menu at daycare

mrsW706

wow, i love this daycare, but the menu includes chicken nuggets, fish sticks, waffles, pancackes and french toast, REGULARLY!

is this normal?

dpdw

I would look for another daycare if my kids were being given chicken nuggets & fish sticks regularly. 

mattsgal06

DD's daycare doesn't provide lunch so I send whatever I want her to eat, which does sometimes include chicken nuggets, etc. I will often ask that they try to serve her whatever fruits or veggies I have provided before they offer her the nuggets, because otherwise she will only eat the chicken nuggets and nothing else.  Can you ask your daycare to do something similar for your DC?

jlw2505

French toast and pancakes yes but not the chicken nuggets and fish sticks.  My kids get a pretty good variety with the menu at daycare and they always have fresh fruits and veggies with all the meals.  My daycare is part of the state program with the food they serve and they hve to meet certain guidelines.  We have an awesome cook who tries to make as much fresh food as possible.  They almost always have fresh fruit on hand and my older DD often asks for an apple or banana as we are leaving instead of the snacks that are left out for the kids to take home (typically crakers of some sort).  I love that!!!

ElopeToHawaii

Chicken nuggets and fish sticks are not unhealthy.  They are unhealthy at fast food places because they are deep fried, but I'll bet they bake them at day care just like you would at home.  Ideally, kids would be eating whole pieces of chicken and fish and not processed, but the protein is still there and they aren't terribly fatty.  I don't think DD ever gets chicken nuggets but I think she has fish sticks once a week at day care.

mauceddie

At dd;s daycare here is the menu:

breakfast - always either cereal or toast

snack- some carb and fruit

Lunch- Monday: soup ; Tuesday - pasta & veg; wednesday (I don't remember); Thursday beef, rice & veg; Friday: weiners/fish sticks and french fries. 

snack- some carb and fruit or veg

Maybride2

I'm sorry, but what do you expect them to feed the kids?

I'm assuming that you're in a center.  The center has a lot of kids to feed, so they probably use what they can buy and prepare in bulk. 

And they've got a lot of picky eaters to cater to, so I can see why asparagus rissoto isn't on the menu.  Imagine how much food would be wasted, and how many kids would go hungry.

Like another pp said - chicken nuggets and fish sticks may not be the most healthiest of choices, but I can guarantee you that they're baking them and not frying them.  Really, it's not that bad.

Your menu sounds a lot like my son's menu, and I'm plenty happy enough with it. 

14years

We have nuggets on our menu.  They're baked, so I am not worried about it.  Some of the other stuff in our meny isn't exactly what I would call "health food."  Like lunch yeterday was cheese pizza.  But you can opt out of the foods you don't want, and, honestly, I don't get too worked up about it when there's something on the menu I wouldn't necessarily feed DS at home.  We eat pretty healthy at home, and pizza once a week (and other "unhealthy" foods) isn't that big a deal to me.

kgb1411

that's on the menu at our daycare too.  I am just really happy that we have found people who we trust caring for our son all day.  I hear so many stories on here, and IRL, of children being neglected, DCP not communicating with parents about what is going on during the day, and inappropriate discipline.  As long as he is healthy and happy, and I don't feel any anxiety about the people I am leaving him with, they can feed him whatever they want for lunch.

I know that some of the women on here bring in healthy snacks for their child's classroom sometimes if they don't like what is on the menu.  If you are really unhappy, maybe you could do that.

beenbizzy

Ours is regulated by state regulations (same as school lunch program).

luvmagoldn

One of the reasons I chose the in-home my boys used to go to was because of the menu.  They would have bagels, cereal, pancakes, yogurt, etc for breakfast.  Fresh fruit was always on the menu and lunches were baked chicken, pasta, etc with items like rice, veggies and salad on the side.  Chicken nuggets were served every couple of weeks and pizza was saved for special ocassions (someone's birthday for example). 

I visited one large day care center that had chicken nuggets, franks in a blanket and breaded chicken on the menu regularly.  I think those things are fine in moderation but I didn't want my kids eating them every day.   I do think it is to be expected at a large center though.  They just don't have the time or resources to whip up fresh meals.

auburnbride2be

Ours does chicken nuggets like every other week and they are baked. Not ideal, but not the end of the world for me. Our center is really good. The teacher actually pulls off the breading for DD b/c she knows I am not in love with the idea. I haven't noticed any fish sticks.

Anyway, I don't think pancakes, waffles and french toast sticks are bad for breakfast either. Our center always has fruit with it. Also, for lunch they always have a veggie with the meal too. The menu seems very balanced to me. I came to the realization that even if she gets a few things now and then that aren't what she'll get at home it isn't the end of the world. At my daycare, we aren't allowed to bring in food unless there are allergies after the infant room, so 12 months. Overall, I've been happy with the menu and DD has a good variety. I joke that she eats better there than when she is at home because I am certainly not making home cooked meals for lunch on the weekend like they do.

I guess you have to choose your battles and if this is one, then maybe the daycare will work around it. Maybe you can see the menu each week and circle the things you don't want your child to have and bring stuff in those days. I still bring extra veggies/fresh fruit in for DD. They tend to use canned fruit at times and that isn't ideal either.

Mrs.McLovin

DS' daycare gives poptarts for breakfast. DS eats what I send.

momofolivia

that is what is on our menu.  We go to Tutor Time.  I love everything about the center except for that.  But it seems to be the norm.