Frustrated with snacks at otherwise wonderful arlington preschool

[Anonymous]

I also hate the cheap, processed junk served to children.

It isn’t real food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, why don't you send in a few bags of apples, oranges, peaches and some containers of strawberries for all the kids. Same with some cheese. Problem solved.

She needs to send everything washed, cut up and ready to serve fresh each morning. For the whole school.

Licensing won’t allow fruit washed and handled by an untrained person.

[Anonymous]

In general you have two options if you want fresh foods:

1. Go with a center big enough to have a licensed, trained kitchen person full time.

2. Go with a reputable in-home daycare with a provider that makes an effort to feed fresh fruit and vegetables . Note that really reputable in homes with a good meal program are probably going to cost you close to what a center costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general you have two options if you want fresh foods:

1. Go with a center big enough to have a licensed, trained kitchen person full time.

2. Go with a reputable in-home daycare with a provider that makes an effort to feed fresh fruit and vegetables . Note that really reputable in homes with a good meal program are probably going to cost you close to what a center costs.

My friend's child goes to an in home daycare. They get foods like quinoa, kale, etc. Provider is very into organic cooking.

Another friend sends her child to an in home daycare run by an East Asian family. The food is homemade traditional Asian food, and the meats and veggies and rice are prepared from scratch. When they have "American" food like pizza it's a treat like for a birthday party.

[Anonymous]

This thread is a sad reflection of the state of nutrition in America. It would be one thing if posters were telling OP that she’s right but regulatory constraints, cost and allergies make providing healthy snacks very difficult. Instead posters are arguing that these ultra processed are healthy and not that bad! It’s ridiculous. By the way there are preschools that serve healthy snacks and a healthy lunch. Brooksfield Montessori, where both my DDs went is one of them. It just requires more effort and thinking on the part of the administration. Not every snack was perfect but they more or less ate healthy.

[Anonymous]

PP-Brooksfield’s tuition is very high

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I also hate the cheap, processed junk served to children.

It isn’t real food.

It is real food and it tastes really good. Just admit it. You eat it after your kid goes to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general you have two options if you want fresh foods:

1. Go with a center big enough to have a licensed, trained kitchen person full time.

2. Go with a reputable in-home daycare with a provider that makes an effort to feed fresh fruit and vegetables . Note that really reputable in homes with a good meal program are probably going to cost you close to what a center costs.

My friend's child goes to an in home daycare. They get foods like quinoa, kale, etc. Provider is very into organic cooking.

Another friend sends her child to an in home daycare run by an East Asian family. The food is homemade traditional Asian food, and the meats and veggies and rice are prepared from scratch. When they have "American" food like pizza it's a treat like for a birthday party.

You cannot compare a child care situation with 2-6 kids vs. 200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general you have two options if you want fresh foods:

1. Go with a center big enough to have a licensed, trained kitchen person full time.

2. Go with a reputable in-home daycare with a provider that makes an effort to feed fresh fruit and vegetables . Note that really reputable in homes with a good meal program are probably going to cost you close to what a center costs.

My friend's child goes to an in home daycare. They get foods like quinoa, kale, etc. Provider is very into organic cooking.

Another friend sends her child to an in home daycare run by an East Asian family. The food is homemade traditional Asian food, and the meats and veggies and rice are prepared from scratch. When they have "American" food like pizza it's a treat like for a birthday party.

You cannot compare a child care situation with 2-6 kids vs. 200.

Why not? Many school districts are able to serve healthier food for less.

[Anonymous]

Ours is significantly healthier than that, and that is not how we eat at home lol. My girls aren't going to starve, so they've learned to like healthier food than I serve haha

[Anonymous]

The 60 kid center my kids once attended hired a nutritionist to revamp the snack menu. Several parents started the school down that path but then it was the nutritionist suggesting swaps and not parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, what snacks would you want your child to have? Can you pack your own?

Our Arlington preschool was pretty limited in what they could provide because it wasn’t an authorized food service provider (or some phrase like that). I sent in my own, following the allergies and safety restrictions (cut grapes, no popcorn, etc).

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have sent some snacks with my son - cheese, chopped up grapes, berries, sliced apples, carrots etc. He usually loves eating these but so far they have come back barely touched. I think its because he just wants to eat what everyone else is eating =) He is a social eater and also doesn't like feeling different. Completely understandable I guess.

Based on what everyone is saying it seems like this is the norm.

Or maybe it’s because your child doesn’t like those snacks and prefers the ones provided by the preschool? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Apparently not everyone is on board with what is considered healthy in accordance to the eating guidelines. Clearly I’ve hit a nerve and I won’t bring it up to the director and just focus on healthy eating at home. Thanks to all who have given messages of support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general you have two options if you want fresh foods:

1. Go with a center big enough to have a licensed, trained kitchen person full time.

2. Go with a reputable in-home daycare with a provider that makes an effort to feed fresh fruit and vegetables . Note that really reputable in homes with a good meal program are probably going to cost you close to what a center costs.

My friend's child goes to an in home daycare. They get foods like quinoa, kale, etc. Provider is very into organic cooking.

Another friend sends her child to an in home daycare run by an East Asian family. The food is homemade traditional Asian food, and the meats and veggies and rice are prepared from scratch. When they have "American" food like pizza it's a treat like for a birthday party.

You cannot compare a child care situation with 2-6 kids vs. 200.

Why not? Many school districts are able to serve healthier food for less.

Not around here. MCPS food is horrific. All processed, frozen and reheated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, what snacks would you want your child to have? Can you pack your own?

Our Arlington preschool was pretty limited in what they could provide because it wasn’t an authorized food service provider (or some phrase like that). I sent in my own, following the allergies and safety restrictions (cut grapes, no popcorn, etc).

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have sent some snacks with my son - cheese, chopped up grapes, berries, sliced apples, carrots etc. He usually loves eating these but so far they have come back barely touched. I think its because he just wants to eat what everyone else is eating =) He is a social eater and also doesn't like feeling different. Completely understandable I guess.

Based on what everyone is saying it seems like this is the norm.

Or maybe it’s because your child doesn’t like those snacks and prefers the ones provided by the preschool? Give me a break.

Actually that’s not true. Cuz he eats these snacks at home all the time. Obviously like many others they will prefer the unhealthy snack if it is in front of him. That’s why a lot of nutritionists tell you not to buy unhealthy snacks in the first place. Out of sight. Out of mind.