If you operate a child care center, it is important to understand the government guidelines regarding appropriate meals for the children in your care. If you serve meals, most commonly breakfast and lunch, at your child care center, you must serve certain amounts of specific foods to be in compliance with these rules and requirements. Understanding more about each food group and how much of each type of food you need to serve at each meal will help you prepare healthy meals that nutritionally benefit the children you care for each day.
Importance of Healthy Meals
Children that attend child care centers likely eat at least one meal and one or two snacks there each day, which makes the nutritional value of these foods important. If you operate a child care center, you are responsible for providing healthy foods that help the children in your care get the nutrients they need for good health and proper growth. Offering the children nutrient-dense foods will help promote health, prevent illness and disease and provide the energy they need to play and learn. MayoClinic.com notes that well-nourished children are also more likely to be healthy and happy.
Breakfast Suggestions
If your child care center opens early in the morning, you likely provide breakfast to children who arrive at this time. According to the USDA, you must serve each child one serving of milk, one serving of fruit or vegetables and one serving from the grains group. A bowl of cereal with a sliced banana and milk meets this requirement. A bowl of oatmeal with fruit and milk is also a nutritious suggestion. Toast with scrambled eggs, fruit and milk is another healthy breakfast. Pancakes, waffles and French toast each fulfill the grain requirement as well.
Lunch Suggestions
A nutritious lunch will give the children a good start for an afternoon of learning and playing. According to the USDA, you are required to provide one serving of milk, two servings of fruits and vegetables, one serving of grains and one serving of meat or a meat alternative, such as peanut butter, beans, cheese or nuts. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with an apple, some carrots and a glass of milk fulfills these requirements. Turkey, ham, tuna or grilled cheese sandwiches each fulfill both the grain and meat or meat alternative requirement. Vegetable or tomato soup count as a serving of vegetables as well.
Snack Suggestions
A mid morning and mid afternoon snack are also served at most child care centers, and must also meet certain rules and regulations. Each snack you serve the children in your care must contain two of several options: one serving of milk, one fruit or vegetable serving, one grain serving or one serving of meat or meat alternative. Sliced apples with peanut butter or crackers and cheese each meet these guidelines. Fresh vegetables with a glass of milk, a carton of yogurt with fresh fruit or a bagel with melted cheese are additional choices.
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