Back-to-school: How to Prepare Healthy Food for Childcare (Weekly Meal Plan)

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Healthy Childcare Meals

Providing healthy and nutritious meals for your child while they are in childcare is essential for their growth, development, and overall well-being. Preparing a weekly meal plan not only ensures that your child receives balanced nutrition but also makes the process easier and more organized for you. In this article, we will guide you on how to prepare healthy food for childcare, including a sample weekly meal plan with simple recipes that you can make at home.

Why Is It Important to Prepare Healthy Food for Childcare?

Ensuring that your child has access to healthy food throughout the day helps to:

• Support Growth and Development: Proper nutrition is crucial for physical and cognitive development.
• Maintain Energy Levels: Balanced meals help sustain energy and focus throughout the day.
• Build Healthy Eating Habits: Introducing a variety of healthy foods early on encourages lifelong healthy eating habits.
• Accommodate Dietary Needs: Preparing food at home allows you to tailor meals to any specific dietary restrictions or preferences your child may have.

Weekly Meal Plan for Childcare

Below is a sample weekly meal plan designed for children in childcare. Each day includes a healthy lunch and snack that are easy to prepare, nutritious, and sure to please little ones.

Monday

• Lunch: Organic Turkey and Veggie Wrap
• Snack: Apple Slices with Almond Butter

Tuesday

• Lunch: Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
• Snack: Carrot Sticks with Hummus

Wednesday

• Lunch: Baked Chicken Nuggets with Sweet Potato Fries
• Snack: Greek Yogurt with Berries

Thursday

• Lunch: Whole Wheat Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Steamed Broccoli
• Snack: Sliced Cucumbers with Ranch Dip

Friday

• Lunch: Mini Veggie Frittatas
• Snack: Banana Oat Cookies

Healthy Recipes for Your Childcare Meal Plan

Here are the recipes for the weekly meal plan, including ingredients and instructions for each meal.

Monday

Organic Turkey and Veggie Wrap

Course: Lunch, Dinner

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 whole wheat tortilla

• 2 slices organic turkey breast

• 1/4 cup shredded carrots

• 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers

• 1 slice of organic cheese (optional)

• A handful of baby spinach leaves

• 1 tablespoon hummus or cream cheese

Directions

• Spread hummus or cream cheese evenly over the tortilla.
• Layer the turkey, carrots, cucumbers, spinach, and cheese on top.
• Roll up the tortilla tightly, then slice in half to serve.

Apple Slices with Almond Butter

Course: Snacks

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 organic apple, sliced

• 2 tablespoons almond butter

Directions

• Core and slice the apple.
• Serve with almond butter for dipping.

Tuesday

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Course: Lunch

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Total time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa

• 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1/4 cup diced tomatoes

• 1/4 cup diced bell peppers

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
• Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then toss to combine.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Healthy Carrot and Hummus Sticks

Course: Snacks

Ingredients

• 2 organic carrots, peeled and cut into sticks

• 1/2 cup organic hummus

Directions

• Serve carrot sticks with a side of hummus for dipping.

Wednesday

Baked Chicken Nuggets with Sweet Potato Fries

Course: Snacks

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into nugget-sized pieces

• 1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1 large organic sweet potato, cut into fries

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Dip the chicken pieces in the beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
• Arrange the chicken nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Toss the sweet potato fries with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and place them on another baking sheet.
• Bake the chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
• Serve with a side of ketchup or your child’s favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

• If you have more time, try out this Sweet potato star bites recipe

Greek Yogurt with Berries

Course: Snacks, Breakfast

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/4 cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Directions

• Spoon the Greek yogurt into a bowl.
• Top with mixed berries and drizzle with honey if desired.

Notes

• If you look for healthy breakfast idea, scramble some eggs with this nutritious Scrambled Eggs With Yogurt recipe.

Thursday

Whole Wheat Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Steamed Broccoli

Course: Lunch, Dinner

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Total time

20

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat pasta

• 1/2 cup marinara sauce

• 1/2 cup steamed broccoli florets

• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
• Heat the marinara sauce in a small saucepan.
• Steam the broccoli until tender.
• Toss the pasta with marinara sauce and top with steamed broccoli.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

See also

• 10 Tasty Broccoli Recipes Your Baby Can’t Say No To

Sliced Cucumbers with Ranch Dip

Course: Snacks

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 small organic cucumber, sliced

• 1/4 cup ranch dip (store-bought or homemade)

Directions

• Slice the cucumber into rounds.
• Serve with ranch dip on the side.

Friday

Mini Veggie Frittatas

Course: Lunch, Dinner

Servings

3

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Total time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 4 organic eggs

• 1/4 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)

• 1/4 cup diced bell peppers

• 1/4 cup chopped spinach

• 1/4 cup shredded cheese (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
• Stir in the bell peppers, spinach, cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Pour the mixture into a greased muffin tin, filling each cup about 2/3 full.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the frittatas are set and slightly golden.
• Let cool before serving.

Organic Banana Oat Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 ripe organic bananas, mashed

• 1 cup organic rolled oats

• 1/4 cup organic raisins

• 1 teaspoon organic cinnamon

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas, oats, raisins, and cinnamon.
• Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let cool before serving.

How to Pack the Food for Childcare

Packing food for your child’s day at childcare is just as important as preparing it. To ensure that the meals stay fresh and appetizing, use insulated lunch boxes or containers that keep food at the right temperature. For hot meals, consider using a thermos to keep food warm until lunchtime. Use leak-proof containers for items like yogurt or dips to prevent spills. Include a cold pack to keep perishable items like fruits and dairy products cool. Finally, label everything with your child’s name to avoid any mix-ups. Properly packed meals not only preserve the food’s quality but also make it easy for your child to enjoy their nutritious snacks and lunches throughout the day.

Preparing healthy food for your child’s childcare doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning and creativity, you can provide nutritious and delicious meals that your child will enjoy. This weekly meal plan offers a variety of options that are easy to prepare and packed with essential nutrients. Not only will these meals keep your child energized throughout the day, but they will also help establish healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for more healthy and organic meal ideas for your little ones, and don’t forget to check out our recommended products to make your meal preparation even easier!