Quite suddenly, my daycare has decided that they will not longer warm my daughter's lunch. Now, with no notice (and I am about to leave for a business trip), I need to figure out a new way to send her lunch. I'll spend what I need to, but I've already got a tidy investment in perfectly sized lunch containers, so I'd like to make sure I am getting something that will work.
Does anyone have any recommendations on thermal food jars? I see this one by FooGo that seems to be the right size...anyone have any experience with this brand?
Thanks for the feedback! I will buy a couple of the thermal jars and see how they work for us.
I am located in Texas, and while I've made a request to the state agency for clarification, I don't believe that they HAVE to do it. My issue is that there is not a clearly stated policy, they've been doing since she started, and have not had a summer food program. At a minimum, we should have been given some notice about the change! It is just one more irritation on top of several others and extroadinarily bad timing.
I was notified today that they will start up with the school-year lunch provider next week. Unfortunately, it doesn't solve the problem, the menu is terrible!
Day 1-Chicken Nuggets and Fries
Day 2-Hamburger and Chips
Day 3-Beef Ravioli and Roll
Day 4-Corn Dog and Tater Tots
Day 5-Turkey Sandwich, Chips, Carrots/Celery Sticks
Hello! Can anyone say vegetables?
The snack are a mixed bag--everything from jello, pudding, and cookies to some fruit and crackers. I certainly am not the food police, but most of these are not foods that children should be eating everyday! I've worked hard to ensure that I have a child that eats a wide range of healthy foods--and doesn't subsist/insist on mac and cheese and chicken nuggets.
Lunch is my daughter's primary meal. I intend for it to be a healthy and well-balanced. Her "special dietary need" is that she needs all the food groups! Other than salad, she prefers her vegetables cooked and warm. I also do a lot of vegetable purees as pasta sauce. Of course, she occasionally gets a cold lunch...or I just make a box of mac and cheese (with ground spinach ;-). I grew up on peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, the difference is that my mom was home by 3:00 and made a balanced dinner every night.
All things considered, I am happy with where she is, I am just surprised about how tremendously disorganized it seems to be!
I have heated pasta in a glass container and then transfered to this thermos you are asking about. It keeps things super warm and does a great job. Highly recommend them.
what state are you in? I have a daycare and we are required by law to heat the childs food. No matter what, it is! I would be inquiring with the DHS ( most licsenced daycares have DHS that checks monthly) and ask them state laws! They can not refuse to heat the childs food, because every child deserves to eat a hot meal, no matter if daycare provided or not. When you open a daycare that is liscensed then you are told that in the beginng! I am so shock that your daycare would do such a thing. Many children are not able to handle thier own lunches that has thermos' they have to have some sort of help. I ask my mothers to please not send thermos' of any type. If need be they can be stuck in the microwave or I make meals that each child will eat. You have to have an alternative meal for the children that have food allergies, or simply dont like what you have fixed. And I have home daycares all of the US that I say the same thing. WOW! Bless your heart!
A.,
My daughter is in middle school and she has had the same insulated silver Thermos for several years. It's smaller than a soda can (but wider) and it holds a little over a cup of food.
I heat up some water in the microwave, then put it in the thermos so that the thermos gets hot. Then I add the hot foods to it. My daughter usually takes chilli, ramen noodles and/or ravioli. With the ravioli, a couple of the pieces don't fit, because of the size, but you get the picture.
You can also put ice in the Thermos and send in cold food -- but my DD perfers hot food.
Good luck.
L.
Foogo jars and cups are made by Thermos. We have some of their sippy cups and they are very good at maintaining temperature for long periods. I'd think the food jars would be perfect for you! They're also made of stainless steel which is one of the safest food-container materials available.
Will she eat cold food? Maybe if she doesn't know that mac & cheese is supposed to be hot, she'll eat it unheated. My kids used to let dinner cool off so much I'd wonder why I started off with a hot meal in the first place...just a thought! Good luck!
It is easy to send something that doesn't need to be heated. That is your best bet. Thermoses are expensive- expect to pay $15 for a small one.
You didn't really specify any specific dietary concerns but I would suggest going with meals that don't need to be heated. Maybe a sandwich, or cold cuts with no bread. Cut up fruits or veggies etc. Also pasta can be eaten cold like in a pasta salad.
Does the daycare not provide meals? or does your daughter have a special diet? I used to work in daycare and I've not heard of one that didn't provide lunch. After all we pay enough for daycare as it is.
I'm sure you will find some great ideas here! Good luck!
i've actually never heard of a daycare heating food for children that bring their lunch. with summer coming why not just send cool items or room temp items. i have tried thermal containers for my kids and never found a really good one....no matter the cost
good luck
d
