Suggestions on feeding lunch to different age groups

Hey ladies!
Just wondering if you guys had any suggestions on feeding lunch to a group of kids who are at different levels of eating?

I have a 14 month old who is just starting to phase out jarred food, my own 20 month old who is finally eating table foods but is finicky where one day he likes something the next he doesn't and then I have a 2 & 4 year old who basically eat whatever I put in front of them. I was finally at the point where I was able to serve the same lunch to everyone (minus the infant who ate the jarred food) and then I just added or subtracted food on my sons plate for what I knew he would or wouldn't eat. Not a big deal but now I have the 14 month old who is now learning and I fear that I will have to make 2-3 different things in order to get enough food in there tummy's for lunch.

Any suggestions?? I'd love to hear what you guys serve for lunches

I suppose I'm so fearful because it seems that it has taken me quite a long time to finally get my son eating table foods (who is also at the stage where you have to watch him like a hawk otherwise his food, utensils, plates, etc get thrown across the room - he thinks it's a game :mad:) that I'm nervous about doing it all over again so soon with another child.

Thanks in advance

At the start food was definitely my biggest challenge (picky eaters); but someone on here gave me very good advice: It's your job to OFFER a healthy, varied menu. I rarely have something at lunch that they will all eat in it's entirety (the snack stuff they all usually love, fruits, cheeses, crackers, yogurt, veggies, dip etc.). I first start with very small portions & add to if they're still hungry (I too have one that would throw/dump; I would feed him one thing at a time...as soon as something went on the floor would no longer give him anything). I also made the mistake of serving lots at morning snack...no wonder they weren't so interested in lunch;). In my daycare (as is my philosophy with my own children) everyone gets the same, I simply tailor it to the stages (purée or chop it). My food rules, gently urge them to at least try a bite of something they think they don't like. If they do try a bite, BIG praise! I honestly have noticed a huge change in them, they will at least try a bite (and often eat it all!) before shaking their head;). Trust me, if you start making different things for each, they will each want what the others have...big problems. And you know what, I too have had my picky eaters not eat a bite of lunch. I just don't stress over it (I'll usually throw a little extra afternoon snack on their plate). I also make sure and tell parents my food philosophy in interview. Another thing I have adapted with my children and my home daycare is that now I only serve water to drink at ALL times; they gets lots of dairy/fruit in their diet and this way they aren't filling up on fluids. Good luck to you!

I personally do not allow jarred food from home - I make all my own food and this allows me control over how quickly kids get to normal consistency food here as well as basically to cook one meal for everyone regardless of age or preference cause it is not about what they like but providing nutrient rich variety for me - I do not cater to picky eaters - IME if they are truly allowed to get hungry they learn to eat what is placed in front of them verses holding out for preferred foods they assume they will get if the refuse to eat other options - than I use the Magic bullet to purée to consistency needed if I have infants or chop with knife for others ... so in times prior when I had an 8 month old his food got zipped, the 15 month old got chopped a bit extra with knife and everyone else was normal....currently my youngest is 10 months and a sibling of a family I've had in care 4 years so they know my phiolosphy well and therefore this babe is already daycare ready and eating table foods on his own either with fingers or a spork with just a knife chopped consistency...he never had babe food straight to table foods with no purée food.

For infants with food restrictions due to age ...aka no fish until over 1 or no peanut butter until 2 I keep a selection of homemade options in freezer as back up ... so if we are having fish for example and babes not over a year yet I can pull out a serving of chicken or beef for that one kid that I'd put aside last time I'd made cooked some - so all I have to do is warm it up.

Works great for me - my kids are all basically awesome eaters the only time I have challenges is when I start a child whose older and not been here since infancy - and even than within a couple months picky eaters quickly learn here I do not care if they eat or not so without the picky water struggle they start eating cause they know of they do not nothing else but water if thirsty comes out until next schehdled meal time at which point they are hungry enough to choose to eat whatever is placed in front of them.

IMO picky eaters are a first world problem because we cultivate it with fears children will somehow be harmed if they miss a meal or snack and so adults cave and give them things they know they like to ensure they eat and kids even infants quickly pick up on this power they have of refusing to eat to get preferred foods ... reality is as long as they are drinking children can go a few DAYS without eating and be fine ... we do it everytime we get a stomach flu and have no choice cause food won't stay in ;)

Everyday I eat foods I do not "like" because I know I need more variety to be healthy and eating healthy makes me feel better all around. Fact is food is supposed to be about healthy sustenance not meeting the emotional likes or needs we tend to make it here in North America ... IMO the earlier we teach children that the less likely they will grow up to have food related health issues like over eating, emotional eating and social over indulgence and so forth.

