Kid

100 Meals Kids Love

No more struggling with picky eaters at dinnertime! Here are recipes kids are sure to love.

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Young relatives were coming for a Christmas party, so I wanted something fun for them to eat. Instead, the adults devoured my mini mac and cheese. —Kate Mainiero, Elizaville, New York

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Craving comfort food in a hurry? Grab a box! We snagged seven to find the best boxed mac and cheese.

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For parties, we shrink down lots of foods, including these quick hot dogs, to slider size. Pile on the easy but irresistible fruit salsa for a burst of fresh flavor. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio

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We love lasagna, but it takes too long on weeknights. My solution: meatball taquitos. My kids get the flavors they want, and I get a meal on the table in a hurry. —Lauren Wyler, Dripping Springs, Texas

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These fruity kabobs are so refreshing on a warm day. They’re also a quick and easy treat for get-togethers. —Kathleen Hedger, Godfrey, Illinois

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When we were first married and poor college students, I found this sloppy joe recipe and tweaked it. The fresh bell peppers give it a wonderful flavor. —Kallee Twiner, Maryville, Tennessee

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I try to get as many fruits and veggies into our menus as possible. A smoothie is a great way to load up on nutrients. This banana one is a favorite! —Tiffany Van Zee, Pella, Iowa

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We serve these quesadillas as chili dippers or load them up with salsa and sour cream for a super starter. —Terri Keeney, Greeley, Colorado

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I cannot throw a party without making this recipe. It’s fast and easy, and my kids love it. —Courtney Wilson, Fresno, California

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My first experience with this dish sent my taste buds into orbit. I first made this chicken and waffles recipe into appetizers, but we all love them as a main course, too. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri

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I created this recipe based on our family’s love of chocolate-dipped ice cream cones. Red heart-shaped sprinkles make them fun for Valentine’s Day. Vary the color to match the occasion. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan

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Kids love this casserole because it combines two of their favorite fast foods. And I like the fact that I can whip it up with just four ingredients. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana

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I love finding new ways to combine peanut butter, chocolate and bananas. I was shocked when my nephews (who are very picky eaters) loved these sammies. —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan

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We eat a lot of peanut butter, so I decided to make my own. My homemade version is easier on my wallet, and I know what ingredients are in it. It’s also a lot tastier! —Marge Austin, North Pole, Alaska

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Fun-sized corn dogs add a little “wow” factor to any cookout or get-together. Kids and adults equally love them, so expect them to disappear fast. —Deb Perry, Bluffton, Indiana

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A colorful and fun snack mix does’t get any easier than this. Mix and match with your sweet and salty favorites. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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My family loves this flavorful casserole with hearty chunks of sausage and green pepper. The recipe makes a big pan, so it’s nicely sized for a potluck. —Carol Carolton, Wheaton, Illinois

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These crispy chicken nuggets have just the right amount of spice. Yogurt makes them extra tender. —Lee Evans, Queen Creek, Arizona

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I came up with this recipe for one of my daughters who loves peanut butter and pork! The result has become a favorite—kids and grown-ups alike often request it for dinner. —Jill Cox, Lincoln, Nebraska

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My mac and cheese is simple and has lots of flavor from the cheeses and ground chipotle chile. I use conchiglie pasta because its shape allows more melted cheese to pool inside. Yum! —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

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I’ve prepared these for many brunches—peaches are my favorite fruit to add, but you can use strawberries or blueberries. People of all ages enjoy dunking crispy waffle strips into creamy dip. —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Chandler, Arizona

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This family-friendly supper is simplicity at its finest. Golden-brown, melted fresh mozzarella and a sprinkling of fresh basil give these personal pies Italian-inspired flavors. —Jerry Gulley, San Francisco, CA

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When my kids were small, I could never get pancakes on the table while they were all still hot. Then I got the idea for these breakfast tarts. They’re a good and simple recipe for any busy family. —Joan Elbourn, Gardner, Massachusetts

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My mom gave me a fundraiser cookbook, and this is the recipe I’ve used most. My whole family is on board. For toppings, think sour cream, tomatoes, jalapeno and red onion. —Judy Hughes, Waverly, Kansas

