Daycare Snacks

My son will be a year old in 2 days. He has never had donuts, or poptarts. His grandma watches him while I am at work. The only "sweets" he gets is those zwieback cookies, animal crackers, and gerber biter biscuits. He has had a real cookie a few times after he has already eaten his regular nutritious food. Even then it was only a few bites. He would much rather have fruit or crackers. I don't blame you for not wanting him to have too much sugar. If they never have it they won't miss it. You will have to fight that battle later when they see you or other kids eating sweets. No sense starting that now.

If you are sending in snacks they should be using them. You are paying for a service so if you aren't happy with the snack situation tell them. Explain to them you send healthy snacks and you want those used.

You can buy a box of granola bars or something and leave it there labeled with his name on it!

I used to take in boxes of food and leave it there and never had a problem. I didn't care if they shared it with other kids if they didn't have a snack.

My daycare used to keep cheerios, pretzels, goldfish and graham crackers for snacks for those who didn't have any or they didn't want their snack.

Good luck.

If they are a licensed daycare in the state of PA they have standards to follow.
So the question is are they Licensed?
Are they in PA?
And are you willing to report them?
I totally understand and agree with you especially at that age.
mine are 17, 7 and 6 and I limit there intake of those foods.
Good Luck
K. B

K.,

I can offer a couple suggestions. 1. Tell the day care to only give your son the snacks you pack. 2. See if they are required to follow food guide lines. 3. Ask if they would be willing to switch to more healthy food rather than the junk. They can get most health fruits and snacks at bulk rates too.

I think that you can make some suggestions and ask if they would be willing to change the snacks a little to make them more healthy. I do agree that teaching healthy foods is a good idea, and bad habits are hard to break. On the other hand, daycares buy bulk snacks and you will have to come up with some affordable healthy options. Goldfish, pretzels, cheerios? I do have to dispel the myth that sugar makes kids bounce off the walls. It has been proven that it does not have this effect. Still, important to teach healthy habits! Just give gentle suggestions when you approach. You have to remember that the way the caregiers feel about you will reflect on the way they feel about your child. This is just human nature. It's a fact, so be kind. These caregivers should be your allies in raising your child and you want to keep it that way!

K.,

I would be concerned also. If you are paying these people to watch your child they should feed him the snacks you want him to have. If they won't I would be on the fast track to find a new daycare. Kids shouldn't be given doughnuts and pop tarts as snacks. Raisins, fruit, WW crackers are just some examples of good healthy snacks.

If you are sending your child snacks, the center should give your child THOSE snacks! IMO the occasional cupcake for a classmate's birthday or something like that isn't a big deal but junk every day is not OK -- and it's really really not OK for the center to forgo healthy snacks you send in favor of their own snacks.

I have to say that I don't really care for my daycare's snack ideas either. They don't give out anything as bad as donuts and poptarts, but they do give out cookies more often than not.

I'd much rather they offer fruits, granola bars, anything other than cookies. Really, I'm sure it is a cost and availability factor for them. It is much easier and less costly to buy a pack of cookies than fresh fruit or expensive whole grain granola bars, etc.

My suggestion is to talk with your daycare provider, whomever is the director or in charge. Maybe you could offer to bring in snack once a week for everyone. Then you can bring in apples and peanut butter or 100% fruit popscicles... anything that you deem healthy. Perhaps you could talk with the parents and they get involved too. That is the only way I really see it going well.

If you just keep packing healthy snacks for your son, it becomes a burdern for the daycare to get out something different for him.

Good luck!

K., No you are not being unreasonable, but you may have too high of expectations. Daycares deal with many kids from different circumstances. A lot of them do not have the time, staff or money to provide veggies and fruits cut up as snacks. Even if they want to. And you do for one, you do for all. If you are that concerned about it I suggest you consider getting a private child care provider that can meet all your expectations or see if you can stay home. Best wishes

hi K.-
i would absolutely talk to the school. sugary snacks will not help children behave or learn well. if they are not willing to make teh changes you suggest, then i would just keep packing your own snacks for your child. at least then you know what they are eating adn can control it better.
it might even make sense to find another school that is better aligned with your values, too.

