As child care providers we play an important role in the lives of the children in our care. The meals and snacks we provide help them to grow strong and healthy. The experiences they have while in our care teach them the importance of proper nutrition.
This is where the CACFP can be your best friend. The USDA food program for child care centers is a federal government program that gives monetary reinbursment to child care centers and in-home daycare providers for the healthy meals they serve on a daily basis.
I spent fifteen years as a teacher and director in private child care facilities before taking the plunge and opening my own in-home center. Working so many years in the child care business has given me an abundance of USDA approved menus.
Let’s begin with breakfast. The most important meal of the day! We all know how hectic mornings can be. It’s a juggling act we perform daily – trying to keep one eye on the children while greeting parents. All the while wondering what we can prepare for breakfast that will be quick and simple.
50 quick And Simple Breakfast Ideas.
1. Scrambled eggs, ham, toast, sliced grapes, milk.
2. Sausage and pancakes on a stick, pears, milk.
3. French toast, apple compote, milk.
4. Cheese toast, fruit cocktail, milk.
5. Rice cakes with peanut butter, orange wedges, milk.
6. Cheese and ham omelet, apple juice, milk.
7. Grits with scrambled eggs, bananas, milk.
8. Oatmeal with walnuts and raisins, milk.
9. Scones, strawberries, milk.
10. English muffins with eggs, bananas, milk.
11. Sausage biscuits, pineapple chunks, milk.
12. Granola, sliced grapes, milk.
13. Hot rice cereal, apples, milk.
14. Banana bread, applesause, milk.
15. English muffins with cheese, orange juice, milk.
16. Corn muffin, peaches, milk.
17. Oatmeal, fruit cocktail, milk.
18. Corn Chex, peaches, milk.
19. Berry Berry Kix, apple slices, milk.
20. Pancakes with syrup, orange wedges, milk.
21. Fruit & Fiber cereal, kiwi fruit, milk.
22. Pigs in a blanket, fruit cup, milk.
23. Chocolate chip waffles, melon balls, milk.
24. Blackberry muffins, pears, milk.
25. Vanilla yogurt, mixed fruit, milk.
26. Lemon yogurt, granola, peaches, milk.
27. Croissants, strawberries, milk.
28. Shredded wheat cereal, blueberries, milk.
29. Bran muffins, grape juice, milk.
30. Carrot bread, pineapple juice, milk.
31. Farina hot cereal, rasberries, milk.
32. Scrambled eggs with sausage, kiwi fruit, milk.
33. Donuts, sliced bananas, milk.
34. Cinnamon rolls, star fruit, milk.
35. Zucchini bread, applesauce, milk.
36. Sausage muffin, fruit cup, milk.
37. Biscuit, gravy, banana, milk.
38. Grilled cheese sandwich, honeydew melon, milk.
39. Crispix cereal, apple juice, milk.
40. Cinnamon muffins, applesauce, milk.
41. Wheat toast, baked apple, milk.
42. Cheerios, blueberries, milk.
43. Crepes, mixed berries, milk.
44. breakfast pizza, pineapple, milk.
45. Cheese grits, melon balls, milk.
46. Waffles with peanut butter, bananas, milk.
47. Ham biscuit, peaches, milk.
48. Grits with butter, toast with 100% real fruit spread, milk.
49. Breakfast burrito, grape juice, milk.
50. Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, apple juice, milk.
Lunch Time
Preparing lunch for a busy child care center can be more than a little time consuming, so try to prepare as many meals ahead of time as possible. If that is not a viable option, try prepping your fresh ingredients ahead of time and storing them in plastic storage bags in your fridge.
