Day care centers and family day care

These valuable resources vary quite a lot about food. Larger day care centers often ask parents to send their young children in with all milk and food. In this case, you can use our suggestions for preschool and choose, tailored to your child's age, to help you pack appropriate items.

For older children, both large day care centers and family day care often provide snacks and lunch. If snack foods are provided, they are usually Juice with plain cookies or crackers. Since apple juice is low in nutrients, are you may wish to consider requesting that more nutritious drinks be served, such as milk or orange juice. Plain cookies are not actually bad food when eaten in moderation, but if your center serves nothing else they may be receptive to suggested alternatives such as crackers, served plain or with a spread such as cream cheese or peanut butter, and fresh fruit.

The quality of lunches cooked by a center can vary a lot. However, most centers that supply lunch also provide parents with their weekly menu, so you can see what your child is getting. If your center cooks hot dogs, for example -- which you don't want your child to eat because of the nitrites -- you will need to explain. Most day care centers are enthusiastic about serving healthy food, and the Director may be glad to share our list of foods to avoid.