J. C.
www.nutrition-in-motion.net
nutrition coach and therapeutic lifestyle educator.

I don't think you're unreasonable at all. You're his mother and you have every right to determine what he eats, even when he's not in your care. As long as your sending in what you want him to eat and don't expect the daycare to cater especially to you, the teachers shouldn't have a problem feeding your snacks. But they aren't mind readers, so you need to tell them specifically that you don't want your son to have any food other than what you send in. Maybe he refused your snack one day so they offered him what they had not realizing. Speak up, but obviously in a nice way. I've seen some moms immediately go on the offensive with the teachers, and it hurts the relationship in the long run.

I had this very same problem with my daughter's daycare. I actually went to her caregiver and asked that she give her the healthy snacks that I bring in instead of the one's they have been giving her. They obviously took that as a hint because they switched over to healthy snacks.

It is not unreasonable to ask that your child be given healthy snacks - whether they provide them or you bring them in.

Doughnuts & pop tarts are not appropriate snacks for anyone of any age (especially not on a regular basis). I would ask them to give your son the snacks you provide him with. If they refuse to do this, then I would find another day care. I know there are a lot of day cares with "healthy only" snack policies.

K.!

This sounds like the same situation that i'm going through at my DS daycare. I disapproved of the snacks that they give - on top of that once a week they go to fast food resturants (which they bring in) and allow the kids to eat this food. Of course - once the children get older they want to eat what the others are eating so it was very difficult for me to fight it. I believe that nutrition should be dictated by the home - NOT the school environment, especially when you are talking about 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 year olds. I decided not to fight it because 1) I like the daycare for every other reason except this one issue 2) they allow me to bring my cloth diapers in without any issues 3) it is local. To combat the issue - i try to provide snacks that i know my DS will like and try to include veggies/fruits. For some time i was brining in fruits for the whole class (during the summer when they were cheap). I would love to continue that but i'm expecting in Dec and just keeping up with the household is difficult enough. I try my hardest to give my son healthy food...even though we are going through the stage of chicken nuggets, mash potatoes and pizza :-)

Best of Luck with your decision....decide to choose the correct battles. Your life will be much happier if you do.

J., Hunter(2yrs) and DS due 12.10.08

Of course. say something!!! I am a preschool teacher. You can only imagine the juck I see kids eat. It really gets me upset. Everyday I talk about the importance of good nutrition. Nutrition effects health and behavor.

Hi,
I didn't read the rest of the responses, but I have a feeling not many will be in line with mine. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. But, I think you need to choose your battles and this is a very difficult one to win. I tried to win this one and finally decided that I would do the best that I could with packing healthy things for snacks and with feeding them at home, but it's hard on the kids to be treated differently from the rest of the class. The best of luck to you in whatever you decide!

You are not being unreasonable - you are putting your child first. Start by asking his primary daycare provider about it, just remember this person is following someone else's lead, so don't be too tough on them =O}. You are doing the right thing!

You are totally in the right. I had to fight with my daycare to get them to provide whole milk for my son, all they were offering was 2% and "Hello", it's the recomendation to give whole milk until at least 2! I ended up getting a note from his doctor and bringing it in every day. But it was worth the fight. I know he got what was right. And I also know it's only the beginning of fighting for what's right for my kids.

K.,
You have every right as a parent to insist that your child receive healthy snacks at daycare. If they don't provide them, then you can insist that they use the ones that you provide. I had the same problem at a previous daycare. They gave my son a lollipop everyday when I picked him up. Eventually, I spoke up and stopped it. His current daycare only allows or provide sweets on special occassions or birthdays.

