This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

If you are running a childcare center or starting a daycare, you know how challenging it is to plan easy, healthy meals that meet your state’s requirements.

It’s also essential to ensure your menu complies with the nutritional standards for CACFP if your program is participating in a food program while ensuring that the meals are easy to prepare.

Before we get started , If you're new here, My name is Dena, and I have been a center director for 21 years and love what I do, but it is WORK! My goal is to help other providers with their child care programs and help relieve the stress that the daycare world brings.

Don't forget to snag my FREE Interview Guide to hire the right staff for your daycare or child care center! Reduce turnover with my 12-page Interview Guide with Questions and Job Position Descriptions designed for child care hiring!

Here are some tips for planning easy, healthy, and delicious meals for your childcare center or daycare.

1. Research Your State’s Guidelines.

   Before planning any meals, it is vital to first research the nutrition guidelines in your state. Every state has different regulations for the types of food served, portion sizes, and other nutritional requirements for daycare providers.

   Make sure that you are aware of these regulations to ensure you are serving meals that meet your state’s requirements.

2. Consider Allergies.

   When planning menus, be mindful of any allergies among your students or staff members. Eliminating certain foods from the menu can help reduce potential allergic reactions and make everyone feel safer when enjoying mealtime at the daycare facility.

   It also ensures everyone gets a balanced meal without leaving out any particular dietary needs or preferences. Click here to be taken to my child allergy forms.

3. Use Variety

   It is important to have variety when creating menus for children so they don’t get bored with their meal choices daily! Incorporating seasonal ingredients into weekly menus can help keep things fresh and exciting while providing nutrition benefits!

   Consider offering various fruits and vegetables as side dishes or adding grains like quinoa or wild rice into dishes to increase nutrient content!

4. Get Creative with Recipes

   It is always fun to get creative with recipes when planning menu items! You can find many easy recipes online that require minimal ingredients but offer maximum flavor!

   Consider trying simple combinations like roasted sweet potatoes topped with a sprinkle of herbs or grilled chicken served over sautéed kale - both tasty options packed with nutrients! Experimenting with new flavors will make mealtime more enjoyable for everyone involved!

   And I know what you’re thinking…my kids won’t eat kale. But if you start early and teach them how to eat healthy foods, like kale, they will!  

   To give you an idea of what a nutritious week of meals looks like at a daycare center, here are 4 weeks’ worth of childcare menu examples detailing breakfast, lunch, and snacks for Monday through Friday each week:

   Week 1 Menu:

   Monday: 

   Breakfast – Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Grain Cereal, Pineapple Tidbits

   Lunch – Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken Nuggets, Sweet Peas, Pineapple Tidbits, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack – 100% White Grape Juice, Carrot Sticks & Ranch

   Tuesday: 

   Breakfast – Milk 1% ages 2 & older, French Toast, Mandarin Oranges

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Cheesy Ravioli, Green Beans, Mandarin Oranges, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Grape Juice & Cheese Crackers

   Wednesday: 

   Breakfast- Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Waffles & Turkey Bacon, Sliced Apples

   Lunch- Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Pasta Alfredo With Meatballs, Mixed Veggies, Sliced Apples, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack- 100% White Grape Juice & Pretzels

   Thursday: 

   Breakfast – Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Raisin Toast, Peaches

   Lunch- MEAT ALTERNATE, Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Cheesy Pizza, Black Beans

   Peaches, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack- 100% White Grape Juice, Chips & Mild Salsa

   Friday: 

   Breakfast – Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Oatmeal, Sliced Pears

   Lunch– Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Beef Burgers, Baked Beans, Sliced Pears, Whole Grain Bun

   Snack- 100% White Grape Juice, Cream Cheese Wafers

   Week 2 Menu:

   Monday : 

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Grain Cereal, Banana

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken Tacos on Whole Grain Tortillas, Sweet Buttered Corn, Banana

   Snack - Apple slices & String cheese

   Tuesday : 

