Quote Originally Posted by Artsand crafts View Post
I realized this after the first year of having this daycare. I used to hide veggies in meals. I am not doing that anymore. They get to see the broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, carrots, etc. and they eat them most of the time....I don't know how they eat at home and I don't ask parents. I serve foods and if they don't eat what I serve they go hungry so they learn very fast to eat when meals are served. I think it also helps in my particular case that I always start with infants. So they get to learn our daycare eating habits since the beginning.
I could not agree more. Another poster gave great advice on this to me when I first started, that it simply our job to offer healthy food. I used to hate throwing out so much. In fact, I bring that up in interview. That I serve what I serve; of course, allergies being the exception. I've learned to serve my super slow eater first, to start with very small portions and to serve the dessert (usually fruit) only to those that finish.
I have 2 in care right now that won't touch a vegetable at home...but gobble everything up here

Kids have great power when it comes to food and I feel they realize that. So, I try to take a relaxed approach in that they have to try but beyond that I don't get upset. I have one that holds everything in his mouth if he doesn't like it...soooo gross! I'm still working on overcoming this one (right now he stays in his chair until the food is swallowed...not safe otherwise!).