I don't think you are being too overprotective. I don't deprive my children of sweets but I wouldn't want their daily snack at daycare to be sweets. I would prefer they eat more nutritious snacks there. I wouldn't have a problem if it was once a week or for special occassions, however. I would talk to the teacher or daycare director about your concerns. Let them know you will be providing a snack every day for your son and you would like him to have that snack rather than sweets. In my opinion there isn't any reason that they couldn't honor your request. Keep the snacks simple and fully prepare them at home so it doesn't require extra work on their part - other than remembering to give him the snack from home.

By all means, SAY something. Or even DO something if you have to. Go to the director if you have to. The other kids don't need that stuff either. They really shouldn't be allowing candy and stuff for birthdays, either. Our local public school doesn't allow it anymore with the epidemic of diabetes lately. They suggest a small gift for each child and even give ideas. Think of what all that is doing to their teeth, too.

I will say, though, that sometimes their idea of a healthy snack doesn't sound too healthy to me. Explain that to them and why if you feel that's a problem. Just be prepared to offer alternatives, too.

If they ever say that cost is a factor, it might be worth it too all the parents to pay extra to get better snacks if they are given enough details as to why some things are better than others.

maybe you could suggest things and also suggest 1 day a week for special snack ie donut or pop tart..if not satisfied just pack your own..thats what i always did and f/u that they are getting it

I would say something. Your are the mother and you are paying them to take care of your child and want them to do it the right way. I was having the same problem. I addressed the manager about the situation. They now offer my daughter something else. such as an apple instead of a brownie. My daughter feels as though she is special because she gets a different snack. The daycare also makes a menu for the month and if there is a day I do not like what they are having I will send something I would rather her have. My children now that they are 3 and 4 years old make better choices on their own.

K.,
you are absolutely correct! Especially if you are willing to provide the snack yourself. I don't send my kids to daycare, but I had a similar situation with my full time babysitter. Once I explained my position, she was fine with it and offers the kids fresh fruit and sugar free pops in the summer time. Remember, this is your son and you have the right to ensure he is taken care of to your standards... not theirs.

I feel your pain. My children's daycare provider just doesn't know better. (She was giving him iced tea to drink!? And she wondered why the kids were bouncing off the walls sometimes.) And I simply told her to please not give him iced tea, or too much sugar because it affects his behavior when he gets home. So, she has become mindful of the snacks she gives him, though it's still not always what I would give. Since we are happy with the quality of care, this is one area we have decided to not get too excited about unless a food poses a choking hazard or sugar high. (And she provides fruit and veggies at meal times)
So, discuss your concerns with the daycare and suggest a solution (ie: as you said, you pack snacks for him.)
Good luck!

Hi K. A,

You definitely have a right to speak up about the unhealthy snacks given to your child. A sweet snack is okay occassionally but not everyday. You will be the one who has to handle a cavity or obesity in the future if bad nutrition starts at this young age. And who knows maybe other parents feel the same way but just don't feel comfortable stepping up and saying something. If all else, you can tell them that you will provide your child with their own snack and you would rather them not have the snacks provided by the daycare. Hope this helps. Take care and God Bless!!!

~T.~

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all!! Doughnuts and pop tarts are completely inappropriate for a one year old. I would definitely say something. What is the policy of the center? Our center has a "nutritious snack" only policy. Our kids get crackers and fruit unless there's a birthday or something and there's a "special treat", however, they still encourage birthday treats to be lower-sugar like banana muffins or something, at least that was the policy in her 1 year-old room, now in my daughter's 2 year-old room they seem to be a little more lax in that area, which is unnerving...

Good luck!

