Daycare Menus Made Easy

So many people panic about daycare menus, what they should and shouldn't do, what needs to be included to cover the requirements of the dreaded food pyramid and generally get themselves in an awful tizzy about something that simply requires a little common sense. When cooking for a day care you need to ensure you are providing nutritious meals, that the food preparation process is hygienic and that the meals you are providing are easily prepared in bulk.
Healthy, easy to prepare, well rounded meals are the key. Your mom and grandma could probably give you some tips on one pot meals that would be ideal for your daycare menus. Keep it simple and stop thinking that you need to transform yourself into Jamie Oliver. The range of options available is huge and can include thick soups, steamed vegetables, stews, casseroles, pasta, fish and seasonal fruit. Cheese, crackers, rice cakes, raisins, carrot sticks, sandwiches and yogurts make great snacks.
My day care is in Ireland and I don't provide food (check if this is an option in your area) so we reheat the meals that the kids bring in. Another option to consider is ordering pre-prepared, frozen meals and heating on the premises. Delivery to your day care is part of the service for many companies who prepare these frozen meals. This will add to your costs but you could have parents pay for this service.
Health, safety and hygiene procedures must be in place when wherever food preparation occurs. You are protecting not only the children you feed but also yourself and your day care business. You must be able to prove that you are not to blame should a case of food poisoning break out. This can be achieved by formulating a food safety policy which will detail all the steps and procedures in place at your day care to achieve food safety.
Check for menus posted on the internet as my day cares will have details on their websites. Arrange visits to day cares locally and ask about their food options. Booklets and information should be available from your child care licensing inspector. The key thing to bear in mind is that daycare menus shouldn't be complicated, just simple, honest to goodness nourishing food.

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