Children in care daily receive up to 2 meals (breakfast and lunch) and 2 snacks (morning and afternoon), all served in accordance to the Canada Food Guide for portions/servings/amounts.
Every snack will include two different food groups, while breakfast will include foods from at least three different groups, and lunch will include four food groups.
Food will be wholesome and nutritious while still appetizing for the children. I do not follow a specific menu rotation when planning meals. Instead, a plan on a weekly basis and take such factors into consideration as fruits & vegetables in season, activities/outings/schedule for the week, availability of products at the grocery store, and encouraging exploration of new foods and celebrating the enjoyment of favorites.This means that I serve a menu with wide variety and type of foods, from the classic *peanut butter and jam sandwich to exotic cuisine from around the world. I keep food sensitivities in mind when planning such menus, though I cannot at this time cater to severe food allergies (such as egg/gluten/or nut allergies). I am always looking for and trying out new recipes with the children, so my menu varies greatly from week to week. I also frequently invite them to prepare food for me.
The following is a list of foods that have been prepared for children in care in the past, to give you an idea of this variety. Any breads/store bough bread products listed below are 100% whole wheat and multigrain where possible. However, pastas and home-cooked bread products are not whole wheat at this time.
A glass of milk is served for both breakfast and lunch, and water is offered for snacks. Juice is rarely served, and the children are never offered carbonated beverages.
Examples of Breakfast foods served:
- Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
- Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, peaches, pears, kiwi, mango, banana, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, melon, grapes)
- Raisins
- Cereal (such as cheerios, corn bran squares, rice krispies)
- Pancakes or Waffles
- French Toast or regular toast
- Pop-up pancakes (a baked egg & milk dish)
- Muffins (blueberry, banana, bran)
- Banana bread or Nectarine Scones
- Scrambled Eggs
- Sausage or Bacon
- Watermelon biscuits
- Sandwiches (tuna salad, egg salad, PB&J, BLT, Turkey clubhouse, Roast beef, grilled cheese)
- Raw veggies (carrots, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet snap peas, cherry tomatoes)
- Cooked veggies (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, asparagus, potatoes, corn, beets, beans, spaghetti squash, yam)
- Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, peaches, pears, kiwi, mango, banana, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, melon, pineapple, grapes)
- Rice, Coconut rice, sushi with avocado & tuna
- Sloppy joes (lean ground beef in tomato based sauce on bread)
- Lasagna
- Soup (beef & barely, chicken, tomato) and homemade biscuits
- Turkey dumpling stew or beef and veggie stew
- Fish (fish sticks, lemon dill baked fish, almond halibut) and french fries
- Chicken (wings, breast, drumsticks - a variety of recipes including baked, grilled, in salad, in wraps or as an entree)
- Pork (curried pork, cinnamon and peach pork, apple pork, teriyaki pork, sweet & sour)
- Beef (BBQ beef, roast, ribs-bone removed
- Turkey
- Hot dogs or hamburgers
- Pasta (including with bolognese sauce, alfredo sauce, spaghetti, mac'n'cheese)
- Ham (as entree or in casseroles)
- Tacos with fresh toppings - tomato, cheese, lettuce, salsa, olives, etc.
- Shepherd's Pie
- Deviled eggs or quiche
- Perogies
- Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes
Examples of snacks served:
- Celery with *peanut butter
- Dried fruit (raisins, bananas, mangoes, craisins, dried apple)
- Sliced cheese
- Crackers (many varieties), pretzels, corn chips, rice cakes, dry cereal
- Sliced meat and pickles
- Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, peaches, pears, kiwi, mango, banana, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate, melon, grapes)
- Raw veggies (carrots, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet snap peas, cherry tomatoes)
- Canned fruit (peaches, pears, mandarin oranges, applesauce)
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Granola bar (dried fruit & nut kind; soft fruit filled kind)
- Melted cheese tortilla
- Cottage cheese
* Please note - peanut butter and other nut products will never be served to a child under the age of 24 months, due to the risk of possible allergy development, and the potential choking hazard.