A lot of people agree with you. The daycare may feel you're being high maintenance or weird, but who cares. They're wrong. It's one thing to allow little bits of these types of foods occasionally at a friends house or party when you don't want to be a fanatic, but you should not have to force yourself to accept food with artificial colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and massive amounts of sugar every day at daycare. I'm right there with you annoying people left and right, but I care what my daughter eats while she's still young enough for me to control it. We had just met our neighbors, and the first thing they did when we walked in was offer my daughter marshmallow spread on graham crackers WHO BUYS THAT FOR A 3 YEAR OLD?!. I had to think fast and lie that she had just eaten and was very full. I went to pick her up after a work out right in the gym daycare, and the kids were all eating birthday cake as a snack with soda-At 10 in the morning-at the gym!!. My good friend has us over and offers her enormous synthetic sugar cookies as soon as we walk in the door. Wtf!!!! It's really hard to keep junk out of their mouths, and I do allow it sometimes. But for daycare, you just have to be aggressive and say he is not allowed to have anything other than what you send with him. You would think they would clean up the diets in modern times with all the reports of diabetes and hyperactivity being blamed on eating exactly the kind of food they give them in daycare. Stand firm!

I was actually a daycare director previously and I had parents complain about the snacks served too. I could sympathize with the parents, but the food company we ordered from and the way corporate set up we were only able to order certain foods, thus not allowing us much ability to find a solution. I made sure that the parents knew that they were more than welcome to provide their choice of snack if they preferred, either for the whole class or just their child. Its difficult because the food might be included in the tuition price, but unfortunately there may be little that the manager can do. We always tried to at least save the sweet snacks for afternoon instead of first thing in the morning. I would definately reccomend voicing your concern, it certainly can not hurt. I thought you might appreciate the view from a management standpoint.

Sometimes, you just have to deal with things if you put your kids in daycare. Yes, it would be nice if they had nutritous snacks, but I wouldn't count on it in that situation.

You are completely right in saying something. Many schools are banning junk food and daycares should follow along. At my friend's child's school, junk food is prohibited even on birthdays...no cupcakes or donuts. Parents may bring in bagels or soft pretzels for a kid's birthday instead.

Has anyone felt this way???

ALL THE TIME!

my oldest is 18 and my younger two and 2nd & 3rd. I believe I have officially sent in enough healthy, banana/nut/flaxseed/raisen muffins that they finally GOT the hint and switched over to healthy snacks ONLY and they have to have approval by the nurse before snacks come into school.

You are so not alone.

daycare shouldn't be providing snacks like that. you should discuss that with the director. Goldfish, applesauce, grapes, etc are so much better. I'd be ticked too.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. I felt the same way when my oldest was in daycare. Their idea of a "healthy" breakfast was laughable! I feel that if my child is going to eat junk food, I'll be the one to give it to him or her! :-) As long as your daycare has no problems with you supplying the snacks for your son, I'd send the snacks in for him. He's too young right now to notice that he's not getting the same snacks as the other kids.

I think you are very resonable. The snacks are an indication of the type of setting your child spends the bulk of his or her day. I would guess that if you could watch the kids during the day you would not be happy. Qucik and easy snacks are not the only short cut yor provider is accepting. I would start to look for another setting. I have worked in daycares and know what happends when the parents leave.
Good Luck.
ER

unfortunately i worked in a daycare like this. they were licensed adn got away with it by saying the filling of the pop tart was a fruit. so the guidelines aren't the best. I'm not even sure that if you called the Department of Public Welfare if they could do anything. The license should be posted some where look at it descretely and see if you can find some contact info.

it should be no problem to provide your own snacks. If they begrudge you that little extra work then you really need to rethink why you are paying them.
if you could get enough parents together and approcoach the director she may listen to you and change be prepared with a list of acceptable foods, alist of how much it might cost to feed a classroom and a suggestion on who will prepare it. And some way to monitor the waste if half the kids refuse it.

The really stupid thing about all of this is that giving the kids twinkies or doughnuts for breakfast is a quick sugar rush and when they crash the behavior is unbearable, so you get crazy cranky kids, which is just more work for the teachers.

