AM Snack vs Breakfast?

[CalCare]

Day care Diva- What edamame beans do you use? My own kids love the pre-shelled, chilled, cooked packs from Trader Joe's, but those are too expensive for multiple childcare kids. When I bought a frozen bag, they were gross (to me and the kids).. What do you use and how do you prepare them? Thanks!

[daycarediva]

I buy them frozen in the pod. I rinse & steam them as is. The kids LOVE squeezing them out! I get them at wegmans local grocery store, or walmart) for about $2/organic lb bag.

[Blackcat31]

Am I missing something? Per this site https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/defau...ealpattern.pdf I do not see protein as a required item at breakfast or snack. For breakfast it says a grain can be substituted a max of three times per week.... For snacks protein is mentioned but you can pick two of five components (milk, grain, fruit, vegetables, meat/meat alternates)

Also I was not asking if my snacks were balanced but how to approach morning snack in general. Should I treat morning snack as a complete breakfast or as a snack? That said your post will certainly make me think of ensuring balanced snacks if I go the snacks route vs the breakfast route.

Proteins are NOT required for breakfast or snack according to the food program but when the new changes take effect in October, you will have the option: "Meat and meat alternates may be served in place of the entire grains component at breakfast a maximum of three times per week"

NO idea why protein (meat/meat alternatives) are being allows as a substitute for grains but I don't necessarily think the food program meals are balanced in any way anyways....

[CalCare]

I buy them frozen in the pod. I rinse & steam them as is. The kids LOVE squeezing them out! I get them at wegmans local grocery store, or walmart) for about $2/organic lb bag.

Thanks! We don't have either of those stores anywhere near here. The frozen bag I got was from Von's (it's the same as Safeway, Kroger and also associated with Albertsons now). So, I will maybe try a couple different organic, frozen bags and see how that goes. Thanks!