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Dip fresh strawberries in melted candy-coated discs to create a rainbow of color. Or get adventurous and make a unicorn. The creative possibilities are endless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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This is a nice little twist on a classic dish. If you love cheese, feel free to add more, and green peppers are a great taste if you want some vegetables. —Barb Kondolf, Hamlin, New York

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These little pizza pockets are a fun mashup using a waffle iron. Try adding your favorite toppings or even a few breakfast fillings, such as ham and eggs. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota

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Kiwi, pineapple, sugar and water are all you need to make these easy, breezy freezer pops.—Colleen Ludovice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Friends came over for a spur-of-the-moment bonfire, and I dreamed up these quick chicken sliders so we’d have something to eat. Bake them till the cheese is gooey. —Sara Martin, Whitefish, Montana

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I used to help my mom make this when I was growing up, and the recipe stuck. It was a beloved comfort food at college, and is now a weeknight staple for my fiance and me. —Kristin Michalenko, Seattle, Washington

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For tailgates and after-game parties, we dip these crisp, tender chicken bites into marinara, ranch dressing or barbecue sauce. They’re all winning combinations. —Lynne Nevrivy, Malta, Montana

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I converted a basic sweet dough into this incredible apple-filled pull-apart loaf. The results are anything but basic. It takes time, but I guarantee it’s worth it. Using both sauces is twice as tasty. —Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado

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This is the family favorite dish for special occasions, and we always make it for my granddaughter’s birthday. Mushrooms are a wonderful addition if you like them. —Vickie Oldham, Dubuque, Iowa

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Every year my husband and I take our two daughters to an orchard to pick apples so we can make this luscious applesauce for family and neighbors. —Jennifer Purcell, Vermilion, Ohio

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My husband is a big garlic fan, so we use garlic bread crumbs and garlic sauce for our baked chicken sandwiches, so comforting on a chilly day. —Bridget Snyder, Syracuse, New York

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Could these be any more adorable? To treat your guests to this chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness, just cover Nutter Butter cookies with chocolate and decorate! They’re a lot of fun to make and even more fun to eat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Yep, they’re made with corn chips, but don’t let that fool you. These salty sweets were a staple after meetings at the quilt guild I once belonged to. —Carol Tramp, Wynot, Nebraska

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Buffalo chicken is a favorite in our household. Combine it with pasta and
you have the ultimate comfort food. If you prefer less spicy food, the addition
of sour cream, ranch dressing and mozzarella provides a creamy texture and cooler flavor that nicely balances the spice in this buffalo chicken pasta dish. —Kathy White, Henderson, Nevada

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These baked hot dog sandwiches appeal to kids of all ages. Even my husband, Allan, admits to enjoying every bite! We like to dip them in ketchup and mustard. —Linda Young, Longmont, Colorado

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Topped with creepy peepers, this tasty taco salad is packed with beef, cheese, tomato and satisfying southwestern flavor to make everyone in your freaky family happy. —Jolene Young, Union, Illinois

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Cheddar cheese, fluffy biscuits and BBQ sauce combine to make these hearty muffins. Try them with ground turkey or other shredded cheeses to vary the flavor. —Karen Kenney, Harvard, Illinois

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When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It’s easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

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Crisp mahi mahi pans out beautifully when dressed up with fresh lime, cilantro and smoky adobo. One bite and you’ll be hooked on these baja fish tacos! —Brooke Keller, Lexington, Kentucky

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I’m always looking for ways to serve my family healthy and delicious food, so after I started experimenting with my favorite veggies and ground beef. I came up with this favorite that my three kids actually request! This healthy take on sloppy joes reminds me of my own childhood. —Megan Niebuhr, Yakima Washington

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This is a super fun way to serve lasagna for make-ahead lunches, potlucks or other fun get-togethers. My daughter took some of these to work and by noon was emailing me for the recipe. —Sally Kilkenny, Granger, Iowa

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My children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts

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Leftover chicken gets Mexican flair from cumin in this fun main dish. The chicken quesadilla recipe has an impressive look and taste yet requires little preparation. —Linda Wetzel, Woodland Park, Colorado

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Gently spiced corn chowder is always a good option for kids, but feel free to rev up yours with hot pepper sauce. This chowder’s a lifesaver on busy weeknights. —Andrea Early, Harrisonburg, Virginia