My meals for everyone are basically finger foods. I expect the 2-3 year olds to use their utensils but sometimes turn a blind eye here and there when they forget - they have a habit of holding the utensil in the one hand and eating the food with the other.

For vegetables I serve frozen mixed veggies almost every day (if you get the storebrand from metro they have yellow beans instead of lima beans which are much safer for the kids). That way they get used to mixtures and they are allowed to eat the parts they like and leave the parts they don't but they must eat two of the veggies to be considered done in terms of being served anything else.

For fruit I use canned fruit for the youngest - ie the fruit has been cooked but is cubed - Or mash with a fork if you are feeding it. For the older ones I cut up apples, pears, nectarines, etc. They all eat bananas cut into pieces.

Basically the younger ones need more of the food cooked to soften such as microwave apple slices a bit or boil mini carrots and then slice.

Breads group is pasta, cubed potatoes, pretty much any bread with toasted and cubed easiest for the little ones.

I think what you will find is that for the most part you can do the same meals but simplify things. A casserole can be mashed and fed to the babies just as you do now with the jarred food while saving a few noodles before assembling the casserold to give the baby as fingerfood to play with.

I serve the same thing to everyone. I'm not a restaurant. I just cut it up smaller for the younger ones. A 14 month old should be eating pretty much anything and shouldn't be on jarred food anyway and they should be able to feed themselves for the most part (with the exception of yogurt/apple sauce/soup type foods...but even then they should be learning). Jarred food is disgusting imo.

I serve all fresh food made from scratch and I agree - I'm not a restaurant. However, I do learn what the children will and won't eat over time with practice and will make adjustments. I had a little boy who wouldn't eat combined food like a casserole and I have a boy who has a lactose intolerance so I can't make my home made mac n cheese for him, I have to make his separately. I have a little girl who only eats raw veggies, I only use a few things frozen or out of a jar or can and the only thing that comes out of a box is crackers and cereal.

But even the chicken breasts, pork chops, steak and other meats that I make for lunch are just cut into different sizes depending on the ages of the children, really tiny pieces for the babies. Fresh, mostly organically grown fruits and veggies are served, chopped into different sizes and even the bread products are the same for every child, just chopped into different sizes.

KEEP YOUR LIFE SIMPLE! We work really hard, long days and we learn over time how to streamline some things and food should be one thing you figure out quickly. My crockpot is my best buddy!

I don't like throwing food in the garbage so I give them all small portions then if they eat it all they can have more and more. They go through growing spurts where they eat less and then all of a sudden they are starving for weeks. Go with the flow and don't stress.

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Originally Posted by Inspired by Reggio

For infants with food restrictions due to age ...aka no fish until over 1 or no peanut butter until 2 I keep a selection of homemade options in freezer as back up ... so if we are having fish for example and babes not over a year yet I can pull out a serving of chicken or beef for that one kid that I'd put aside last time I'd made cooked some - so all I have to do is warm it up.

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Now studies actually show that it is better to introduce foods such as peanut butter, eggs, fish etc early. My daughter's pediatrician said to start introducing them as soon as she was eating solids.

I serve the same meal to all ages. Like the women above mentioned, I just blend, chop or cut accordingly. I bake sweet potato and steam all other organic veggies (keeps more nutrients than boiling) and then I keep them in the fridge up to 3 days. This way I only have to prep twice a week. I always give either whole wheat or whole grain bread unless I make whole wheat pasta which I may keep in the fridge for a day or two. Meat I make chicken, beef, eggs, beans etc or I give peanut butter or tuna. I give organic fruit for dessert. And milk is given at lunch (after their meal has been eaten) and water the rest of the day. Snacks are usually fruit and crackers, or cheese and fruit/crackers, yogurt etc. I keep it really simple. Easy for me, easy for the children!

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Originally Posted by LittleFeet

Now studies actually show that it is better to introduce foods such as peanut butter, eggs, fish etc early. My daughter's pediatrician said to start introducing them as soon as she was eating solids. ...

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Agreed ~ I still follow parents lead on when to introduce though and some of them have Dr's who are still old school and want them to have the MMR before eggs are given and so forth ... I want them to eat new things that are traditional 'allergen risks' at home first so if there is a reaction it occurs there ... reality is that all my baking contains 'nuts' anyway cause I use almond, pecan, coconut based flours verses wheat flour so they are getting 'nuts' as soon as they are old enough to have a muffin or homemade cookie .... just not 'peanuts or peanut butter' until the parent has done that at home first.

I hear ya ~ my newest babe is a dream eater and has a Dr who is more 'open' to everything in moderation ... at 10 months he is eating everything table food wise and mom skipped the pureed food all together and went straight to finger foods!