The full-time flat monthly rate includes two snacks and a nutritious lunch. It's really nice for the kids to sit down together in a family style setting and to all be eating the same thing. It's also a great opportunity for them to learn about different types of food. My son is the king of picky eaters but I've found that if he sees another child eating something, he will be more likely to eat it as well.
Snack will generally be served in the morning and again in the afternoon. If the kids get hungry in the afternoon I'll encourage them to finish anything they may not have finished at lunch. If your child does a lot of grazing throughout the day please feel free to send them some of their favorite snack items for this.
Here are some examples of lunches and snacks that may be served. Some of them look a lot more fancy and difficult than they really are; these snacks and lunches are really actually quite simple to prepare. I try to keep things healthy and simple to minimize the time spent preparing the food. I cut the food using cute cookie cutters when possible in an effort to make the food seem more fun to eat... sometimes it's all in the presentation for a kid.
Snack Examples
- Carrot or pumpkin bread spread with cream cheese
- Fresh fruit cut into wedges
- Bananas
- Grated or small cubes of cheese with whole-grain crackers
- Raw veggies with hummus
- Small homemade muffins (zucchini or carrot)
- Soft whole-grain tortillas spread with almond butter
- Rice cakes spread with avocado
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Mixed berries
- Puffed kamut
- Nutri-o's (Healthier Cheerios)
- Homemade omega-3 yogurt pops
- Fruit and cheese kabobs
- Sugar-free dried fruit bits
- Homemade apple chips
- Homemade sweet potato chips
- Whole grain waffle strips with cream cheese and jam
- Beet pancake bites
- Pretzels for dipping into yogurt or peanut butter
Lunch Examples*
- Quinoa with tuna, peas and parmesan
- Quinoa with salmon, black beans and parmesan
- Brown rice with cheese blocks
- Lasagna with secret veggies (blended veggies)
- Turkey meatloaf muffins with secret veggies**
- Homemade macaroni and cheese with secret cauliflower
- Homemade nuggets (ground turkey or chicken, brown rice, cheese, zucchini, breaded)
- Homemade soup (Lentil, Chicken Quinoa, Broccoli, etc)
- Whole wheat or brown rice pasta with secret veggies in the sauce
- Homemade pita pizzas with secret veggies in the sauce and various toppings
- Tofu strips
- Apple cheddar quesadillas
- Bean burritos with secret veggies
- Frittata with secret veggies
- Stir fry
*All lunches are served with fresh cut fruit. Types of fruit generally include whatever is in season; grapes, bananas, apples, oranges, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries, etc.
** I have two goals when it comes to veggies: the first goal is to get the kids to learn to like them and to try them. The second goal is to get the veggies into the children, even if it means they have to take the form of secret veggies. Secret veggies just means I blend them in so the kids get the nutrients.