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Everyone needs a fun, friendly way for kids to play with food. These rich bites are nutty and yummy. Just coat bananas in chocolate and dip them into peanuts, sprinkles or coconut. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin

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Take an ordinary chicken breast into wow territory with just a few extra ingredients. Use prosciutto instead of ham to make the dish extra smoky. —Naylet LaRochelle, Miami, Florida

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I wanted a healthier approach to fish sticks and developed a baked tilapia with a slightly peppery bite. My husband and sons love the crispy coating. —Candy Summerhill, Alexander, Arkansas

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My husband’s favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pizza with mayo and dill pickle juice topping. People who try it always laugh in surprise because it’s so good. —Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois

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This satisfying easy baked spaghetti recipe comes together and will please everyone at your table. Add a salad and breadsticks, and dinner’s done. —Betty Rabe, Mahtomedi, Minnesota

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The kids will love these pepperoni and beef wraps. They’re easy to assemble because each tortilla is simply wrapped around a portion of hearty meat filling with a piece of string cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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I love the chicken roll-ups my mom made for special occasions, filled with spinach and cream cheese. My own kids wouldn’t eat those, so I came up with a pizza-flavored variety the whole family enjoys. —Tanja Penquite, Oregon, Ohio

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Homemade Easter candy really doesn’t get easier than this. It’s so simple—all you need are three ingredients, a microwave and a pan! It makes a perfect gift. —Mavis Dement, Marcus, Iowa

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These strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado

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I found something similar to this years ago and have recently added my own spin. Here’s the outcome: an easy, cheesy meal your family can’t get enough of. We don’t have to tell them it’s healthy. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

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Our three kids just love the fun wagon wheel shapes in this easy recipe. The mildly seasoned sauce is something that even the pickiest eaters enjoy. For variety, try it with Italian sausage instead of ground beef. —Janine Freeman, Blaine, Washington

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Cheeseburgers are delicious in any form, but I’m partial to this creamy pasta dish that seriously tastes just like the real thing. It’s weeknight comfort in a bowl. —Tracy Avis, Peterborough, Ontario

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This tasty pizza offers a new way to experience Mexican cuisine. Serve it at your next party and watch it disappear before your eyes. —Jackie Hannahs, Cedar Springs, Michigan

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When guests bite into these juicy grilled kabobs, their eyes always widen with satisfaction. Our four kids are crazy about the spicy-sweet sauce. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

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I’m a working mother with two young boys. Our family leads a very active life, so I make a lot of casseroles. It’s so nice to have a hearty side dish the kids will eat. Topped with cheese and french-fried onions, this tasty spaghetti casserole recipe is a hit at our house. —Janet Hibler, Cameron, Missouri

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I’m a busy teacher and mom, so weekday meals with shortcuts are a huge help. I always have to share the recipe when I take these to school. —Julie Ahern, Waukegan, Illinois

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Prep once and feed the family twice when you double this chicken mac and cheese and freeze half of it. I created it for the people I love most, using ingredients they love most. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

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Kids and adults alike will love the taste of these moist and mouthwatering mini burgers. Juiced up with pickle relish and topped with cheese slices, these “sliders” will disappear in no time flat! Be sure to make plenty. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Once upon a time, my husband and I owned a pizzeria and this dish was always popular on the menu. We’ve since sold the restaurant, but I still make the soup for all kinds of potlucks and gatherings. It’s always a big hit and everyone asks for the recipe. —Estella Peterson, Madras, Oregon

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Since I found this quick-to-fix recipe a few years ago, it’s become a regular part of my menu plans. Everyone loves the combination of sloppy joe ingredients, shell pasta and cheddar cheese. —Lynne Leih, Idyllwild, California

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These Walking Tacos are perfect for an on-the-go dinner, a campfire meal or an easy game-night supper. The ingredients go right into the chip bags! —Beverly Matthews, Richland, Washington

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“Whether a cold winter night or rainy summer day, this is quick-and-easy comfort food at its very best!” And a great way to jazz up boxed macaroni mix. —Carol Wohlgemuth, Riding Mountain, Manitoba

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These spicy, savory muffins are always a hit at parties. We love them as a simple snack on game day, too. —Jasmin Baron, Livonia, New York

