They would definitely do that. Even frozen mixed veggies and cut up fruit every now and then wouldn't be too hard for me I guess?
I think I'll add the brown rice or pasta too. Sounds like we aren't giving him enough grains.
Thanks R!
Oh frozen veggies, that's a good idea. You could leave a bag at DC and you wouldn't have to worry about them going bad. You could even put them in tupperware with say a small scoop, and ask that he get 1 scoop microwaved with every lunch.
Even simple things like whole wheat toast in the AM with butter is a good way to get whole grains in him. Breads are often very fortified, so though yes, it's a somewhat processed carb, there's a lot in there (folate, iron, sometimes even calcium) that he'll be getting.
Lots of great feedback, thanks ladies. I think I'll google some sites about baby nutrition but it sounds like he does need some starches and grains. I didn't realize they could use so much! I'm going to make a concious effort to talk to H about this too. In the meantime we'll just continue to give him the fresh stuff at home, and continue to let him have DC food.
If it makes you really anxious to feed him grains and starches, at least you know he gets them at daycare, right? Would you feel more comfortable if they were less traditional, like quinoa, teff, farro, barley, etc? There are also some sprouted grain breads which look like a lump of grain rather than a slice of bread. Would that feel easier to give him? I'm thinking of it as more an anxiety/OCD thing on you/your husband's part, so having some authority tell you to give him a slice of toast may get you to do it but it might make you stress more about other things, IYKWIM? Or you could make the bread yourself and give him dough to play with - in a year or so he'll be a great kneader and shaper of rolls.
I don't have food issues, but I would be ticked if daycare gave my 9 month old a cookie. Giving a 9 month old a cookie is ridiculous. Dd is 2.5 and eats cookies now for treats, but not at 9 months.
And Cheezits it's are not appropriate snacks for that age, either.
But I do think you need to work on not projecting your food issues. Just talk to daycare about nutrition in general.
I don't have food issues, but I would be ticked if daycare gave my 9 month old a cookie. Giving a 9 month old a cookie is ridiculous. Dd is 2.5 and eats cookies now for treats, but not at 9 months.
And Cheezits it's are not appropriate snacks for that age, either.
But I do think you need to work on not projecting your food issues. Just talk to daycare about nutrition in general.
I agree with this completely. I think your concerns are completely valid, given the sugar and salt content of some of the foods you listed, and the lack of vegetables. There's absolutely no reason for a child under one year old to eat foods with added salt and sugar, in my opinion.
Post by whitemerlot on Nov 3, 2012 13:48:48 GMT -5
Another recommendation for Ellyn Satter. I love her book How to Get Your Kid to Eat, But Not Too Much.
It's an easy read and my H and I both read it. It made so much sense to me. We read it when my son was 15 months ans we both wished we had read it earlier. Please read it.
I think my reaction has a lot less to do with the menu and more to do with the realization that op doesn't want to feed her kid carbs. That's not a menu I'd feed my kid everyday, but if adding daily meal prep was going to be a huge chore, its probably not something I'd do more than sending some extra fresh fruit and veggies either.
On the one hand it's great he's not a picky eater. On the other, I agree with Jenny that this is a weird lunch to feed a baby. I'd start sending food or at least some fresh fruit and veggies to replace the snacks.
Most of their food should be whole and their primary nutrition source should still be breast milk or formula. It seems like the menu is full of refine carbs (sugar!) and salt.
I am not hard core about diet (and would have a different view if your son were 3), but this seems pretty bad to me.
This is my issue as well. At nine months food should be primarily based on breast milk or formula. DD snacked on whatever we were eating (we did baby led weaning), but it was never her "main" chunk of her diet until well after 1. Anything we offered her was so she could experience what we were eating.
I agree with those who are saying that before 1, most of his nutrition should be breast milk or formula. However, once he is used to real meals, there is no going back.
I think the menu could include more veggies/fruits and like the idea of you bringing them frozen veggies to heat for him every day.
But don't discount seemingly junk foods like pizza. My LO has been through MANY eating phases (only yogurt and grapes is a recurring one). The nutritionist I spoke with told I should be evaluating LO's diet on a weekly or even monthly basis, not daily. That little kids are simply too picky/weird about eating.
I don't have food issues, but I would be ticked if daycare gave my 9 month old a cookie. Giving a 9 month old a cookie is ridiculous. Dd is 2.5 and eats cookies now for treats, but not at 9 months.
And Cheezits it's are not appropriate snacks for that age, either.
But I do think you need to work on not projecting your food issues. Just talk to daycare about nutrition in general.
Agree. There is no reason a 9 month year old needs a cookie. Just no. That would seriously irritate me.
Is this a real cookie? Or a baby cookie? I think 2-3 times a week is not a big deal for baby mum mums. And I agree with buncha, pizza is bread, tomato and cheese. We always give L a small bowl of frozen veggies first to eat. Then meat, then bread (pasta, etc) afterwards. Then fruit dessert. Then we know she eats the good stuff but still gets full.
I thought it sounded ok, not great, until I read his age. I think 9 months is a little young for cheeze its and there should be more vegetables. It seems like he is ready for the food he is getting, but you could send more baby appropriate snacks for him if you want. I don't always love what daycare feeds my son, but have made the decision not to micromanage our provider or send his meals. He eats very healthy at home.
As others have said, it's an ok menu. The things you are describing sound like foods most kids like.
Our DCP doesn't have the best menu either, but it's ok and it's stuff that kids like. We cook healthy meals at home, and it's not like she's serving deep fried Oreos to them.
I also think it'a good you realize you have some food issues and don't want to pass them on.
I think this menu is fine for a toddler, but not a 9 m.o. How much is he eating of all these items? Is it just a taste, or more like an actual meal. I do agree that dropping off veggies at the DC for them to serve him. Maybe that will even inspire them to serve more veggies in the future.
I think it is kind of odd that they don't serve veggies. DS has been on the daycare menu since he was 9 months. It is not perfect, but they are required to serve a veggie at lunch every day. I wouldn't be too happy with the cheezits (our snacks are things like a whole wheat tortilla w/beans, or yogurt, or a soft pretzel with applesauce).
They don't serve commercial stuff like cheezits or goldfish because everything is low to reduced salt. I would probably get the menu and cross out the things I don't want him served and bring extra food for him on those days.
I think this menu is fine for a toddler, but not a 9 m.o. How much is he eating of all these items? Is it just a taste, or more like an actual meal. I do agree that dropping off veggies at the DC for them to serve him. Maybe that will even inspire them to serve more veggies in the future.
Oh geez, I was expecting your kid to be like 8 years old or something --- at 9 months, yes this is fine. He is just exploring taste and texture. I would let them provide the food, you will be preparing many lunches in the future as he makes his way to grammar school!
At nine months, they offered the food for practice. BM or formula was still a main source of calories. If she didn't eat the lunch or ate part of it, they would offer her a purée.