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Wheat Bagel, Applesauce

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Spaghetti (Turkey), Sweet Peas, Applesauce

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Homemade Trail Mix

   Wednesday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Sausage Biscuit, Diced Peaches

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken & Rice, Green Beans, Diced Peaches

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Graham Crackers

   Thursday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Wheat Pancakes, Pineapple Tidbits

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Beef Stew & Rice, Steamed Carrots, Pineapple Tidbits, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice, Chips & Dip

   Friday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Eggs-N-Toast, Sliced Apples

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken Sandwich, Green Salad, Corn, Sliced Apples, Whole Grain Bun

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Rice Krispy Treat

   Week 3 Menu:

   Monday : 

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Grain Cereal, Tropical Fruit

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Soft Beef Tacos on Whole Grain Tortillas, String Beans, Tropical Fruit

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Graham Crackers

   Tuesday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, French Toast, Diced Peaches

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Turkey Sandwich, Whole Grain Bread, Mixed Veggies, Diced Peaches

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice, Fresh Apples & String Cheese

   Wednesday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Raisin Bread, Apples

   Lunch- Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Barbecue Chicken, Baked Beans

   Red sugar-free Jello w/Pineapples, Whole Grain Roll

   Snack- 100% White Apple Juice, Chips & Salsa

   Thursday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Banana Muffin, Mandarin Oranges

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Fish Sticks, Sweet Potato Sticks, Whole Grain Bread & Butter, Mandarin Oranges

   Snack- 100% White Apple Juice, Carrots & Homemade Hummus

   Friday :

   Breakfast– Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Wheat Pancakes, Applesauce

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes, Applesauce

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Animal Crackers

   Week 4 Menu:

   Monday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Grain Cereal, Mixed Berries

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Grilled Cheese Sandwich on Whole Grain Bread,

   Steamed Broccoli, Mixed Berries

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice, Cheese & Crackers

   Tuesday :

   Breakfast -Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Scrambled Eggs & Toast, Sliced Peaches

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Spaghetti/Turkey, Green Beans, Sliced Peaches

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Granola Bars

   Wednesday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Whole Grain Waffles, Sliced Pears

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Meatballs/Gravy, Mac & Cheese, Sliced Pears

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice & Goldfish

   Thursday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Blueberry Muffin, Applesauce

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Cheese & Veggie Lasagna, Mixed Veggies

   Whole Grain Garlic Bread, Applesauce 

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice, Apples & Cheese

   Friday :

   Breakfast - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Oatmeal, Banana

   Lunch - Milk 1% ages 2 & older, Chicken & Rice, Peas & Carrots, Half Banana

   Whole Grain Roll

   Snack - 100% White Apple Juice, Carrots & Ranch

   
   Remember, daycare meal ideas should be easy and practical. Make sure your daycare menu includes dishes that are easy to prepare in large batches so you can feed multiple children at once. Using recipes with few ingredients and minimal prep time is also a good idea.

   And did you notice that all breakfasts and lunches have the same fruit? Yes, this is on purpose. Using the same fruit makes preparation easier and ensures that no fruit goes to waste while avoiding unnecessary storage. This especially comes in handy with larger centers. 

   And trust me, the kid’s don’t care that they have the same fruit for breakfast and lunch.

   Would you love to have these menu templates ready to download and print? Click here to grab these ready to print menus!

Conclusion:  

Creating daycare meals doesn’t have to be overwhelming! With the right menu ideas, tips, and resources, you can provide delicious, nutritious meals that your daycare children will love. 

Happy cooking! :-)

Unlock the funding you need to start your dream childcare business, no matter your financial situation. 

Here are some other articles packed with valuable content you are sure to enjoy:

30 Daycare Policies You Need in Your Parent Handbook

Important Daycare Forms You Need For Your Childcare Business

How To Deal With Parents Who Consistently Pay Tuition Late!

The 12 Most Common Child Care Business Mistakes

One Surefire Way to Boost ECE Staff Retention

How To Avoid Burnout in Childcare