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This comforting soup satisfies our pizza cravings. It’s super versatile, too, and I sometimes substitute light Italian sausage for the chicken or add a little Parmesan cheese. Go nuts and add all your favorite pizza toppings! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, TX

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No matter how hectic the weeknight, there’s always time to serve your family a healthy meal with recipes this easy and delicious! —Kami Jones, Avondale, Arizona

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After tasting a similar recipe at a sandwich shop, I knew I had to try my own version at home. Personally, I like mine even more! I like to mix equal parts salsa and ranch dressing to make a tasty sauce for these sandwiches. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia

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In this fun family-friendly supper, we add our favorite taco toppings to beef ravioli. It’s easy for kids to customize their own fixings for a no-fuss meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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This bacon cheeseburger tater tot casserole is the perfect dish to bribe your kids; homework, chores, piano practice—consider them done! —Deanna Zewen, Union Grove, Wisconsin

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We love Mexican night at our house, and I love to re-create dishes from our favorite restaurants. This burrito-inspired dish is ready for the table in almost no time! —Krista Marshall, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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I was running late one night, so I shopped in my own fridge and came up with ingredients that became taco wraps. Everybody at the table was a happy camper. —Katie Mitschelen, La Porte, Indiana

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This creamy recipe brings two of my absolute favorite foods together in one! The tomato, fresh lettuce and crisp bacon toppers make this soup taste as if it’s burger time. —Geoff Bales, Hemet, California

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On your next snow day, pass out these frothy floats and everybody will be glad they’re cooped up with you. Cream soda works with the peppermint ice cream, too. —Julianne Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I’m bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don’t have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas

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My secret to these rich no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

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The way my boys eat them, I would spend a fortune on honey graham crackers at the grocery store. So I decided to make a homemade version that is less processed—and less expensive. These are wonderful, although they still don’t last long. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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When it starts warming up in Colorado, my kids ask for ice-cold treats. This rosy pink cream float is one of our household favorites. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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When it comes to mini versions of anything, I’m sold! These muffins are ooey-gooey individual-sized monkey breads made with frozen dinner roll dough, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. They couldn’t be easier to make, and kids just love them. —Tina Butler, Royse City, Texas

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Sandwich fixings get rolled into this dinner favorite, thanks to refrigerated pizza dough. Use any combo of cheese, deli meat and veggies that you like or whatever you have on hand. —Catherine Cassidy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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My mom and I used to prepare these Rice Krispie cookies for Christmas every year. Making them with just the microwave means they’re super easy and fun to mix with the kids. —Savanna Chapdelaine, Orlando, Florida

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It’s easy to turn sloppy joes into hearty hot pocket snacks. I make the filling ahead and use refrigerated biscuits. I time them so they’re done baking just before kickoff. —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine

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My grandpa made an awesome breakfast for us grandkids: French toast that started on the griddle as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. —Lindsey Folsom, Dorsey, Illinois

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We were hosting a bunch of friends, and after a comedy of errors, I had to come up with a plan B for dinner. I realized that much-loved meatball subs are even better as a hearty casserole—so delicious! —Rick Friedman, Palm Springs, California

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My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois

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The nutrition department at my local hospital inspired me to create this refreshing summer sipper. I tweaked their recipe slightly to create this drink full of sweet-tart flavor. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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When I was a kid, my mom made this recipe often. I’ve adapted it to make it more chewy and gooey than her crunchy, nut-loaded version. I get requests to make this for every event that I host, and have never had a single leftover! —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

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These crunchy chicken tenders are a little sweet, a little tangy and a whole lot of fun. In half an hour, your family’s new favorite dish is ready to eat. When I have extra time, I roast garlic and add it to the sauce. —Andreann Geise, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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My grandmother bakes this recipe every year for the holidays. She uses homemade blackberry jam that she makes fresh every summer. These cookies are so delicious! —Jacquie Franklin, Hot Springs, Montana

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Kid-friendly and quick, these crunchy oven-baked chicken fries are coated with a mixture of crushed potato chips, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip them in ranch dressing, barbecue sauce or honey-mustard sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

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Peanut butter is a favorite of ours, and it brings a fun element to these cupcakes. They’re good with or without garnishes. —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia

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I eat this tasty treat just as much as (if not more than) the kids! Have fun with it by adding other goodies into the mix, like nuts, cereal, pretzels and more. —Jeff King, Duluth, Minnesota

