lunch at daycare

[Martha27]

My kids will be starting full time daycare this monday for the summer while I work mon-fri until the fall. They are going to be going to an in-home daycare that gets state aid to serve breakfast and lunch and snacks to full time kids. I am worried though about what kinds of food they will be served but don't want to come off as rude to the provider. I am sure it wont be candy and chips and other junk like that but i'm pretty picky about my kids eating only whole wheat bread, no HFCS at all, fruit juice only used in small tablespoon doses to flavor water once in awhile, and no processed foods or things like chicken fingers that others might see as OK. What do you do in this situation? Can I even ask to pack their lunch or would that mess up the daycares state food program? also I feel like that would be a little rude b/c im not a convertational person at all and worry all the time about hurting peoples feelings!
what should I do?

[Grace and Granola]

I don't think it's unreasonable for you to just ask the provider what they serve for their meals/snacks. If you find those things objectionable, I would ask if you could send some things. If there aren't too many kids, you could offer to send a box of "x" for snack that all the kids could share for snack that week. And then just ask how they feel about packing lunches. I would not be offended if anyone asked that.

I watch just a couple of kids, and I appreciate anything that their parents send over even though I don't require or ask them too. Again, if there's not too many kids, I don't think it would be a big deal.

My first thought, was if it was my kids, I would say they were allergic to HFCS and artificial sweetener. That would block out a whole chunk of bad foods. And then say only milk or water to drink. By doing that, either the provider will be ok shopping around your childs "allergies" or they will be grateful for you to provide your own food!

I don't think you're going to have complete control over what your child eats unless you happen to get a provider that feels as strongly as you do about nutrition (like me!) My ds1 goes to preschool and I've had to let go of my ideals a bit. He only get one snack though, so when he tells me he at cheezits and vanilla wafers, I cringe, and then let it go.

Good luck!