Meal & Snack inspiration!

[mumofone]

Does anyone know any websites or other childminders who offer good snacks or meals, am looking for inspiration to stop things becoming "samey". Thanks :-)

[Amanda70]

Does anyone know any websites or other childminders who offer good snacks or meals, am looking for inspiration to stop things becoming "samey". Thanks :-)

I know how you feel, Ive only been registered since June but as long as you offer a variety I think it's ok, at lunch I give either chicken, ham etc sandwiches or wraps, crackers (different varieties) with cheese, yogurts, fruit. Snacks I offer fruit with a croissant or waffle. Tea I offer cooked dinners, pasta, cottage pie, lasagne, spaghetti Bol, rice pudding or fruit or yoghurt.

I always worry if I'm offering enough but the children never go hungry 😃

[natlou82]

Have you tried childminding munching menus on FB. There's often good ideas on there :-)

[mumofone]

Have you tried childminding munching menus on FB. There's often good ideas on there :-)

Aw I'm not on fb :-(

[natlou82]

I'm always trying to change things but unfortunately my mindees aren't as adventurous as I'd like so I end up sticking with the old faithfuls lol! I did pitta pockets with tuna and salad today to make a change from sandwiches which went down well. Sometimes I just try and think of different ways to present food (eg instead of chicken on the plate, present it in a wrap. My LOs also like to serve themselves (they sometimes eat more when I do this too). I usually look on bbc good food for recipe inspiration xx

[moggy]

Egg noodles with sliced mushrooms added in the water while you are cooking, drain, add splash of soy sauce and chopped cashew nuts- quick lunch and we have that instead of sandwiches sometimes.

[moggy]

Recipes (http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/recipes/)

there is a recipes section above!

[mumofone]

Recipes (http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/recipes/) there is a recipes section above!

Thanks moggy, I've seen these before but didn't like the sound of any of it unfortunately! (Apologies if you wrote it!!) x

[Pixie dust]

Thanks moggy, I've seen these before but didn't like the sound of any of it unfortunately! (Apologies if you wrote it!!) x

Curious to what you serve now if you didn't like the recipe ideas as it is very similar to what I serve the children.

[Simona]

Does anyone know any websites or other childminders who offer good snacks or meals, am looking for inspiration to stop things becoming "samey". Thanks :-)

I would check any website that would give me ideas for my child as well...what would you like to feed your child?
Do you intend to cook different meals for the children or use the same recipes you would for an adult?

Also remember to ask the children...what would they like, what are their favourites.
I know I always say 'ask the children' but why not? makes life a lot easier!!

[bunyip]

Look no further....

Order Takeaway from 20,000+ Food Delivery Restaurants | JUST EAT (http://www.just-eat.co.uk/?gclid=COfMpaWyt8cCFSb3wgod3n8Fig)


It works for me. :D

[mumofone]

What goes well with raisins as a kids snack?

[bunyip]

What goes well with raisins as a kids snack?

More raisins? :huh:

Wasn't it D.I. Ross (in Taggart) who described raisins as, "crack cocaine for the under-fives" ????? :rolleyes:

[mumofone]

More raisins? :huh: Wasn't it D.I. Ross (in Taggart) who described raisins as, "crack cocaine for the under-fives" ????? :rolleyes:

Lol did he?!

[mumofone]

Also looking for inspiration as to what to serve dried apricots with as snack inspiration? If anyone has any good ideas please :-)

[TinyTinker]

I find the more adventurous I become the more gets wasted! lol....I try different fruit - the other day I gave them cantelope melon with their snack and they said 'what's this!' and 'I'm not eating that!'

oh well.

[moggy]

Also looking for inspiration as to what to serve dried apricots with as snack inspiration? If anyone has any good ideas please :-)

Early years - Childrens Food TrustChildrens Food Trust (http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/)
The Childrens Food Trust is advising not to give dried fruit as a snack at all- it is so full of sugar, sticks to teeth and as it is 'between meals' it does a lot of damage (see recent reports on problems of tooth decay on children)

https://www.mydentist.co.uk/dental-health/dental-treatments/kids-club/my-childs-diet

https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/sundry/diet

I no longer give dried fruits as snacks but give it as a pudding as part of a meal.

Snacks here are breadsticks, crackers, houmous, peanut butter, fresh fruit, oatcakes, plain popcorn, cheese.

[moggy]

Early years - Childrens Food TrustChildrens Food Trust (http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/)
The Childrens Food Trust is advising not to give dried fruit as a snack at all- it is so full of sugar, sticks to teeth and as it is 'between meals' it does a lot of damage (see recent reports on problems of tooth decay on children)

https://www.mydentist.co.uk/dental-health/dental-treatments/kids-club/my-childs-diet

https://www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/sundry/diet

I no longer give dried fruits as snacks but give it as a pudding as part of a meal.

Snacks here are breadsticks, crackers, houmous, peanut butter, fresh fruit, oatcakes, plain popcorn, cheese.

This is a super document: Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings in England - A Practical Guide

Download it here: Downloadable resources for early years - Childrens Food TrustChildrens Food Trust (http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/ey-resources/)

Pages 38 and 39 are all about snacks for early years age group.

[mumofone]

This is a super document: Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings in England - A Practical Guide Download it here: Downloadable resources for early years - Childrens Food TrustChildrens Food Trust (http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/ey-resources/) Pages 38 and 39 are all about snacks for early years age group.

Thanks moggy, I actually have this and saw those but dare I say it but I felt like the ideas were almost too healthy! I feel like a lot of the official advice given food wise is a bit unappealing like rice cakes water and a banana or something. I like to think the snacks and meals I serve up are healthy but also appealing and with these kind of documents I find their often too OTT.

I saw that about raisins too actually and did wonder if I should strike these off my menu! I think I will now! :-)

[FloraDora]

Thanks moggy, I actually have this and saw those but dare I say it but I felt like the ideas were almost too healthy! I feel like a lot of the official advice given food wise is a bit unappealing like rice cakes water and a banana or something. I like to think the snacks and meals I serve up are healthy but also appealing and with these kind of documents I find their often too OTT.

I saw that about raisins too actually and did wonder if I should strike these off my menu! I think I will now! :-)

Rice cakes, sliced banana and a glass of water, my LO would love that!

Served well there is nothing more appealing than a cold glass of water......
There is absolutely no need to introduce squash into Childrens diets, in my opinion.

I like the mentioned booklet, some good ideas, often what is appealing to a mature adult tastes is often different to childrens.

The way you serve food often makes a difference, mine love to chop up lemon, lime or cucumbers ( summer favourite as we have an abundance in our greenhouse). And pop it in the water jug for something different, add shaped ice and the jug gets emptied and drunk really quickly.