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SilverSabre25 07:30 AM 08-13-2013
I think I have to put it back.

My schedule is shifting for the school year and breakfast will be around 8, lunch around 12 or 12:30. My own kids can't make it that long without eating...so I think I (groan) need to put a simple morning snack back on the menu.

I'm thinking of making it something very standard, like a rotation of two or three things, very simple, little/no prep. Any ideas? I know they need to eat...I just don't want it to be complicated for me. I have enough trouble coming up with afternoon snack ideas and lunch ideas...
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coolconfidentme 07:57 AM 08-13-2013
Kids would not eat lunch with the snack. I took mine out & shifted lunch earlier. This gave us more free time to play outside after nap. Works for us...
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Blackcat31 08:01 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I think I have to put it back.

My schedule is shifting for the school year and breakfast will be around 8, lunch around 12 or 12:30. My own kids can't make it that long without eating...so I think I (groan) need to put a simple morning snack back on the menu.

I'm thinking of making it something very standard, like a rotation of two or three things, very simple, little/no prep. Any ideas? I know they need to eat...I just don't want it to be complicated for me. I have enough trouble coming up with afternoon snack ideas and lunch ideas...
I require my DCKs to be fed BEFORE drop off.

That way I can get everyone in the door and settled into some sort of routine before doing any kind of snack/meal.

Once everyone arrives (usually by 9) I serve a small A.M. snack (contains all the components of breakfast per food program).

The kids are just full enough to make it until lunch time but not hungry enough to not be able to make it that long...kwim?

This has so far, been the best way to manage the morning hunger and the timeframe in between drop off and lunch.
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Familycare71 08:06 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I require my DCKs to be fed BEFORE drop off.

That way I can get everyone in the door and settled into some sort of routine before doing any kind of snack/meal.

Once everyone arrives (usually by 9) I serve a small A.M. snack (contains all the components of breakfast per food program).

The kids are just full enough to make it until lunch time but not hungry enough to not be able to make it that long...kwim?

This has so far, been the best way to manage the morning hunger and the timeframe in between drop off and lunch.
Do you do lunch at 12? I would also like to eliminate am snack. Most of my kids come fed or have eaten here(not provided) by 8am. I like having lunch at 12:15 because I don't think all mine would go down earlier than 12:45-1. But maybe I could do what you do and offer a 9am breakfast to tide them over...
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MyAngels 08:08 AM 08-13-2013
After years of doing both breakfast and am snack I recently changed to the way BC is doing it, too. We still call it "snack" but it's really a small breakfast. My parents didn't mind making sure their kids ate before they came so it has worked out well.
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Meyou 08:11 AM 08-13-2013
I expect kids to arrive well fed and then I do snack at 9-930 and lunch at 12. They always eat lots.
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Blackcat31 08:21 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by Familycare71:
Do you do lunch at 12? I would also like to eliminate am snack. Most of my kids come fed or have eaten here(not provided) by 8am. I like having lunch at 12:15 because I don't think all mine would go down earlier than 12:45-1. But maybe I could do what you do and offer a 9am breakfast to tide them over...
Yes, lunch is at noon or shortly after.

Originally Posted by MyAngels:
After years of doing both breakfast and am snack I recently changed to the way BC is doing it, too. We still call it "snack" but it's really a small breakfast. My parents didn't mind making sure their kids ate before they came so it has worked out well.
THIS ^^^^^ is exactly why I switched it up.....works perfect IMHO.
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SilverSabre25 08:59 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Yes, lunch is at noon or shortly after.



THIS ^^^^^ is exactly why I switched it up.....works perfect IMHO.
I don't think my parents feed their kids. No that's not true--one eats an "oatmeal square" every morning on the way here. I don't know about the others. My kiddos are all here around by 8...which is when my own kids are up and ready for breakfast. I can't make my kids wait until later, it doesn't work for our schedule and it isn't fair to force my kids out of bed at 6:30 to eat before dcks get here
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Laurel 09:29 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I don't think my parents feed their kids. No that's not true--one eats an "oatmeal square" every morning on the way here. I don't know about the others. My kiddos are all here around by 8...which is when my own kids are up and ready for breakfast. I can't make my kids wait until later, it doesn't work for our schedule and it isn't fair to force my kids out of bed at 6:30 to eat before dcks get here
I feed everyone breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch is at 11:15. I had to do lunch that early because I have them falling asleep at lunch if I wait until later. It works great though.

