Frustrated with snacks at otherwise wonderful arlington preschool

[Anonymous]

We recently enrolled our son in a wonderful preschool. He is there the entire day from 8-5:30 pm. The teachers are amazing and communication is excellent. My one gripe is the snacks which they give them three times a day. I mean its not like they are giving them candy and cake but I feel like snacks for children at this age should be nutrient dense. Here are examples of typical snacks served in the school: Goldfish, cheerios (the type with lots of sugar - not the plain type), animal crackers, saltines, wheat thins, graham crackers, rice cakes, nutria-grain bars (full of sugar), pretzels, ritz crackers, Cheeze Itz and English muffins with jelly. I mentioned this to a mom who's kid had recently joined as well. She laughed and told me that her friend, who has two children there complained about the snacks last year to the director. The director got defensive and said that she stands by the food served there and that its healthy (the friend had apparently mentioned the lunches too but in the grand scheme of things the lunches served aren't that bad). The director also said that snacks are difficult to find because of all the allergies. The friend didn't bring up the issue again. I don't know if I should mention this to the director or whether to stay quiet. If this is the norm in preschools then maybe I'm expecting too much. I also don't want to seem like an anal health nut. I'm okay with my kids having occasional junk food. I just feel that it shouldn't be a day to day thing.

Would love to know everyone's thoughts and suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Are there other snacks that your kid will eat? Like carrots or cucumbers? Grapes, apples?

Maybe a few of you can offer to bring in healthier options each week. That's what we do in my son's preschool.

[Anonymous]

Sadly par for the course across all of our preschool camps and elementary schools - at least they aren’t serving juice too! Juice sent me around the bend at one camp

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I taught my DC to refuse juice and ask for water instead, and the daycare put a fight. Whatever. Everyone survived.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if we take our kids to the same Arlington preschool PP. The director is wonderful but isn't very amiable to suggestions. I decided to keep my mouth shut. I feed them a healthy breakfast at home and bring a healthy snack with me to for the way back. They still take the saltines and the goldfish (who can resist) but at least they are also eating something healthy along with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if we take our kids to the same Arlington preschool PP. The director is wonderful but isn't very amiable to suggestions. I decided to keep my mouth shut. I feed them a healthy breakfast at home and bring a healthy snack with me to for the way back. They still take the saltines and the goldfish (who can resist) but at least they are also eating something healthy along with that.

Meant to say OP not PP.

[Anonymous]

That's fine and what kids eat. I prefer healthy eating but its snacks. They need easy, cheap, quick to serve. Why don't you offer to donate snacks you prefer?

[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.

What they are serving isn't terrible. I think you are overreacting. You do realize some kids have dairy allergies and some have specific fruit allergies so like the director said, they have to choose for all.

[Anonymous]

So it sounds like daycare, not preschool. Preschools families take turns bringing in snacks and they only have the one snack.

What they are serving is normal. They would have to charge a lot more tuition to cover serving organic berries and cheese cube---more expensive to purchase and you have to pay someone to prepare them. 90% of families find those snacks perfectly healthy and acceptable.

[Anonymous]

At what times are given these snacks? Three times a day?!? Snack is only at 3pm at the daycares our children attend.

[Anonymous]

They serve that because it’s inexpensive and easy to prep. To serve fresh fruits and vegetables, your tuition will increase because it costs more and they have to hire a kitchen person.

[Anonymous]

If your biggest issue with your daycare or your life is that your kid is getting wheat thins instead of celery sticks, then wow you are lucky.

[Anonymous]

If they served YOUR family's preference for snacks, 80% of the other families would complain that they are serving snacks their kids won't eat and their kids are going hungry.