Is this really healthy enough for a child to have every day for lunch

[Coconutcheese]

One of my friends is a childminder - I pop round every so often maybe 3/4 times a month and every time without fail the kids she takes care of are having the same lunch she calls it a ‘picky plate’ it consists of
for the baby - baby puff crisps , grated cheese, banana and some yogurt and for the older children baby puff crisps, cheese, ham, banana, strawberries , raisins and a small yogurt.

I said to her ‘is that enough don’t they get hungry ?!’ She said no it’s plenty as she always does a proper tea (a casserole or pasta or chunky veg soup and bread) but it just doesn’t seem that good for a childcare setting or is it more strict for nurseries (do childminders need to have a menu for each week ?)

Edited to add as I forgot to include the important bit that she told me it’s what they have every single day as it’s quick and easy

Exactly why I'm not sending child to childminder

Leave it to the parents to judge.

It’s lazy and full of sugar and as a parent I’d be unimpressed. Nothing wrong with cold foods if they’re having a cooked dinner, but that’s just a bit shit. Kids need carbs - putting some crackers on the plate or making a sandwich is hardly effort and neither is cutting up some veg and other fruits for variety. Crisps, raisins and ham every single day is rubbish. If I was a parent of one of her mindees I’d be wondering what other corners is she cutting or being lazy with?

I do also loathe the terms “picky plate” or “picky bits”. If it’s supposed to be a meal I want the child to eat it not pick at it.

Isn't the recent guidance that ham can be carcinogenic if fed too often?

Raisins are terrible for teeth.

Yeah, I wouldn't want my kid eating this every day TBH

Surely it's just as easy to offer varied fresh fruit and chicken or a sliced boiled egg ..?

The lunches could be better but the hot meals sound perfectly good.

Sounds fine to me

It should be more varied and it shouldn't have all that sugar (plus raisins have a horrible effect on teeth).

She could offer scrambled egg, cottage cheese, avocado, cubes of cheese, toast with peanut butter, sweet potato cubes, peas, diced carrots, broccoli florets, cubes of melon...

Easier and cheaper to feed them crap though... which is why she's doing it. At least they will eat it.

Ham is fine. It's correlation v causation.

I wouldn't want my child to eat that every day. Once a week ok but if it was me I'd look for a new childminder

I'm confused, isn't this in addition to the hot meal provided for the picky eaters? Could be healthier of course, but maybe it's because they're picky?

She knows the children.you don't.

Honestly I don't think it's completely awful, but it wouldn't be difficult to make a few improvements. I'd get rid of the crisps, limit the raisins and add in some crackers/sandwich/wraps/pasta/egg

It’s not that bad, but it’s not that good.

The parents are presumably alright with it.

She shouldn't be giving the children crisps as one of their main foods every lunchtime!

Lunch..... baby puff crisps, cheese, ham, banana, strawberries , raisins and a small yogurt....... a proper tea (a casserole or pasta or chunky veg soup and bread)

This diet is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and deficient in protein and vegetables.

I would not consider this acceptable.

I think a picky plate is generally a good lunch for this age group, but what she's including is lacking. If she put some carbs and veg in there, varied the fruit and protein a bit it would be fine.

It's not the best, but if anyone thinks nurseries and/ or preschools are inevitably better at feeding children you're kidding yourselves. My kids have been to all types of setting and most of the food they've had daytime has been crap - almost daily beans on toast in one of them.

Concerned parents were usually allowed to provide their own food (as long as it was without major allergens).

The cooked food sounds fine and what is important is what parents feed their kids around the daycare provider anyway. I mean, it's all well and good complaining, but if your child has, say, cereal for breakfast most days it's a bit hypocritical.

Oh and wait until the children go to secondary school. The food on offer is generally appalling.

If your friend is working, are you allowed to be visiting? I thought regular visitors had to be declared?

This. I'd be more concerned about regular visitors from adults who are not the child care provider.

No I'd not care for that

picky bits is fine but I would want it tweaked

Carbs
a better more plentiful carb source (potato sweet potato whole wheat pasta etc.) not puffies and banana

Fruit&veg
More veg - bin the raisins add veg variety

Protein
Ham contains nitrates. Cut that right back...
Mix up the protein daily things like boiled egg, chicken, meatballs etc

I don’t think it’s too bad. Yes there are healthier choices but I’d rather my kid ate an “okay” meal than was hungry (and difficult to manage). I’d probably nix the “snack” foods at lunchtime and swap crisps for crackers and raisins for fresh fruit or veg (cucumber sticks would be easy). But yesterday my baby didn’t eat anything other than breastmilk and melty sticks

I don’t know but I had an enhanced dbs check for my work previously which she knows about so maybe that’s ok I only pop round for a coffee few times a month if I’m in the area

She does offer some great activities and is always out and about so the quick lunch I think is because of that ? It just didn’t look that healthy to me for everyday I don’t know - I just mentioned don’t they get hungry , and said how when I have a lunch similar to that I’m starving after and hour so now add things like avocado , chicken she just said she takes the kids breadsticks to have as their afternoon snack and they are fine

Honestly i wouldn't be expecting a childminder to be overally perfect with catering to 10 kids meals whilst simultaneously minding them all. I guess the parents can send them in with a packed lunch.

I would be a bit eh with ham everyday..i mean i would assume its the processed kiddy slices, also a lot of salt, so not great every day. I would hope a 'picky plate' would change a bit over the week..like chicken instead of ham, different fruit, cream cheese with crackers ect just a bit of variation and that wouldnt be taxing just buying a different thing thats still same price.

Dinner sounds good.

I also never offer crisps with a meal..i prefer they eat the healthier bits first, then if they are still hungry offer after..but as you say maybe she is rushed for time.

Having worked in a nursery this sounds like snack and 'tea' sounds like lunch.

So I think in thats case its fine.

What time is this 'lunch' served?