That said if you really just want easy snacks (like you asked for and not my advice ) how about:

-dry cheerios mixed with raisins, milk
-graham crackers spread with peanut butter (could make them ahead). I put a lid on them in a sandwich like way, melon chunks (made ahead) milk
-yogurt cup, banana slices, water
-cheese chunks (mine like shredded cheese), oyster crackers, juice
-peanut butter toast, applesauce, milk

I don't do the food program so these might not be per their specifications. I just try to do a protein, a starch and fruit or veggie.

Laurel
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LK5kids 09:52 AM 08-13-2013
I am leaving my am snack out and pushing breakfast to 9:00, since I like lunch @ noon! Oh, but I see that won't work for you.hmmmm.
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melilley 10:03 AM 08-13-2013
I must have very hungry kids....lol
Here Breakfast is from 7-8 and usually kids get here almost at 8 so I feed them anyways. Then snack is at 9:15 or 9:30, lunch is between 11:30 and 12:00 and pm snack is around 3:30. My kids eat all the snacks and meals and act like they are starving by the time the next meal/snack comes around!
I am on the food program so I offer all of the components and they all eat really well.

Some of the morning snacks that I serve are:
Yogurt and cheerios
Cottage cheese and pineapple
Apples and peanut butter
Toast and a fruit or peanut butter or with milk
Cheese and crackers
Fruit and grain bars (on occasion) with milk

I was going to get rid of my morning snack, but by the time lunch comes, the kids are crying and really want to eat (my kids are all 2.5 and under-well I have 1 recently turned 3) so I decided to keep it.
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Play Care 10:09 AM 08-13-2013
When I had a young group we had a small AM snack. I don't claim it so I would do 1 piece of fruit or veg and water. That was it. I didn't allow seconds and my mantra is "it's a snack, not a meal"
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AnneCordelia 10:10 AM 08-13-2013
Our morning snack is always exactly the same. Half a banana and yogurt. Lunch and afternoon snack vary in composition but morning is always the same.
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Familycare71 10:14 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by Play Care:
When I had a young group we had a small AM snack. I don't claim it so I would do 1 piece of fruit or veg and water. That was it. I didn't allow seconds and my mantra is "it's a snack, not a meal"
EXACTLY what I say
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EntropyControlSpecialist 10:18 AM 08-13-2013
We are only permitted to have a 3 hour gap between feedings so I do breakfast at 8:00 and lunch at 11:00. All of the children do just fine waiting until 11:00!
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Blackcat31 10:45 AM 08-13-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I don't think my parents feed their kids. No that's not true--one eats an "oatmeal square" every morning on the way here. I don't know about the others. My kiddos are all here around by 8...which is when my own kids are up and ready for breakfast. I can't make my kids wait until later, it doesn't work for our schedule and it isn't fair to force my kids out of bed at 6:30 to eat before dcks get here
I'd ask the DCP's to feed their child BEFORE arrival if their child can't make it until 9ish to eat.

I'd feed my own kids at 8:00 when they get up. They aren't daycare kids so it is what it is....kwim?

I changed to NOT serving breakfast and then serving something at 9 because I had drop offs at 7:30 (kids ate) and then drop offs at 8:30 (kids were hungry) and then my 7:30 kids wanted to eat again because someone else was eating........

I also had a hard time trying to get parents/kids in and out the door all while trying to manage feeding/serving....it just got to be too much.

Now, DCF's are asked to feed their child BEFORE drop off and then I feed them something light (with all breakfast components) for a.m. snack and everyone eats at the same time and then we have lunch at noon where again, every one is on the same schedule now and everyone eats with no issues....

P.M. snack is served between 3:30-4:00.
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