How Do You Feel About The Quality Of Breakfast, Lunch And Snacks At School?

[Anabelle]

This is all very interesting.
i too like to make full meals out of one dish - pot roast with vegetables, meat and vegetables lasagna, meat and vegetable chili, etc; and my kids really like it. But I have also met some kids who cannot bear to eat ingredients that have been mixed. They like the meat on one side, the vegetables on another and the grains somewhere else. Is that an oddity or is that something you commonly see in your daycares and with your own kids?

[nannyde]

This is all very interesting.
i too like to make full meals out of one dish - pot roast with vegetables, meat and vegetables lasagna, meat and vegetable chili, etc; and my kids really like it. But I have also met some kids who cannot bear to eat ingredients that have been mixed. They like the meat on one side, the vegetables on another and the grains somewhere else. Is that an oddity or is that something you commonly see in your daycares and with your own kids?

I have seen that before but I don't have any kids in my group like that. I have them from newborn on so they are used to it.

[SunflowerMama]

We do the same. Mostly organic meals and I buy all my meat and dairy products from a local farm. All grass-fed cattle and range free chicken and eggs.

My kids have tried veggies they have never eaten at home and I'm just starting to hear from a few of my parents that they are experimenting with more veggies at home and when they are eating out. That makes me so happy.

I also told the parents about this great farmers market-like storefront that only carries meat, dairy and produce from farms within 80 miles and 2 of them have visited and are now hooked on the dairy products. Makes me smile!!

[nannyde]

We do the same. Mostly organic meals and I buy all my meat and dairy products from a local farm. All grass-fed cattle and range free chicken and eggs.

My kids have tried veggies they have never eaten at home and I'm just starting to hear from a few of my parents that they are experimenting with more veggies at home and when they are eating out. That makes me so happy.

I also told the parents about this great farmers market-like storefront that only carries meat, dairy and produce from farms within 80 miles and 2 of them have visited and are now hooked on the dairy products. Makes me smile!!

That's SO awesome.

You should check out the CDC's projection for obesity rates for the kids born in 2000. Search their site.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/diab-j19.shtml

Of the two main types of diabetes, type 2, formerly called adult-onset diabetes, affects 90 to 95 percent of diabetics and until recently most often appeared in people over 40 years old. Now being diagnosed among pre-pubescent children and teens, type 2 is linked to obesity and physical inactivity.

[Symphony]

Maybe some of you could help me out. We raise all our own meat, beef, chicken, lambs, and pigs. They eat grass hay and alfalfa that we grow. So I know where my meat comes from and what it eats, I can see it out my windows!

What I have a hard time with is fruit and vegetables. Where we live is very harsh and produce does not grow well here. Most people do raise modest gardens, but it is not much and we are not allowed to feed our dck's home canned goods. When local produce is not an option, what is the best way to get it for my kids? I would love any suggestions!

Food Inc was the most eye opening thing I have ever seen. My husband was cynical about it before we actually watched it because he is very defensive about raising livestock. It was nice to see something that validated letting animals have a natural diet and environment and exposing factory farming. Oh and the corn! Oh my goodness, the corn!

[Jewels]

I completly agree, I provided the best I can, including all fresh organic fruits and veggies, no juice, good snacks, but I charge for it. I hate the regular foods at alot of schools and daycares also, its a lot of crap.

[pinkbunny85]

Maybe some of you could help me out. We raise all our own meat, beef, chicken, lambs, and pigs. They eat grass hay and alfalfa that we grow. So I know where my meat comes from and what it eats, I can see it out my windows!

What I have a hard time with is fruit and vegetables. Where we live is very harsh and produce does not grow well here. Most people do raise modest gardens, but it is not much and we are not allowed to feed our dck's home canned goods. When local produce is not an option, what is the best way to get it for my kids? I would love any suggestions!

Food Inc was the most eye opening thing I have ever seen. My husband was cynical about it before we actually watched it because he is very defensive about raising livestock. It was nice to see something that validated letting animals have a natural diet and environment and exposing factory farming. Oh and the corn! Oh my goodness, the corn!

I know you said you can't serve canned. are you able to serve frozen veggies and fruits?

[Symphony]

I know you said you can't serve canned. are you able to serve frozen veggies and fruits?

Yes, I can serve frozen. I can serve canned if they aren't home canned. I was just wondering which would be best for produce when you can't buy local- canned, frozen, or fresh that has traveled from far?

[nannyde]

Maybe some of you could help me out. We raise all our own meat, beef, chicken, lambs, and pigs. They eat grass hay and alfalfa that we grow. So I know where my meat comes from and what it eats, I can see it out my windows!

What I have a hard time with is fruit and vegetables. Where we live is very harsh and produce does not grow well here. Most people do raise modest gardens, but it is not much and we are not allowed to feed our dck's home canned goods. When local produce is not an option, what is the best way to get it for my kids? I would love any suggestions!

Food Inc was the most eye opening thing I have ever seen. My husband was cynical about it before we actually watched it because he is very defensive about raising livestock. It was nice to see something that validated letting animals have a natural diet and environment and exposing factory farming. Oh and the corn! Oh my goodness, the corn!

If you can't get local and fresh I would do frozen veggies. I've found the best time to buy them is in the late summer when the big food corps are selling out the inventory from the year before to make room for the new harvest. If you have a freezer and get get them for a dollar a pound or under you can put up corn, mixed, green beans, broccoli, peas etc. Organic is best for us but if you don't have access to that then just quick frozen is my next favorite.

If you aren't allowed to use your own "canned" fruits and veg then think about making puree's and freeze your own. I do this with a LOT of fruits and veggies. Buy in bulk, cook, puree, and freeze. It's lovely to get peach sauce in Febuary. I use the veggie puree to add to soups and sauces. My kids LOVE puree.

Food Inc changed my life in many ways. I switched to an organic day care immediately after watching it. I require my incoming clients to watch food inc before enrollment here.