School Potlucks

Fried Chicken, more fried chicken, pizza, fried chicken, fried chicken and more fried chicken. That's what entrees were available at the potluck for my child's class last week. I know people are busy and don't have time or want to cook. I know that store bought or take out is more convenient and I have no problem with this. But I also know that there are plenty of store bought and take out opportunities that are a lot healthier than fried chicken.

If asked to donate books to the school, I doubt that these parents would choose poorly written stories or books portraying anti-social or illegal activities as desirable outcomes. They want the best for their children (this was a potluck at a private school)and will complain if they believe their child is not getting the best available. So why do they choose fried chicken?

I wonder what these parents are thinking when they purchased all of this chicken. I don't know all of these parents well, but as a group they are educated and upper middle class or above. It never ceases to surprise me that when we try to provide the best for our children, nutrition is often over looked.

These parents want the school to provide positive role models for their children. They want the best teachers, the most current technology, plus theatre, sports, dance, art, foreign language, advanced placement classes, international studies and travel opportunities, and healthy food at the cafeteria. They want recycling, volunteering opportunities,and college ready young adults at graduation. I am all for this, but I also see that I have a role to play as well. It is my job to model appropriate food choices by providing nourishing food. I know potlucks are parties and are for fun--but let's also remember that we are always influencing our kids, even through our food choices.

Road Trips and Restaurants

Just because you have children doesn’t mean that you can no longer eat at a restaurant. The experience will definitely be different than pre-kids, but with some planning it can also be enjoyable. Here are some suggestions from other parents who have taken their children to restaurants, and survived.

• Go early, for better service, avoid waiting for a table
• Choose family restaurants
• Choose noisy restaurants
• Choose restaurants where children can be entertained: ceiling fans, fire places, fish tanks, open kitchen, other babies
• After ordering, take children for a walk around the restaurant or outside
• Make reservations if possible
• Order appetizer as child’s meal
• Share your meal with a child (don’t need to order “kid’s meal”), ask for an extra plate

How to Eat your Food While it is still Hot

• Take turns eating with other adults
• Have your meal brought later or earlier
• Have you Child’s meal brought earlier
• Make sure your child is hungry, give only small amounts of snacks before the food arrives.

What to Bring

Portable high chair (Upside-down wooden restaurant high chairs will hold a car seat)
• “Floppy” which fits over high chair and shopping cart
• Sippy cup
• Toys (on rings)
• Small snacks to eat before food arrives or if child finishes first
• Disposable or reusable mat for table
• Bib
• Wipes

Keep it Safe

• Move most items out of child’s reach as before child sits down
• Don’t put a tray down within child’s reach
• Check food temperature, may be too hot
• Check for hot plates, especially in Mexican restaurants
• Cleanliness of table tops, highchairs and floor
• Stability of restaurant high chair

How to Deal with the Mess

• Pick up after your child
• Tip more, don’t forget the bus person who is likely to do most of the cleaning
• Use a bib with a catch pocket at the bottom
• If available, ask for a paper drop cloth


Long Car Trips (over 2 hours)

• Bring both healthy and fun foods. Bring foods that are new and fun to help with interest. (If your child has food allergies, do not bring any new foods; you don’t want a reaction on the road).
• Pack paper towels, napkins or pre-moistened wipes.
• Let your children drink water freely, juice and other sweet drinks consumed for fun will also increase the need for more bathroom stops.
• Offering foods as a distraction is okay, but not too often, approximately every 1.5 -2 hours. Do not offer food 1.5-2 hours before you plan to have a meal or your child won’t be hungry.
• Do not use food as a reward for good behavior or take it away for undesirable behavior

Offer snacks that won’t stain when spilled
Crackers, cereal, cookies, fruit, vegetables, cheese, nuts and seeds (children over age 3), avoid dips, jelly, cream filled foods, foods in tubes or cups (yogurt, pudding, applesauce) and foods that melt such as popsicles and chocolate.

Choking
Avoid any potentially choking food, especially for children under age 3. Sit next to and observe a child under age 3 with all foods.

Choking foods include:
Hard candies and most fresh fruits and vegetables, chips, raisins, whole grapes, teething biscuits, and hard crackers

Keeping Food Fresh:
A cooler packed with ice or cold packs is ideal for car travel, especially in the summer. Frozen juice boxes or yogurt tubes can be used to keep other foods cold. Each child can be given an insulated lunch box with a variety of snacks and drinks. Perishable foods are not considered safe for eating if they have been at room temperature or above for more than 2 hours. (Perishable food in a hot car will be safe for an even shorter time).
If you are not traveling with a cooler filled with ice, limit snacks to those that are stored at room temperature:
Crackers, cereal, cookies, nuts and seeds (children over age 3), dried fruit, and hearty fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots and oranges.

Stop to Eat Meals
• Children need breaks, to run, play and eat a real meal.
• Bring a blanket for a picnic or a plastic table cloth for public picnic tables.
• Eat the messy foods at meals: PB&J sandwiches, packaged applesauce, yogurt or pudding, anything with chocolate.
• Pack sandwich fixings such as bread, deli slices, tomatoes and condiments or bring crackers, cheese and fruit.
• Children like dips such as bean dip, salsa, hummus and salad dressings for crackers, chips, fruit slices and veggie sticks.
Finger foods for Traveling with Babies (Sit next to and observe an eating child under age 3 with all foods.)
• Cheerios or chex style cereals
• Oyster crackers
• Thin break sticks
• Pre-cooked, soft noodles
• Soft cooked beans
• Cooked rice, barley, quinoa, millet or couscous
• Small pieces of soft fruit: canned peaches, pears or apricots, fresh banana, melon, avocado or kiwi
• Canned or steamed peas, carrots, zucchini
• Grated cheese
• Pre-cooked pieces of potato, sweet potato or squash