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I combined a couple of recipes to create these crunchy, chocolaty peanut butter marshmallow bars that burst with flavor. The bars could also pass for fudge! —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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This slow-cooked potluck chili makes an awesome filling for a little bag of walk-around nachos. Cut the bag lengthwise to make loading your fork easier. —Mallory Lynch, Madison, Wisconsin

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My husband’s love for classic peanut butter and jelly inspired this recipe. The strawberry buttercream and peanut butter frosting are a delicious combination. —Kelly McCrea, North Kingsville, Ohio

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My children like these so much that they ask for them every day for lunch during the summer. Whenever I have leftover chicken or turkey breast, this is a delicious way to use it up. —Patricia Nieh, Portola Valley, California

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One time when making sloppy joes, I wanted mine spicy, so I doused it in hot sauce. After that, my mind went wild and I made it Buffalo chicken-style with ground chicken, diced celery and blue cheese crumbles. I’ve been making it this way ever since. —Jennifer Nielson, Spanish Fork, Utah

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One of my favorite slow-cooker recipes is this impressive buffalo chicken egg rolls appetizer. You can wrap the filling in egg roll wrappers and bake, or, for a bite-size version, use smaller wonton wraps. —Tara Odegaard, Omaha, Nebraska

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This slithering sub makes a fun and tasty centerpiece. Add your own zany, creative touches and feel free to mix and match the meat and cheeses to suit your family’s tastes. You also can add breadsticks to make “legs” if you want the sub to look like a centipede. —Linda Overman, Wichita, Kansas

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I created this deep fried mac and cheese recipe for my husband. He describes this recipe as unbelievably delicious because of the crispy deep-fried coating on the outside and the creamy richness on the inside. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida

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The cool colors and tangy flavors of vanilla yogurt and cream cheese are brightened with the sweetness and crunch of cheery red grapes in this refreshing and delicious salad. —Geraldine Saucier, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Our family never quite liked the taste of canned pizza sauce, so one time I tried mixing some barbecue sauce into spaghetti sauce to add some sweetness. I’ve made my pizzas with this special and easy sauce ever since, and my family loves it! —Tonya Schieler, Carmel, Indiana

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I’m on a gluten-restricted diet. I came up with this snack mix one day when I wanted something fast and easy that tasted like lemon bars. It makes a great gift, and folks love the light and fresh citrus flavor. —Patricia Sensenich, Olanthe, Kansas

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I remember being excited right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that’s when my family made this salad. There were five children and only the oldest helped peel the apples. It was fun when one of our boyfriends would come for the holiday for the first time. My dad would give him a huge bowl of grapes, hand him a sharp paring knife and tell him to start peeling. We all kept a straight face until he had the first grape peeled. —Debra Slone, Crossville, Tennessee

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Turkey and bacon give the classic sloppy joe a frightfully tasty new spin. Freddy Krueger may invite himself to dinner! —Janine Smith, Columbia, South Carolina

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Originally Published: October 16, 2018

Rashanda Cobbins

When Rashanda’s not tasting and perfecting Taste of Home’s recipes, you’ll find this food editor sifting through our recipe collection, curating digital content or tracking the latest culinary trends. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, Rashanda interned in Southern Living’s test kitchen and later spent nearly a decade developing recipes and food content at ConAgra Brands. In her spare time, she loves scoping out local farmers markets and having picnics in the park.

11 Fast Food Kids Meals, Ranked

Having kids makes your life incredibly busy. Between taking them to school, after-school activities, and sports, you probably feel like you barely have time to cook dinner. You may find yourself hitting up the drive-thru more often than not.

My life is busy with two little ones. We eat out two to three nights a week, especially during the busy months. The one problem I have is that they always want to eat the same thing. It’s fine for them, but I’m not happy hitting up the same fast-food restaurant a few times a week.

I’ve created a list of some of the best fast food kids meals so that we can have a little variety when we eat out.

Our Favorite Fast Food Kids Meals

These meals keep my kids happy while also letting me eat something other than a hamburger every night. I also added some that have healthy options so I don’t have to feel like my kids are eating junk every night.

