Tips for making healthy menus for childcare // food program explained
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- In this video I explain the components that make up a well rounded childcare menu and how to create a 5 week menu rotation. I give tips on how to save time and keep things simple but still maintain a healthy and tasty meal service. I go over the process of label reading, looking for what is considered a whole grain and high sugar. This video is designed for childcare providers but could be useful for a large family, a center or anyone wanting to make a menu rotation.
Menu template
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Menu guide-
•Breakfast-1 grain paired with a fruit or vegetable and milk. Protein is offered as a third component only once per week, like yogurt, cream cheese, meat or eggs.
•Lunch- pick 1 of each component
Grain, fruit, vegetable, meat or meat alternative and milk.
•PM Snack- pick 2
Fruit or vegetable paired with a grain or protein. Or milk paired with a grain or a fruit or vegetable. And milk
•Food components that are in my rotation•
Grains
*breakfast
Pancakes
Waffles
French toast
Buttermilk biscuits
Toast
English muffins
Muffins
Cereal
Oatmeal
Tortillas
*lunch
Bread
Pitas
Brown Rice
Quinoa
Cornbread
Bread sticks
Buns
Rolls
Tortillas
*snacks
Graham crackers
Bread
Animal crackers
Crackers
Pitas
Banana bread or similar
Cinnamon toast
Bread sticks
Muffins
•Fruits for all meals-diced, puréed or canned for small children
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Bananas
Apples or Apple Sauce
Oranges or mandarin oranges
Pears
Pineapple
Peaches
Mixed fruit
Tropical fruit
Mangos
Melons
Grapes
Kiwi
Avocado
Tomato
Apricots
•Vegetables-steamed, diced or canned for small children
Green Beans
Beans
Mixed vegetables
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peas
Squash
Sweet potatoes
Potatoes in any form
Cucumber
Carrots
•Proteins, meats or meat alt
*Slow cook or mince meats for small children
Beans
Tofu
Fish
Beef
Chicken
Turkey
Pork
Ham
Grated cheese
Cottage cheese
Cream cheese
Yogurt
Hummus
Thank you so much for sharing the break down of what is required by the food program.
Thank you TCC! So, I'm not SURE I'll be taking the position, but after 15 years in childcare I am trying to get my Bachelor's in Elm Ed...but no one near me is hiring part-time in the classroom, but I did find one new center needing a cook. I found your FPP video vert insightful and I would LOVE to get ahold of those printable sheets! GREAT idea! If I take the job I feel so much more prepared to take it on now!
Thank you. You have a lot of great tips and info. You've given this ole grandma some new ideas. 😊 I hadn't thought about the prepared stew type meats.
This is genius. Struggling in the food program for 20 years and this is so simple. Definitely going to do this. Thank you for sharing. 🤗💕
Nice! I’m so glad it helps. I swear they make it so much more complicated than it needs to be! But it’s a great program and it really helps with food costs.
@@thecalmingchildcare9550 How do you track inventory? I find myself re-buying stuff I already have because I don't know if I have enough or any left.
@@tiffystyle1322 I think because I usually buy just what I need for that week and it’s really easy to see what I have in my pantry before I go shopping because I keep it all on one shelf and on the rack on the pantry door. The shopping list I made for each week has a little spot to check if I need to purchase that thing that week and I use a dry erase to mark it. So I will do a quick glance in the pantry to see if it should be on the list or checked off. This also helps to insure that nothing gets expired because when you have inspections they will check all of your expiration dates. I hope this answers your question, I should have gone into a little more detail about the weekly shopping list on the video. But I have a pantry tour that takes a closer look at how I store the food items in there so make sure to check that one out. Let me know if you have anymore questions 👍
This is amazing! I have been struggling with meal. So I’m excited to try this out. Could you share your 5 rotation menus and shopping list? Thank you so much for sharing😊
This video is a God send!! I have been struggling with a lunch menu and trying to make sure that I am giving the appropriate amounts/components, this video helped a great deal. Your menu is so simple and covers every component without over doing it. Heading straight over to TPT to get the menus and using your menu as a guide. Thanks so very much!!
That’s great! I’m so glad it helped ❤️❤️❤️
I love your calm approach!
That was SUPER helpful! You read my mind 🙂. My next question was: "Could you provide a tangible list of food combinations or a list?" Simplicity is my motto. You make it look so easy. This is always the hardest part for me. Could you provide an actual meal prep vid of the amounts given (ex: 1 cup of milk, 2oz of meat, 1/4c fruit, ect.)
and the food combinations that you use? Basicly, a Sample of your menus. And what if you have a child that can't drink cow's milk or eat meat? And how do you deal with picky eaters? It would really help!
Thanks again ❤️!
For sure! And the bonus to doing family style dining where the kids serve themselves is there is no need for measuring because they choose how much they get. Send me your email and I will send you my exact menu!
You can email me at missshannonsfcc@gmail.com
thank you for putting this list together. this helps a lot.
I’m so glad it helps!
Great video 👍
Thanks so much for this it helps me a lot.
This is amazing. I just opened my home daycare this year and I have not joined the food program because I am still learning how to meal plan. Would you be willing to share your menus?? I would love to join the food program in January and start getting into the habit with the meal plan now :D This is so awesome!!
I still use the menu that is provided from the nutritionist at the food program. I recommend it all the way, it’s so smart and has so much variety. I do make a few changes on the snack but other than that it’s great. Reach out to your food program representative and see about getting a menu from them. I plan on making one to share here but I haven’t gotten to it yet. Life keeps getting in the way of my CZcams videos. But hopefully soon!
Can we use any type of cheese for example can i do nacho cheese?
thank you, do you prepare the food all by yourself? if so, who checks on the kids while you're busy?
I do prepare it myself and I’m lucky to have a kitchen where I can mostly see all of the children while I prepare it. 😊❤️
How do you reheat pancakes?
I do almost everything in the microwave, the pancakes included. I just put them in a microwave safe bowl for one minute, flip them over and microwave for another minute just until they are heated through.
@@thecalmingchildcare9550 do they have to be 100% whole grain ?