New Food Program Regs Cracking Me Up...

[hwichlaz]

I like most of the meal pattern changes and they won't really change how I do things anyway...since I've always done 100% whole grains etc.

I love that we'll be able to sub a protien for the grain for breakfast up to three times a week...and that solids are optional of all infants. I've thrown away a lot of baby food just letting them play in it because they aren't ready to eat it. :P

But the one that's cracking me up...when you make a fruit yogurt smoothie.....the fruit counts as juice. It doesn't matter that it's whole fruit...they are saying that as soon as it hits the blender it's juice.

Sometimes you just HAVE to laugh so your eyes don't roll out of your head and on to the floor.

[AmyKidsCo]

Yes, and you can't count the yogurt because drinkable yogurt isn't reimbursable. Even if it's regular yogurt you blend...

[hwichlaz]

Yes, and you can't count the yogurt because drinkable yogurt isn't reimbursable. Even if it's regular yogurt you blend...

We were told that the yogurt still counts in a smoothie. BUT it has to be under 23g of sugar per 6 ounces. Drinkable yogurts DO count, but only if they have a CN label...which none do. :P

[Mom2Two]

But the one that's cracking me up...when you make a fruit yogurt smoothie.....the fruit counts as juice. It doesn't matter that it's whole fruit...they are saying that as soon as it hits the blender it's juice.

ITA that they're mostly good (I just did my training on the new regs last week), but I have smoothie issues too. In the end our nutritionist agreed that if we had recipes with specific ingredients and quantities that we could demonstrate if needed that we'd be okay. I think I'll have to put it in pitchers though and let them do family style, coz I want to be able to use left overs for my own family.

I didn't hear the one about the fruit counting as juice. That sounds so silly!

I don't like that we can't count graham crackers or animal crackers. They're not THAT sweet.

[hwichlaz]

I don't like that we can't count graham crackers or animal crackers. They're not THAT sweet.

Right? especially if they are regular graham crackers, not the honey added type. We were told if we put peanutbutter on them and give the kids a piece of fruit we're still good...because we still have two snack components that way. But no more just graham crackers and milk.

[sahm1225]

Ours said we have to serve a fruit AND a vegetable. I don't do fruits with lunch, just double vegetables and my rep said I won't be able to do that anymore. Thaf just ****s!!

[hwichlaz]

Ours said we have to serve a fruit AND a vegetable. I don't do fruits with lunch, just double vegetables and my rep said I won't be able to do that anymore. Thaf just ****s!!

She mispoke, and may be missinformed. Ours always shows us the regs as written. It's you may only get credit for one fruit...not that you have to serve one fruit. Our new menu plan says Milk, Meat/Alternate, Fruit/Vegetable, Vegetable, Whole Grain.

You used to be allowed to serve two fruits, which is really common where I live in the summer because we have so many fresh fruits available. But now you have to serve at least one serving of veggie at lunch and dinner. The other CAN be fruit, but doesn't have to be.

[Fiddlesticks]

I like most of the meal pattern changes and they won't really change how I do things anyway...since I've always done 100% whole grains etc.

I love that we'll be able to sub a protien for the grain for breakfast up to three times a week...and that solids are optional of all infants. I've thrown away a lot of baby food just letting them play in it because they aren't ready to eat it. :P

But the one that's cracking me up...when you make a fruit yogurt smoothie.....the fruit counts as juice. It doesn't matter that it's whole fruit...they are saying that as soon as it hits the blender it's juice.

Sometimes you just HAVE to laugh so your eyes don't roll out of your head and on to the floor.

I would just claim the ingredients. If you are blending fresh strawberries and yogurt that is what I would list as being served.

The one I roll my eyes at is that yogurt that has been frozen must be thawed before serving. It is a moot point now, as Gogurts are no longer creditable and those are the only type I would serve frozen, but what is the difference between yogurt that is in a frozen state vs. a thawed state? They know yogurt that is put in the freezer is not the same as 'frozen yogurt' that is really ice cream, right? I serve the children frozen blueberries and peas, also, should I thaw them now because they are somehow different?

