An 'Added Advantage' of home daycare...

Featuring a Home-based Early Learning Program, London Ontario

August 2 - August 6, 2010

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

 Program

Closed

 Yogurt

Blueberries

Waffles

Mango

Cereal

Oranges

Cranberry

Scones

 for

the

Egg Salad

Pitas

Cucumber

Strawberries

Tuna Salad

Noodles

Tomatoes

Pears

Chicken

Quesadilla

Salsa

Melon

 Grilled Ham

& Cheese

Veggies Dip

Apple Slices

 Civic

Holiday

Ants

on a Log

Graham Wafer

Vanilla

Pudding

Kiwi

Oatmeal

Raisin

Cookies

Ice-cream

Cones

Banana

Menu Notes:

  •  None

July 26 - July 30, 2010

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

 Toast

with Jam

Raspberries

 Warm

Oatmeal

Blueberries

 Vanilla

Yogurt

Mango

 Bagel

and

Banana

Cold Cereal

with

Oranges

 Greek

Pasta Salad

Tomatoes

Honeydew

 Sloppy

Joes

Toss Salad

Pear

Veggie

Soup

Dinner Roll

Peaches

Meat /Cheese

Tray

Coleslaw

Canteloupe

Tuna

on a Bun

Caesar Salad

Plums

 5 Cup

Fruit

Salad

Arrorwoot

Apples

and

Caramel

Dip

 Pretzels

and

Spinach

Dip

Strawberrie

Cream

Cheese

Roll ups

My

Surprise

Birthday

Treat

 Menu Notes:

  •  My  Birthday treat will either be ice cream sundaes or ice cream cones or an ice cream cake depending on the weather and time on hand!

July 19 - July 23, 2010

 MondayTuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

 Cold

Cereal

Raspberries

 English

Muffin

Strawberries

 Mango

Vanilla

Yogurt

 Breakfast

Bar

Banana

Warm

Blueberry

Muffins

Cold Macaroni

Salad

Ham

Watermelon

Roast Beef

on a bun

Carrots

Kiwi

Chicken

Pineapple

Salad

Pita

Tuna Wraps

Veggies

& Dip

Pears

Pork

Kabobs

Peppers

Peaches

Rice Crisp

Square

Grapes

Oatmeal

Cookies

Honedew

Cherry

Cheesecake

Muffins

 Rice

Cakes

Plums

Crackers

Cheese

Cantaloupe

Menu Notes:
  • none 

July 12 - July 16, 2010

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

 Bagels

with

Banana

Eggs

Toast

Raspberries

Coconut

Muffins

Pineapple

 Waffles

with

Blueberries

Warm

Oatmeal

Mango

 Chicken Salad

Pita

Cucumbers

Strawberries

Taco Salad

Nachos

Tomato

Pears

Kielbasa

Kabobs

Red Peppers

Grapes

Turkey

on a Bun

Veggies

Oranges 

 Mini

Pizzas

Mushrooms

Cantaloupe

 Hummus

Dip

Pretzels

Vanilla

Pudding

Melon

 Homemade

Bits N Bites

Plums

 Apple

Cinnamon

Bread

Ants

on a Log

Arrowroot

Menu

  • Thursday we are going to make our own Apple Cinnamon Bread in the bread maker - yummy!

July 5 - July 9, 2010

 Monday Tuesday WednesdayThursday  Friday

Alpha-bits

with

Raspberries 

Cinnamon

Toast

Oranges 

Warm

Waffles

Blueberries 

Vanilla

Yogurt

Peaches 

Mini

Croissants

Kiwi  

 Ham & Cheese

Pitas

Cucumbers

Strawberries

Roast Beef

Potato Salad

Tomatoes

Honeydew 

Tuna

Pasta

Salad

Apple slices 

P&B

Roll Ups

Carrots

Banana 

Mini

Quiches

Peppers

Cantaloupe

5 Cup

Salad

Arrowroot

Graham

Biscuits

Plums

Pineapple

Ice cream

Cones

Grapes

and

Cheese 

Rice Crispy

Squares

Pears

 Menu Notes

  •  Lunches are designed to be eaten cold as picnics as the children really seem to be enjoying the whole park hopping option!

 

June 28 - July 2, 2010

 

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

 Waffles

Blueberries

Yogurt

Peaches 

Cranberry

Mini Muffins

Program

Closed

Cereal Bars 

Banana

 Hamburgers

Salad

Melon

Hungryman

Platter

Fruit

Taco Wraps

Tomatoes

Kiwi

 for

A

Picnic

Lunch

Stuffed

Strawberries

Arrowroot

Pretzels

and

Spinach Dip

 Ants

on a

Log

 Canada Day

Holiday

Frozen

Fruit

Yogurt Pops

 Menu Notes:

  •  Hamburgers this week will be made with 100% beef and Taco Wraps with 100% chicken.
  • Hungryman platter is kabasa, deviled egg, cheese, crackers, cucumbers and crackers.
  • Fridays picnic will remain flexible - depending on numbers we may go out on a field trip and eat out!