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Chick-Fil-A Kid’s Meal

Chick-Fil-A kid’s meals are always a hit with my kids and I. My kids love that they offer some of their favorites like chicken nuggets and fries.

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I appreciate the healthy options offered. The chicken is fried in peanut oil, which is a little healthier than the grease other restaurants use.

Meals come with a choice of fried or grilled nuggets or a chicken strip. There are lots of side options, including waffle fries, fruit, applesauce, mac and cheese, and chips.

For a beverage, kids can choose between 1% milk, a soft drink, or lemonade.

Chick-Fil-A offers two surprises – one for kids under four and one for older kids.

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McDonald’s Happy Meal

In 1979, McDonald’s invented the kid’s meal with its Happy Meal. For many kids, its name has become synonymous with any kid’s meal.

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The McDonald’s Happy Meal is still a solid choice today, especially since McDonald’s has made efforts to include their healthy options.

Entree options include a hamburger, cheeseburger, and four- or six-piece nuggets. For a side, kids can choose between fries and apples, or get both.

Most McDonald’s offer 1% white or chocolate milk, a juice box, or a soft drink.

Happy Meal toys are famous in their own right. The brand often partners with large franchises like Disney to make toys that are incredibly appealing to kids.

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Wendy’s Kid’s Meal

The Wendy’s Kid’s meal offers similar options to McDonald’s. Kids get a choice between a hamburger, cheeseburger, or four-piece nuggets from Wendy’s menu.

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There are also spicy nuggets for kids who want to kick it up a notch.

For a side, the kid’s meal comes with either french fries or apple bites. Beverage choices include milk, chocolate milk, soda, a fruit punch juice box, or bottled water. 

One thing I love about the Wendy’s kid’s meals is that they come with interactive toys.

In the past several months, my kids have constructed cardboard vehicles, completed sticker books, and worked on activity books.

They get a little more out of these toys than the plastic figures some other restaurants offer.

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Burger King Jr Meal

Burger King offers the standard kids meal – but it has a plus because I can get a Whopper or another burger from their menu for myself when I take my kids.

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The Burger King Jr. meal offers an entree choice of a hamburger, cheeseburger, or nuggets.

I do appreciate that you can choose between four- and six-piece nuggets as my older child eats more.

For a side, kids can choose between fries, applesauce, and onion rings. Burger King offers milk, orange juice, soda, or a Capri Sun for a beverage.

Burger King also tends to join up with character franchises for their toys. These toys are usually small, plastic figures that kids can collect.

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Popeyes Kid’s Meal

Do you kids “love that chicken from Popeyes?” The Popeyes kid’s meal offers plenty of food to satisfy their appetite.

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My kids both like fried chicken, but they don’t like the same kinds. I appreciate that Popeyes has plenty of options for them.

Kids can choose from a chicken leg, chicken tender, and four- or six-piece nuggets. Nuggets are available in mild or spicy.

For kids who don’t like chicken, Popeye’s has a mac and cheese option. The meal comes with apple sauce and an apple juice box.

Some Popeyes will let you substitute the juice box with a soft drink and the apple sauce for one of their other sides, such as fries, mashed potatoes and gravy, or mac and cheese. Plus, I can enjoy their famous chicken sandwich or other menu items!

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Arby’s Chicken Tender ‘n Cheese Slider

Arby’s is known for their roast beef and other sliced meats, but they also have great options on their kids’ menu.

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Kids can choose from chicken nuggets or tenders or a roast beef or turkey slider. My kids’ favorite is the chicken tender ‘n cheese slider.

The slider is a small sandwich with a chicken tender and a slice of swiss cheese. My kids like to eat theirs with Arby’s sauce.

For a side, your kid has a choice of crinkle or curly fries or applesauce. They can choose between milk, chocolate milk, water, or an apple juice box for a beverage.

Kid’s meals do come with a toy, usually, one based on a popular franchise like Sonic the Hedgehog or Cuphead.

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Dairy Queen Kids’ Meal Combo

While we usually go to Dairy Queen for dessert, we’ve recently discovered that the Dairy Queen kids’ meals are pretty great, too.

The entree offerings are a hamburger, chicken tenders, and a hot dog. 

For a side, kids have a choice of french fries, applesauce, or a banana. Drinks are a choice of water, milk, or soda.