50 Lunch Ideas
1. Chicken rice soup, crackers, carrots sticks, orange slices, milk.
2. Ham, baked beans, biscuits, watermelon, milk.
3. Tamale pie(hamburger, cornbread, corn) green beans, milk.
4. Baked chicken, beans, rice, banana, milk.
5. Meatloaf sandwiches, macaroni salad, Jell-o w/fruit, milk.
6. Chicken nuggets, tator tots, apple, roll milk.
7. French dip sandwich w/beef, lettuce salad, pears, milk.
8. Chicken and dumplings, peas, carrots, milk.
9. Pinto beans and sausage, cornbread, pineapple chinks, milk.
10 Club sandwich: Turkey, cheese, lettuce, bread, apple, milk.
11. Beef steak, baked potato, corn, roll, milk.
12. Lasagna( hambuger, cheese, pasta, tomato sauce), broccoli, milk.
13. Ham and eggs, muffin, hash browns, tomato slices, milk.
14. Chicken legs, tator tots, applesauce, soft bread sticks, milk.
15. Boiled fish, baked potato, green beans, roll, milk.
16. Stew(chicken or beef, carrots, potatoes), corn muffins, milk.
17. Beef hot dog, bun, french fries, pears, milk.
18. Pigs in a blanket(sausage, biscuits), carrots, orange wedges, milk.
19. Meat balls, rice, green beans, peaches, milk.
20. Ham and cheese sandwich, carrot and celery sticks, apple slices, milk.
21. Tuna casserole, crowder peas, fruit cocktail, milk.
22. Pork chops, garlic bread, potatoes, cantalope, milk.
23. Chicken noodle casserole, spinach, applesauce, milk.
24. Egg salad, wheat bread, tomato soup, cherries, milk.
25. Chunky lunch: Ham, cheese cubes, Apple wedges, wheat thins, milk.
26. Cube steak, biscuits, green beans, corn, milk.
27. Grilled chicken, yellow rice, cailiflower, broccoli, milk.
28. Fried shrimp, white corn, watermelon, roll, milk.
29. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green peas, milk.
30. Hamburger gravy, biscuits, hominy, pears, milk.
31. Cheese, refried beans, tortillas, lettuce, tomato, milk.
32. Vegetable beef soup, crackers, pears, milk.
33. Turkey salad, pita bread, potato salad, plums, milk.
34. Chicken stir fry with rice, apple and pear slices, milk.
35. Chili with beef and beans, crackers, banana, milk.
36. Split pea soup, sliced tomato, crackers, apple pie, milk.
37. Mac and cheese, hamburger patty, mixed vegetables, peaches, milk.
38. Beans and beef franks, cornbread, applesauce, milk.
39. Beef bologna sandwich, banana, carrot and celery sticks, milk.
40. Cheese omelet, hash browns, peaches, wheat toast, milk.
41. Peanut butter sandwich, cheese cubes, apple wedges, milk.
42. Beef ravioli, sweet peas, baked apples, milk.
43. Sloppy joes, beets, ornages, wheat bun, milk.
44. Baked potato w/cheese and broccoli, ham, roll, milk.
45. Pastrami, rye bread, tomato, lettuce, fruit cocktail, milk.
46. Teriyaki chicken, green lima beans, rice, fruit salad, milk.
47. Chicken with noodles, green beans, mango, milk.
48. Grill cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, pears, milk.
49. Beef stroganoff, black-eyed peas, applesauce, milk.
50. Chef salad (ham, turkey, boiled eggs, lettuce), orange slices, crackers, milk.
Snack Time
Nap time is over and your little charges are ready to eat. Time to prepare a quick and healthy snack before sending the children off for some outdoor fun! Here are 50 snack ideas that children of all ages will love.
