Menu Planning | Early Childhood Community Development Centre

We trust that these newly revised menus will meet the needs of your child care program. The menus were redesigned by Melissa Aubertin-Coutu B.A.Sc R.D www.sukhayogaandnutrition.com and are now organized by season rather than by month to reduce weekly repetition. New recipes were introduced to ensure that children are provided with a wide variety of tastes, colours and diverse foods and the menus were reviewed along side the recently revised Canada’s Food Guide and Day Nurseries Act * to ensure compliance. Please note that some of the menus may suggest using nuts and that these recipes of course should be made with caution. In addition to including a list of resources that would support healthy menu planning, there is now documentation regarding portion sizes and tips for picky eaters.

Click here to read more nutrition information for daycare centres.

Fall/Winter Week 1
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Oatmeal Sliced banana Milk	Hard boiled egg Whole wheat toast	Alphabet Pancakes Fruit Milk	1/2 whole wheat English muffin Cream cheese Milk	Banana Berry Wake Up Shake Cold cereal
Lunch	Tuna & Rice Casserole Squash Fruit Milk	Beef, Barley and Cabbage Soup Carrot & Celery sticks Canned fruit Milk	Cheese Ravioli with Pasta sauce Garlic bread Salad Milk	Sweet Potato Soup Turkey salad sandwich Fruit Milk	Chili with Vegetables, Cornmeal muffins or Whole wheat toast Fruit cocktail Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Tortilla Pinwheels Mandarin oranges water	Pumpkin Cookies Applesauce Water	1 Minute Apple Tortilla Milk	Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie 1/2 banana Milk	Orange Banana Muffin Milk

Fall/Winter Week 2
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	1/2 whole wheat bagel, cream cheese Water	Yogurt & Fruit cubes Water	Sunny Orange Shake Water	Granola & Milk Water	Tortilla Pinwheels Water
Lunch	Belly Button Soup Red and Green pepper slices with dip Pineapple Milk	Hoisin Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Brown rice Applesauce Milk	Easy Bean Soup with Ham Whole wheat buns Carrot & celery sticks Milk	Lazy Lasagna Green salad Fruit Milk	Homemade fish sticks Couscous Sweet potatoes Fruit Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Applesauce Oatmeal cookie Milk	Hidden Treasure Cake Milk	Mango slices Graham crackers Water	Vegetable juice (low sodium V8) Broomsticks (cheese cubes on end of breadsticks) Water	Apple & Cheese Muffin Milk

Fall/Winter Week 3
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Creamy Fruit Mix Water	Yogurt 1/2 banana Water	Pineapple Sunrise Shake Water	Oat Cereal with berries Milk	Strawberry or raspberry yogurst with berries Water
Lunch	Homemade pizza (veggies & meat) Salad Mandarin oranges Milk	Quick Vegetable Beef Stew Whole wheat crackers/toast Applesauce Milk	Split Pea & Tomato Soup Tuna sandwich Cucumber sticks Milk	Herb Baked Chicken Green beans/peas Whole wheat buns Apple slices Milk	Quick whole wheat macaroni and cheese Whole wheat rolls Salad Fruit Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Banana Muffin Milk	Veggies & dip Pita triangles Water	Fruit cocktail Graham crackers Water	Vegetable juice (low sodium V8) Cheese cubes & crackers	Pudding Trail mix Water

Fall/Winter Week 4
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Tofu Banana Smoothie Water	French Toast with Berries Milk	Orange Banana Muffin Milk	Oatmeal Pancakes with fruit topping Milk	Kiwi slices Graham Crackers Water
Lunch	Meatloaf Muffins Whole wheat bread Carrot coins Milk	Corn chowder Grilled cheese Veggies & dip Milk	Chicken & BBQ sauce Quinoa Pilaf Broccoli with cheese sauce Fruit Milk	Vegetable Lentil Soup Chicken Sandwich Apple slices Milk	Beef & Bean Burrito Bake Cauliflower Fruit Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Maple Carrot Muffin Water	Jack's Beanstalks Water	Applesauce Graham crackers Water	Veggies & dip Whole wheat crackers Water	Guacamole & pita triangles Milk