What sets the Dairy Queen kids meal apart is that it comes with dessert – an ice cream cone. My kids are extra so they usually upgrade their cone to a Blizzard. 

Dairy Queen’s kids’ meals don’t come with a toy, as the ice cream is considered a prize. I’m happy with this because we don’t have to add any toys to our growing collection. 

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Panera Signature Mac & Cheese Kid’s Meal

Panera Bread offers one of the best fast food kid’s meals because it has fresher and healthier options than many of its competitors.

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One of my kids’ favorites is the Signature Mac & Cheese kid’s meal, made with Panera’s special aged white cheddar cheese sauce.

Panera offers plenty of other options, including soups, salads, sandwiches, and pizza. It’s the perfect place to go when the kids (and you) are tired of burgers and chicken nuggets.

For sides, kids can choose from a baguette, yogurt, apple, or chips. They can get a tomato-cucumber salad or a fruit cup for a small upcharge.

My only complaint with the Panera kids meal is that it doesn’t include a beverage. However, you can purchase milk, chocolate milk, or an apple juice box separately.

I don’t mind the extra cost as much because the food is healthier than the standard fast-food fare.

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Subway Black Forest Ham Mini

Subway is always a great option when we’re in the mood for a sandwich.

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My kids enjoy watching the sandwich artist prepare their food and my oldest appreciates all of the vegetables he can choose from.

The Black Forest Ham Mini is a four-inch sandwich and is one entree option for the Fresh Fit for Kids meal.

It comes on your kid’s choice of bread and with their choice of cheese, veggies, and condiments. If your kid isn’t a fan of ham, they can get the sandwich with turkey or just veggies.

The Fresh Fit for Kids Meal also comes with an applesauce pouch and milk.

While some Subways will let you substitute chips, a cookie, and soda, most require you to get the juice and applesauce. Subway teams with popular franchises like Scooby-Doo for their toys.

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Jack in the Box Chicken Sandwich Kids’ Meal

Jack in the Box is one of the few fast-food restaurants that offer a chicken sandwich in its kids’ meal.

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It comes dressed with lettuce and mayonnaise. The meal also comes with fries or apple bites and a kid-sized soft drink.

If our kid isn’t feeling the chicken sandwich, they can opt for a cheeseburger, nuggets, or chicken strips.

Jack in the Box Kids’ Meals stopped including a toy with their kids’ meals in 2011.

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Sonic Wacky Pack

The Sonic Wacky Pack is always a favorite with my kids, and not just because it has such a fun name. Sonic offers a few more kid’s meal options than your standard fast-food restaurant. 

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Entree choices include a hamburger, corndog, hot dog, grilled cheese, or chicken strips. For a side, kids can choose between french fries, tater tots, or an applesauce pouch.

Beverages include a choice of milk, apple juice, or one of Sonic’s many soft drink options. My kids like to upgrade to a slush.

Sonic partners with franchises for their toys, but often offers something more fun than a plastic figurine.

For example, they’ve offered magic tricks, color-changing spoons, and Nickelodeon slime in the past.

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Final Thoughts

These are some of the best fast food kids meals that my kids love. I’ve gone through the typical junk food that kids enjoy while also giving you some healthier options so you don’t feel as guilty about feeding your child fast food.

When I have a busy week, we may hit up a drive-thru two or three times. I try to make at least one or two of these meals something healthier than fried food. While it’s not as healthy as a home-cooked meal, my kids at least get some vegetables and protein. 

Be sure to try some of these meals with your kids to see what their favorites are.

Looking for something different? Check out the best fast food mac and cheese if that’s all your kid will eat, or find the best fast food for Weight Watchers if you’re on a diet!

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Kids menu ideas for your restaurant

12 April 2022

Today families want and expect to eat out with their kids more than ever. In the UK for example, families dine out twice as much as they did 40 years ago and half of families eat out at least once a week. With busy work schedules and less time to cook, many parents see eating out as an opportunity to enjoy quality family time together. However, dining out with kids can be expensive and anything but relaxing unless the restaurant is genuinely welcoming and prepared to accommodate children. And one of the most essential features of any successful family friendly restaurant is  a kids menu designed to delight both children and their parents 🌟. Of course friendly, attentive staff and child-friendly facilities are also top priorities;

But an attractive kids menu that both appeals to the palates and appetites of kids of different ages while satisfying the concerns of parents especially in terms of budget and quality is a must. So here are a few kids menu ideas to create a relaxing, pleasurable dining experience for the whole family and keep everyone smiling.

