As individuals we all have unique and distinct tastes. We acquired them from before birth and they become more defined as we get older. Young children are especially sensitive to their tastes, as their senses play a large part in their development.
As children transition from infants to toddlers they become more autonomous, wanting to explore and assert their independence. This newfound independence often carries over into all things they have control over, such as what they choose to eat or not to eat.
A major challenge many providers face is adapting meals for different developmental ages and stages while staying within Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines. This can be difficult when dealing with picky eaters. Whereas planning delicious and nutritious meals ahead of time will give you an idea of what types of meals you need to serve to meet each individual’s needs, while offering a variety of tastes, colors, and textures, preplanned meals are not conducive to picky eater’s changing tastes.
Additionally, CACFP portions can be overwhelming to young children. A CACFP lunch must include a meat, two items from the fruit and vegetable group, a bread, and milk.
Sample of Typical Approved CACFP Lunch
- Grain/Bread:Whole wheat spaghetti noodles
- Meat/Meat Alternative: Ground beef for bite-size meatballs
- Fruit/Vegetable: Tomato Sauce
- Fruit/Vegetable: Salad
- Milk: 1% or Fat-free for children over 2, Whole for children under 2 years of age
Most providers will also serve a roll (bread) and dessert such as mandarin oranges (fruit) or yogurt (meat). This is a fairly large meal for a three year old. Even small portions can be overwhelming to a person with a tiny stomach.
Incorporating Finger Foods into a CACFP Approved Meal
Offer nutritious finger foods at each meal. Most foods you serve will also count towards your CACFP meal requirements. Modifying the above menu slightly will appeal to most picky eaters thereby increasing children's mealtime intake and decreasing the amount of food you wast each day.
- Grain/Bread:Whole wheat or assorted breadsticks
- Meat/Meat Alternative: Meatballs (bite sized, without sauce)
- Fruit/Vegetable: Tomato Sauce for dipping
- Fruit/Vegetable: Carrot and Celery Sticks, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices with Ranch dressing for dipping
- Milk: 1% or Fat-Free for children over 2, Whole for children under 2 years of age
Those minor adjustments would not affect your food budget much, will cut down preparation time, and increase food intake.
Finger Food Suggestions for Toddlers
- Cheese cubes
- Rice cakes
- Vegetable sticks
- Fruit chunks
- Meat sticks (such as chicken fingers)
- Fruit kabobs
- Dry cereal
- Frozen bananas
- Pigs-in-a-blanket, franks in a blanket
- Bagel sandwiches
- Finger sandwiches
- English muffin sandwiches
- Raw vegetables such as broccoli "trees"
Children thoroughly enjoy dipping, so if a recipe calls for red or white sauces think of finger food pasta alternatives that allow your children to dip instead of eating with fork. Most meals can be easily adapted at the last minute to meet the nutritional and aesthetic needs of your daycare children. All it takes is a little creativity and innovation. Bon appétit!