[hwichlaz]

I think that might be another missinterpretation by your program.

We went over the yogurt you've placed in the freezer vs frozen yogurt thing too, . I make yogurt pops for the kids in summer.

[hwichlaz]

Oh, and we can use tofu as a meat alternate starting in october....but only if it's recognizable to the children as a meat. No tofu noodles, no pureeing it and mixing it into something etc. It has to stay formed. We can slice it up and stire fry it, bake it etc.....but not disguise it. :confused:

[daycarediva]

I would just claim the ingredients. If you are blending fresh strawberries and yogurt that is what I would list as being served.

The one I roll my eyes at is that yogurt that has been frozen must be thawed before serving. It is a moot point now, as Gogurts are no longer creditable and those are the only type I would serve frozen, but what is the difference between yogurt that is in a frozen state vs. a thawed state? They know yogurt that is put in the freezer is not the same as 'frozen yogurt' that is really ice cream, right? I serve the children frozen blueberries and peas, also, should I thaw them now because they are somehow different?

My rep said the same thing. Count the ingredients, make sure it's a big enough serving size, and you're fine.

The frozen yogurt thing she said they may ask to look in the freezer bc some providers were serving frozen DESSERT yogurt as 'yogurt, frozen' but she said to go ahead and still give them yogurt that has been frozen.

I love the breakfast protein thing! I am all whole wheat anyway, so that didn't affect me.

[Mom2Two]

Ours said we have to serve a fruit AND a vegetable. I don't do fruits with lunch, just double vegetables and my rep said I won't be able to do that anymore. Thaf just ****s!!

Yeah, like hwichlaz said, we were told two vegies is okay. Just not two fruits.

I just made smoothies for PM snack. I'm trying to practice up for Oct 1st :: I did three apples, 6-8 oz plain yogurt, a tray of ice cubes, and some juice for sweetner. So that's two food groups and it was for five kids. I gave the kids the portions I think they'd like in a straw cup (they're watching Airbud after gardening hard all afternoon), then I put about 16 oz into a covered pitcher on the table with little cups so they can help themselves if they want more. But I'll be surprised if they do.

PM snack says 1/2 cup fruit and 1/2 oz meat alternate, so I'm covered, right?

The main difference between today's smoothie and my regular one is that I used plain yogurt + juice as a sweetener instead of using vanilla yogurt.

[lovemykidstoo]

About the fruit that counts as a fruit until you put it in a blender. I as doing Weight Watchers last year and you go by point system. I get 26 points a day. Fruit by itself in it's natural form was 0 points. Put it in a blender and it was like 1 or 2 points. The reason they said that when you puree it, the body digests it more as sugar or something or other. I can't remember exactly, but it was like if they ate it in regular form, it took the body longer to digest the natural sugar portion and in a smoothie it all hit the body at once.

[Blackcat31]

Ours said we have to serve a fruit AND a vegetable. I don't do fruits with lunch, just double vegetables and my rep said I won't be able to do that anymore. Thaf just ****s!!

Yes, I agree with the other ladies... double check because I never serve fruit for lunch either and I had a hissy when I thought I could no longer serve 2 veggies and be credible but you CAN serve 2 veggies and 0 fruit but you can NOT serve 2 fruits and 0 veggies.

*whew*

My kiddos are veggie hounds!!

[Laurie]

Yes, I agree with the other ladies... double check because I never serve fruit for lunch either and I had a hissy when I thought I could no longer serve 2 veggies and be credible but you CAN serve 2 veggies and 0 fruit but you can NOT serve 2 fruits and 0 veggies.

*whew*

My kiddos are veggie hounds!!

That's so good!! I can't get my kids to eat veggies I've seriously tried everything I can think of and they just won't eat them..