HF Food on Minute Menu

[Mom2Two]

I see the letters HF next to some foods on Minute Menu, and I'm guessing it stands for High Fat content. Sometimes, when we go out on a field trip, I drive through Wendy's and give the children chicken nuggets and french fries to eat in the car. (I bring other foods with me, such as raisins, a grain food and other finger foods) and I give milk at home.

But my question is: does HF mean I can't count french fries as a part of the meal? I feel a little bit guilty that I even want to count french fries, but on those days when you've just packed five children to the corn maze, letting them munch in the car feels pretty good.

[jenboo]

I've never been told anything about the hf foods. But i think you can only claim foods you serve in the house

[daycare]

not sure that FP is across the board, but my food program would not let me count fast food for a claim.

None of that food meets the daily food requirements, too high in fat and not high enough in protein.

we are not supposed to serve any fried foods....

[Mom2Two]

Okay, thank you. I've probably been told that before, but sometimes those rules slip my mind.

[sharlan]

I've never been told anything about the hf foods. But i think you can only claim foods you serve in the house

If that were true, I wouldn't be able to claim all summer. Food does have to be prepared at home and taken with you.

[sharlan]

To answer your question.....HF foods are supposed to be served occasionally.

[daycare]

If that were true, I wouldn't be able to claim all summer. Food does have to be prepared at home and taken with you.

yes that too. all meals claimed have to be cooked and served at the daycare sight.......

[Leigh]

yes that too. all meals claimed have to be cooked and served at the daycare sight.......

I am allowed to claim certain pizzas from Pizza Hut! I was told about restaurant meals (when I had a 6 child license, I would sometimes take the kids to the zoo and then to the homestyle restaurant nearby) that we COULD claim a restaurant meal IF we could account for every component (enriched bread, etc.). The sponsor basically told me "not worth it!".

[MyAngels]

You might want to check with your sponsor for clarification. I think they all interpret the regs in their own way. I was told (quite awhile ago, so it may have changed) that fast food can be claimed as long as you serve other components with it to meet FP requirements. This was told to me in the context that if you were out at the park, and served McD's at the park, so apparently my FP doesn't require food to be prepared or served at the daycare site.

[Blackcat31]

To answer your question.....HF foods are supposed to be served occasionally.

HF means high fat

We are limited to how many times per week we can serve HF foods. I don't have access to the regulations at the moment but I want to say it says no more than 3x's a week.

Less than that and it's credible.

[Mom2Two]

Yes, I promise that I am not in the habit of serving HF foods. I just thought that since I saw french fries in the vegie list I could give myself a break once a week if took the kids out somewhere. But it's not really a problem to change it--Dehydrated vegies and fruits are so handy for on the go, so I might switch to packing some of those. I quit serving fresh fruit in the car after I had a couple who would toss their bananas over the back seat when they were done, and I'd find them later...much, much later. Ew!

[daycare]

Yes, I promise that I am not in the habit of serving HF foods. I just thought that since I saw french fries in the vegie list I could give myself a break once a week if took the kids out somewhere. But it's not really a problem to change it--Dehydrated vegies and fruits are so handy for on the go, so I might switch to packing some of those. I quit serving fresh fruit in the car after I had a couple who would toss their bananas over the back seat when they were done, and I'd find them later...much, much later. Ew!

Everyone deserves a break or an easy day. Wish the food program understood that. I would love to order subway for the kids and not cook lunch one day.

[Leigh]

Everyone deserves a break or an easy day. Wish the food program understood that. I would love to order subway for the kids and not cook lunch one day.

I DO sometimes serve fast food for a birthday lunch-we probably have McDonald's 3 times a year at daycare. I just don't claim anything on those days...just put in the notes that the lunch I served wasn't creditable, and don't get paid for just that one meal. Since it only happens a few times a year, it really isn't a big deal.

[Blackcat31]

I DO sometimes serve fast food for a birthday lunch-we probably have McDonald's 3 times a year at daycare. I just don't claim anything on those days...just put in the notes that the lunch I served wasn't creditable, and don't get paid for just that one meal. Since it only happens a few times a year, it really isn't a big deal.

This is how I've always handled it too. Any time I want to serve something I know isn't credible I just don't claim it on my food program menus.

In the grand scheme of things, I'd rather the kids enjoyed a "treat" once in a while than to worry about the reimbursement for the day.

[Alwaysgreener]

I was told eating out counted as long as you filled in the missing items. Nuggets and fries then add a fruit or veggies and grain, with the proper milk.

It sounds like either our program hosts are defining the rules to suit the program host or our advisers are not trained properly and we get different rules for the same program.