Last month, the Food and Nutrition Committee at Caroline's day care sent out a survey to all of the parents. I'm the chair of the committee (surprise, surprise) so I was involved in creating the survey. The results are in! The sample size is small (less than 25 percent) but it was clear that I am not the only one that is dissatisfied with the menus. Parents seems frustrated with how many sweets are served (syrup, jam, cookies, cake, cinnamon bun crackers, etc.), the lack of variety when it comes to fruits and vegetables, and how often white bread is on the menu. But now that the results are in, I'm wondering what the director and cook are going to be willing to do to address parents' concerns. I have a nagging feeling that the answer is "nothing." I've been on this committee now for 9 months (chair for 6) and I can honestly say that I have not seen any improvements to the food program. This week, the children - some of them only 1 year old - have been served pound cake, fruit cocktail, hot dogs, French fries, and croissants (and I don't care that they are "wheat" - a croissant is a croissant). Tomorrow, they'll get chocolate chip cookies for snack. Why? And more importantly, how are we going to go about improving the menu? The Food and Nutrition Committee is meeting to discuss the survey tomorrow.
Caroline's Lunchbox Menu, December 14: Breakfast - O's, blueberries (frozen, Walton Orchards); Lunch - scrambled eggs, 100% whole grain toast, chard, tomato soup; Snacks - pearsauce, plain whole milk yogurt
Childcare Center Menu, December 14: Breakfast - fruit cocktail, wheat croissants; Lunch - turkey sandwiches, carrots, pears, bread, potato soup; Snacks - chocolate cookies, carrots
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