50 Snack Ideas
1. Bran muffin, apple juice.
2. Graham crackers, milk.
3. Pepperoni, saltine crackers, juice.
4. Cinnamon toast, juice.
5. Cheese toast, grapes, milk.
6. Chocolate muffin, milk.
7. Peanut butter toast, milk.
8. Corn bread, milk.
9. Toasted cheese squares, juice.
10. Buttered english muffin, milk.
11. Cottage cheese, pears, milk.
12. Cheese cubes, apple slices, milk.
13. Soft pretzels, banana, milk.
14. Corn dog, juice.
15. Fruit cocktail, biscuits, juice.
16. Garlic bread, juice.
17. Soft pretzels, cheese dip, milk.
18. Fruit salad, milk.
19. Peanut butter, apple slices, milk.
20. Jello with fruit, milk.
21. Vanilla yogurt, blueberries, juice.
22. Cheerios, milk.
23. Ritz crackers, fruit cups, milk.
24. Carrot bread, juice.
25. Peanut butter sandwich, milk.
26. Bacon crackers, tomato juice.
27. Raw veggies, ranch dressing, milk.
28. Bagels, mixed fruit, milk.
29. Peanut butter cookies, milk.
30. Vanilla wafers, peaches, juice.
31. French fries, milk.
32. Tuna salad, wheat bread, milk.
33. Granola, apple slices, milk.
34. Deviled eggs, milk.
35. Bran muffin, chocolate milk.
36. Tator tots, milk.
37. Pizza muffin with cheese and tomato sauce, milk.
38. Cheesy potato skins, grape juice.
39. Tortilla, cheese dip, milk
40. Fruit kabobs, wheat crackers, juice.
41. Bacon and cheese, bread, orange slices, milk.
42. Ham and cheese cubes, milk.
43. Tuna, rye bread, juice.
44. Refried beans, flour tortilla, milk.
45. Trail mix, apple juice.
46. Bean dip, wheat thins, juice.
47. Pineapple rounds, cottage cheese, milk.
48. Chicken strips, banana, milk.
49. French toast sticks, milk.
50. Cinnamon sugar soft pretzels, juice.
Dinner Time
For those of you running twenty-four hour centers, here are fifty simple dinner ideas.
50 Dinner Ideas.
1. Chicken, french fries, corn, roll, bread, milk.
2. Tuna salad, peas, wheat bread, applesauce, milk.
3. Beef hot dogs, buns, tator tots, banana, milk.
4. Tacos: Hambuger, letuce, tomato, tortilla, milk.
5. Baked ham, boiled potatoes, carrots, roll, milk.
6. Hamburger, tomato sauce noodles, green beans, buttered bread, milk.
7. Stir fry: Chicken, peas, rice, apples, milk.
8. Home-made cheese manacotti, corwder peas, peaches, milk.
9. Beef chili, corn bread, banana, milk.
10. Fish sticks, corn, applesauce, milk.
11. Home-made beef stew with potatoes and carrots, biscuits, milk.
12. Pork chops, mixed veggies, rice, fruit cocktail, milk.
13. Turkey, lettuce, tomato, wheat bread, pears, milk.
14. Egg salad, wheat bread, tomato soup, cherries, milk.
15. Swiss steak, carrots, baked potato, roll, milk.
16. Terriaki chicken, peas, rice, fruit salad, milk.
17. Cheese pizza, pineapple, apple slices, milk.
18. Scrambled egges, hash browns, toast, peaches, milk.
19. Pork chops, mashed potatoes, spiced apples, bread, milk.
20. Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, pears, milk.
21. Pastrami, tomato, lettuce, rye bread, fruit cocktail, milk.
22. Tuna casserole, carrots, lettuce salad, milk.
23. Grilled chicken, brown rice, cauliflower, broccoli, milk.
24. Pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, biscuits, milk.
25. Clam chowder, crackers, corn, fruit cocktail, milk.
26. Hot dog, bun, mixed veggies, applesauce, milk.
27. Peanut butter sandwich, cheese cubes, peaches, milk.
28. Turkey salad, green beans, pita bread, plums, milk.
29. Hamburger gravy, corn, pears, biscuits, milk.
30. Meatloaf, potoatoes, lima beans, rolls, milk.
31. Meatloaf sandwich, fruit plate, carrots and celery, milk.
32. Fried chicken potato salad, grapes, rolls, milk.
33. Ham, baked beans, watermelon, biscuits, milk.
34. Sausage, pancakes, applesauce, orange juice, milk.
35. Baked chicken and rice, green beans, beets, rolls, milk.
36. Baked ham, french toast, hash browns, apples, hot cocoa.
37. Pinto beans with sausage, corn bread, pineapple, milk.
38. Nachos: Ground beef, cheese, tortillas, three-fruit salad, milk.
39. Chicken casserole, noodles, spinach, pears, milk.
40. Tuna, bread, lettuce, cucumbers, fruit cocktail, milk.
41. Bologna and cheese sandwich, vegetable soup, grapes, milk.
42. Broiled fish, baked potatoe, green beans, roll, milk.
43. Sausage and eggs, muffin, hash browns, tomato juice, milk.
44. Black beans and fresh corn tacos, tomato, avacado, milk.
45. Split pea soup, sliced tomato, crackers, apple pie, milk.
46. Fried shrimp, corn, watermelon, roll, milk.
47. Beef stroganoff, peas, applesauce, milk.
48. Cube steak, crowder peas, mashed potatoes, pears, milk.
49. Baked talapia, spanish rice, lima beans, spiced apples, milk.
50. Cream of chicken soup, crackers, lettuce salad, plums, milk.