I wish more daycare workers were intelligent educated people unfortunately i've known too many that weren't. do take consolation if they are atleast nice to your child and keep thim or her clean and changed.

good luck i'd lilke to know how this turns out.

Unreasonable? No! I think that they are not giving good guidance to children as far as helping the palate learn new textures and tastes. Pop tarts and dougnuts can be part of a balanced diet if consumed in moderation, but I do not see the need for a young child to eat these sweeet treats. I would speak to the director about your concerns. If they do not change the "snack" I would ask for the nutrition guidelines for your program. I would also send in healthy snacks for your child and if this issue doesn't resolve, I would change your daycare.

Just thinking of way that you could say this to these people that wouldn't affect your relationship with them. I'm presuming that this is the only thing that is wrong and otherwise they provide good care for your child.
I would say something like;
"I want my son to eat healthy snacks. What would be easier for you, for me to bring them or do you have something nutritious you can give him?"

I think this way you get straight to the point, you are clear but you show understanding by offering to help them change what you want them to change. Hopefully this would not cause any hurt feelings and you can continue to have a good working relationship.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable, especially if you're paying for your child's care. If you're bringing your child's snacks then they should use your snacks. Maybe your daycare provider needs a refresher on good nutrician for children. There are more wholesome snacks out there that are less expensive than pop tarts and the like as well. It's a real easy fix. Tell your daycare provider with a smile that you prefer your child to eat the healthier snacks that you bring and then give them a big thank you! If they ask why, just tell them what you told us, that you prefer to hold off on sweets as long as possible cuz your son will get more than enough when he's older.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets (turned 4 today!)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat
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K.,

I generally agree that kids should be given healthy snacks in educational environments. But that would be in a perfect world.

I think there is more to consider than just the nutritional aspect.

1. If you make a fuss and request special snacks for your child, other parents may follow suit. From a daycare perspective that could be a nightmare, and they may ultimate refuse (if they don't right off the bat).

2. Your child is aware of the world around him. If he sees that he is eating carrot sticks while his friends are eating cookies, he is going to know. And he may feel left out. Children need to feel a sense of belonging to build self-esteem and security.

3. Forbidden food is so much more appealing. Ask any dieter! Once your son is denied those treats, he will want them all the more.

I think you could take a stand, but in the long run, I think it will cause more problems than not. As long as these treats are limited - i.e. one donut or 1-2 cookies, I don't think there is any harm in letting it go. If it's a free-for-all, then that is something different.

I can personally tell you that my daughter's daycare serves similar snacks. But my daughter still eats really healthy at mealtimes and more often asks for a banana or grapes than she does for a cookie.

HTH,

C.

you are completely justified in your concerns about snacks. talk with the teacher and find out who makes the decision on what to give as snacks. i had one daycare that gave my son MARSHMALLOWS as a snack until i questioned them. If they are not willing to change, ask that your child only be given the snacks that you bring in.

K.,

You absolutely have grounds to stand on, but when you bring this up to them, have some ideas of what snacks to offer the children because alot of people just don't know.

M.

Hi K.,

I agree 100% - stand your ground and insist on healthy snacks. If they won't provide them, then bring your own for your child. Bad eating habits are difficult to break. It is best to teach your child to like the healthy stuff early on.

Good luck!
J.

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Absolutely say something! it's Your child's health and nutrition that is of concern so you definitely need to ask the director about the center's nutritional goals. I could see those types of things every once in awhile, but there's plenty of other options. Maybe if you offered some other suggestions, that may help. I have a snack menu from my daycare that I could email to you if you think it may help! Just email me and let me know :)

You are not being over protective! I watch kids in my home and I never offer junk! Carrots/ranch dip. fruit with yougurt/ Pretzels with soy nut butter/ect... I do not even offer pop tarts or doughnuts for breakfast let alone a snack. Snack is not supossed to be a meal, it is to be something to hold them over till meal time. As a mother, I would talk with the daycare provider and ask that your son be given healthy, light snacks only.