My Nutritional Philosophy

Healthy eating is an important part of every child’s day. In the interest of developing a healthy attitude towards food and nutrition, I strongly believe in allowing children opportunities to help prepare meals, as age appropriate and interest dictates. Tasks can range from washing fruits or veggies, measuring and adding ingredients for baked goods, stirring dishes and eventually even helping with chopping.  The ability to explore, touch, smell and hear new foods increases children’s desires to taste new foods and develop a wide palette for increased nutritional value. It also increases self-help skills, pride in preparing a good meal and confidence to try new things. As five children underfoot in the kitchen can be a challenge to 'maintain the interest of all' the children take turn being the 'kitchen helper' on a daily basis while the others can engage in quiet activities or a few minutes of Treehouse in the adjacent room.

 

Our weekly menus are posted Friday for the upcoming week, have a focus on wholesome and nutritious snacks & meals and can accommodate any food allergies or restrictions your child may encounter and involve input for the children. Originally we followed a 'rotational' menu plan chosen solely by me - as it was easy for budgeting and shopping. However I have found that children tend to be willing to try more new foods when it is 'their idea' and in the interest of having the yummy foods I make end up in their tummy I have tweaked my approach. At the end of each week the children and I will work on planning next weeks menu together! Using 'picture cards' to help them work with me to choose a balanced meal plan that inspires them to want to try the items they have chosen and put together. A great way to learn about nutrition as well as early literacy skills in writing our choices down. I will then post the upcoming menu on the website for parents to be able to plan their menus at home as well ... to avoid the same lunch and dinner incidents not that most kids mind having the same thing twice.

 

Close communication with parents is important to ensure that all the children’s nutritional needs are met on a daily basis. Upon enrollment your child’s current likes and dislikes in relation to foods will be integral in developing the groups weekly menus to ensure that there are favorite foods from all families represented. I always welcome new favorite family recipes.

 

Children are encouraged to try foods offered but never forced to eat. Children who choose not to eat are encouraged to stay at the table and keep us company - as often sitting and watching peers enjoying new and tasty foods helps children find the courage to expand their own palettes! Unfortunately I am not able to accommodate choosy eaters by cooking a 'separate' meal for them. Meals and snacks offer a wide variety of options of food groups and are served at regular and routine intervals in the house. It is my belief that a hungry child will eat something of what is being served  - eventually - they will not starve themselves.

 

I also believe in keeping a written record of children’s daily food intake as it helps create a picture of continued efforts to try new foods, ensures proper balance and monitors any negative reactions to new foods...this information is recorded in my daily log so that I can look it up for parents at need.

 

Birthdays and other Special Occasions

Your child’s birthday is a very joyous occasion and deserves celebration! Children are always excited to share the celebration with their daycare friends – upcoming birthdays will be recorded on each family’s monthly ‘Events calendar’. Prior to the special day the birthday child will be able to select the nature of their birthday celebration from their special treat (cupcakes, cake, ice-cream sundae, etc.) to any special activities they would like the day to entail (within given financial parameters of course J). We will make and prepare the treat for celebration day. Parents are encouraged to come in and join in the fun if able.

Other Menu Tidbits

  • Homo or Goat's Milk in a cup is served with one 'meal or snack' per day ... usually lunch but sometimes with a snack that 'needs it' instead. If another alternative milk source is still required parents are welcome to provide what is needed for the day in a bottle or sipper cup container...unfortunately my fridge does not have space to store multiple days worth of alternative milk.
  • One 4 oz serving of 50% water - juice ratio is served at one snack per day ... generally the morning snack. Juice served is either 100 % from concentrate apple, orange, cranberry or mango juice 
  • Water in a cup is served on demand throughout the day as well as at all meals and snacks
  • When ever possible meal menu items are made from scratch to accommodate my own and others food allergies. So for all muffins and baked goods are homemade to be gluten free. Chicken nuggets or fish sticks are breaded by hand by being dipped in egg with a spiced gluten free option such as crushed rice crispies or cornflakes and then pan-grilled. Meatballs are made from either ground chicken or beef, seasoning and are gluten free and so forth.
  • Fresh fruit/veggies are bought as the ideal option - when fresh fruit/veggies are not available due to 'seasonal issues' flash frozen fruit without additives will be served. Where neither of those options are available for a fruit canned fruit in its own juice will be used.
  • Bread/Cracker options are available in both whole wheat/grain or gluten free options as needed to accommodate food allergies.
  • All pastas served are gluten free brown rice pasta - except Ravioli as I have not been able to find a Canadian source
  • The program can accommodate and work around most food allergies however my home is not and cannot be a NUT free home ... as many of my gluten free flours contain nut based grains. If a child has an anaphylaxis nut allergy or develops a serve nut allergy alternative care arrangements might need to be made to ensure safety at meal times.