Spring/Summer Week 1
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Strawberry, Orange Banana Smoothie 1/2 slice whole wheat toast Water	Cold cereal Apple slices Milk	Creamy Fruit Mix Water	1/2 Whole wheat bagel Cream cheese or peanut butter Water	Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Banana Smoothie
Lunch	Tuna Wraps Carrot & celery sticks Fruit Milk	Couscous Salad with Chick Peas Cucumber slices Fresh or canned fruit Milk	Homemade Chicken Fingers, Homemade Veggie Fries Fruit Milk	Broccoli, Red Pepper and Cheese Frittata Brown rice Fruit Milk	Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Tomato soup Apple slices Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Yogurt Fresh pear slices Water	Ham & Cheese cubes Whole wheat crackers Water	Melon slices Graham crackers Water	Applesauce Oatmeal Cookie Peaches Milk	Hummus or bean dip Carrots Whole wheat crackers Water

Spring/Summer Week 2
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	1 Minute Apple Tortilla Water	Yogurt Blueberries Water	Strawberry Kiwi Banana Smoothie Water	Tropical fruit salad Milk	Apple slices and cheese cubes or peanut butter Milk
Lunch	Sun dried tomato pasta Salad Fresh or frozen berries Milk	Salmon Sandwiches Salad Plums or apricots Milk	Homemade Pita Pizza (veggies & meat) Fruit Milk	Mexican Sombreros Sauteed peppers and mushrooms Milk	20 Minute Chicken Chili Whole wheat toast Veggies & dip Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Baba Ganoush & pita triangles Carrot sticks Milk	Banana Muffin Applesauce Water	Breadsticks Cucumber strips with tzatziki dip Water	Guacamole & pita triangles Milk	Peach Cobbler Milk

Spring/Summer Week 3
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Yogurt 1/2 banana Water	Alphabet Pancakes Milk	Apple Cheese Muffin Milk	1/2 bagel Cream cheese Pineapple Water	Banana Berry Wake Up Shake
Lunch	Quick Macaroni & Cheese Zucchini Sticks Whole wheat rolls Applesauce Milk	Turkey Tortilla Roll Ups Cucumber slices Strawberries Milk	Cinnamon Banana French Toast Milk	Veggie Beef and Pasta Bake Fresh fruit Milk	Tuna or Egg Salad Sandwich Salad Mandarin oranges Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Pudding Trail mix Water	Maple Carrot Muffin Applesauce Water	Plums or pears Graham crackers	Yogurt Strawberries Water	Veggies & dip Pita triangles Water

Spring/Summer Week 4
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Mid-morning Snack	Strawberry Kiwi Banana Smoothie Water	Hard Boiled eggs Whole wheat toast	Trail Mix Fruit cocktail Milk	Cold cereal Orange segments Milk	Oatmeal with blueberries Milk
Lunch	Whole Wheat Pitas filled with Ham, lettuce and cheese Salad Fresh Fruit Milk	Herb Baked Chicken Corn on the cob Watermelon Milk	Pasta Salad (add chicken or tuna or chick peas) Tomato Slices Fresh fruit Milk	Homemade fish sticks Mashed potato or Veggie Fries Carrot coins Milk	Tomato & (cheese or avocado) sandwiches Salad Melon slices Milk
Mid-afternoon Snack	Hummus and Pita Triangles Carrot Sticks Water	Apple Cheese Muffin Water	Frozen yogurt pops Water	Graham crackers Fresh peaches Water	Applesauce Orange Banana Muffin Water

*Notes regarding the Day Nurseries Act

Infants under the age of one year are to be fed in accordance with written instructions from a parent of the child.
If food is provided by a parent for their child it must be labeled with their name.
Each child over the age of one year shall be served nutritious meals and snacks. Snacks should promote good dental health and should be provided at times that will not interfere with the child’s appetite at meals.
Only foods of high nutritional quality should be served to ensure maximum nutrient intake.
Correct procedures of food storage, handling and preparation contribute to the retention of nutrients and prevention of food poisoning.
Meals should be served at regular meal times.
Snacks should provide nutritional value as well as refreshment in a child’s busy day. The snack should be easy for the child to handle and promote good dental health.
Meals should be served in a bright comfortable room with child-sized tables and chairs. Dishes and utensils should be suitable for small hands.
Quiet time should be provided before meals to promote a relaxed environment.
Foods should be served family style.
Avoid delays in meal service so children do not have to wait long before eating
Remember that children’s appetites vary from meal to meal. A child should never be forced to eat.