Daycare Moms

What do your toddlers (1-2yrs.) eat for lunch?
Do you pack a lunch?
Cole goes one day a week. I used to pack him a couple of jars for lunch, but he really eats only table food now. The thing is, he still needs to be "fed" as in cut off small bites and put one down in front of him so he can pick it up and feed himself. When he ate jar food, lunch was a 4 minute thing, now we usually sit at the table for almost a half hour. I'll cut up small slices of cucumbers or pears and give him cut up turkey, etc.
So DH and I disagree about this: He thinks I should continue to send jar food 1 day a week so its not inconveniencing the sitter (and also for safety because he has choked on more than one occasion if you put more than 2 bites in front of him). I trust her to feed him properly, and she's so agreeable that I don't think she'd say she's too busy. But do yuo think its unfair to expect her to "prepare" his meal and sit with him while he's eating?
Just wondering what everyone else does. --Sorry this is so long winded!

Re: Daycare Moms

I don't pack lunch. I do send along a yogurt as a snack though. Day care provides 2 snacks, beverages and lunch. He sits in a table with 6 or so other babies and they are all fed the same thing (table food): chicken nuggets, spaghettios, fish sticks, soup, grilled cheese, etc.

When he was still on jarred food and formula, obviously I sent those along.

I assume they are not as patient with Andrew as we are at home when mealtime is really play time and throwing food at the wall time!!

But I always just think if he's hungry, he'll eat and I think seeing the other children eating helps too.

Re: Daycare Moms

I don't send anything my daycare provides everything the only thing I had to provide was her own sippy cup and personal things like blanket sheets wipes and diapers but the daycare woman provides everything and I get the scoop whenever I pick her up on if she ate and how she ate. I am sure if you tell them they will listen to what you say.

Re: Daycare Moms

Our daycare provides all of the food. If you want you can FM me a fax # & I can fax you over this month's menu tomorrow if you're looking for ideas.

eta. I think she should sit with him while he eats but I think he should be learning how to eat table food.

Message edited 4/11/2006 2:47:37 PM.

Re: Daycare Moms

Re: Daycare Moms

Re: Daycare Moms

Molly is 2.4 years old and I pack
A milk box- like a juice box but with milk, she loves these
2 juice cups (so I can water down the juice)
a mini-Stonyfield yogurt
a 1/2 of cheese sandwhich
Dole manderin oranges or pineapples in those little bowls

Sometimes I will swap out and use
Raisins
Apple Sauce
Graham Crackers
Crackers/ a piece of cheese
brocolli
Gerber cereal bars

Molly eats some for lunch and some for snack.

I would have no issues sending food for Molly if I trusted the sitter. If you send a jar she is still feeding him so what is the difference? KWIM? Molly will sometimes feed herself the yogurt and sometimes she asks her teacher to do it. They put the other stuff in front of her and she will eat it by herself.

Re: Daycare Moms

At my daycare everything is provided by the center. They don't serve the infants on plates, but they cut up whatever may be for lunch into very tiny pieces. Then they put one food at a time right on the high chair. Like today was fish sticks, peaches, string beans and milk. They are given a few pieces at a time about half the size of a penny. After they are done with one food they are given another, starting with the vegetables. A sip or so of milk is given between foods.

Re: Daycare Moms

Thanks everyone. this is really helpful.