Welcome to this year’s A to Z Challenge! This year I’m talking Child Care. I’ll be blogging topics related to my many years in the family home daycare profession. I hope you can find a tidbit of information that is useful in caring for children whether you’re a parent, grand or another important person in a child’s life. And to end each post, I’ll share a bit of my creative side/relaxation time. Taking time for yourself is good for your health–both yours and your family’s 😉

I have been asked many, many times what meals are served here so moms know what their children will eat at home. (back to the picky eating thing) But in the defense of mothers everywhere, this is one of the hardest issues to keep from worrying over. Must be in our DNA.

The following is a list of what I’ve found most appealing to the children I’ve cared for over the years. Please note that in our meal plans, we are required to serve (at lunch) a Meat/protein, fluid milk, bread/grain, fruit and vegetable or 2 different vegetables. No exceptions without a dr. note. So the ideas below will be your main entree and may or may not include all the food components in the meal. In which case, I serve the additional foods necessary. Just want to clarify this in case my licensing peeps decide to peruse my blog someday. Also to let you know how important nutrition is in early childhood. Important enough to warrant all the rules you’ll never want to read through.

1. Pizza— This includes frozen, pizzas made from English muffins, and homemade. Toppings are somthing you can let the kids help with. Always a good party food. Also, name anything made with roundness (tortillas, bread cut in a circle, crackers) pizza and they’ll likely gobble it up.
2. Quesadillas– Also called pizza by some due to the triangle slices. Fill them with chopped ham and cheese, beef and cheese, chicken and cheese, refried beans and beef, or just the cheese of your choice. Easy peesy.
3. Burgers— Cheese or plain, sloppy jo, taco burger, pizza burger, or baby burger on biscuits.
4. Omelets— Fill and fold with their favorites and sneak in a finely chopped vegie or two.
5. Soups — Special noodles or rice can be the main focus. But let them help with the vegie choices and you may have a winning recipe.
6. Pasta— this is such a versatile meal starter. Everything from mac and cheese to pasta with helpers. Ex. chicken and noodles, tuna alfredo, beef and cheese mac, chili mac, spaghetti with meat or meatballs.
7. Meat Pies— We’re not just talking pot pies. And those frozen varieties are Not credible with regulations. Anyway, one we like is tator tot casserole….a different take on Shephards Pie.
8. Sandwiches— Toasted, pockets, pitas, subs, waffle and sliders. My kids can’t get enough of these. Filling ideas are ham, turkey, bbq beef, meatballs, tuna/chicken salad, hot ham n cheese, eggs and cheese, pepperoni and mozzarella and on and on.

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Just try new ideas in addition to known favorites and you can help them realize options as well as expose them to new ones. Keeping the familiar with the new can help keep your sanity and help you be sure they’re not starving. And we all know what Hangry looks like in all ages.

As I conclude my 2020 A to Z Challenge, I want to wish you the peace and wellness needed to survive the extremely difficult circumstances so many are dealing with. Thank you to our hosts who are phenominal bloggers/people. Thanks for all the wonderful visitors whether you commented, liked or just peeked in during the Challenge this year. Your presence was much appreciated. I hope my posts give you more reason to hug the children in your life and remember Children Matter.