Healthy kids menus: Until quite recently, most kids menus were limited to  a predictable offering of hamburgers and fries, pizza or chicken nuggets. However, with growing public awareness of the importance of healthy eating and increases in  child obesity in many parts of the world, many parents want more nutritional, diversified kids menu options. At the same time, kids today are willing to try and even interested in a wider range of foods including more fruit and vegetables. This is thanks in part to the efforts of schools to educate kids about nutrition, healthier lunch programs and the popularity of cooking shows. But restaurants also have an influential role to play in educating the food tastes of kids. So here are a few tips to design a kids menu that is both tasty and nutritionally balanced:

🥗  Delicious healthy kids menu mains:  while you may want to maintain an ever popular “safe” option such as  burger and fries, you can give it a healthy upgrade by substituting a whole grain bun for a white flour one and pairing sweet potato with regular fries. Try offering lower-fat alternatives such as baked or pan roasted potatoes or vegetables in olive oil, oven baked crunchy chicken instead of deep fried or grilled marinated pork strips with a yogurt dipping sauce.  Whole wheat pizza with a choice of vegetable toppings in addition to the regular options is also likely to be popular with everyone.

🍪 Delectable kids desserts with less sugar: many children love fruit. Serve fresh seasonal sliced fruit with a dark chocolate sauce for dipping, mixed berry sundaes with homemade ice cream or yogurt, frozen fruit pops along with fruit tarts, mousse and crumble. Whatever the dessert, reduce the added sugar content and try replacing white sugar with honey, brown sugar or maple syrup..

🏆  Kids menu incentives for healthy eating: offer kids a small reward for trying the healthier menu options such as a button, sticker or pencil with the name of the restaurant on it. You could also give the little ones healthy eating cards and for each healthy option they get a star sticker and a free menu item when the card is filled. Both parents and kids will thank you!

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Amusing kids menu ideas: Kids of all ages like to be involved in the creative process of preparing food and they enjoy the sense of independence when they are allowed to select their own ingredients. Why not offer a few build your own kid-friendly dishes such as tacos with a choice of sauces and toppings (cheese, avocado, chopped tomatoes..) in small bowls to choose from, or let kids make their own sandwiches for a kid-friendly lunch. For dessert, let kids customize their own sundaes with a selection of toppings such as fruit, nuts, chocolate chips or sauces. Some restaurants even give kids cookie dough with a choice of ingredients to decorate it. The cookie is then baked at the end of the meal.

Engaging foodie flights for curious younger eaters: a flight is a sampling of menu items often from the same group served together on a board or long dish (ie 3 kinds of BBQ appetizers, 3 varieties of pancakes. .). Try offering teens or older kids an attractively priced flight option from the adult menu that gives more adventurous eaters the chance to try several new dishes. And why not create a sampler plate for younger kids from the kids menu (i.e. nutritionally appropriate sized sampler portions of 3 entrees, 3 mains or 3 desserts)? 

Fetching food design ideas for younger kids: toddlers in particular like food that is colorful and fun to look at. Why not offer a few signature playful dishes such as pizza or quiche with a face made from different ingredients, animal shaped boiled eggs, vegetable or fruit flowers or smiley face cookies. Playful, kid friendly sturdy dishware is also a good idea.

Fun kids menu design ideas: Giving kids their own actual menu designed especially for them will both make them feel important and give them a sense of autonomy even if mom or dad helps choose. Preferably printed on recycled paper, the kids menu should be visually appealing and easy to read with very clear, legible printing. Try devising funny, imaginative names for the dishes and you might want to include drawings or pictures of at least some of the dishes for younger kids. Make it fun and engaging with puzzles, riddles, games, mazes and word searches as well as space for drawing. Kids menus are a great way to keep younger kids busy while waiting for the food to come and giving parents the chance to relax.

 Kids menu pricing to put parents at ease: one of the most stressful things about going to a restaurant for many families is the cost involved, especially if there are several kids, and even more so if you have hungry teenagers. This is why it is important to think carefully about kids menu pricing. Especially for teens who tend to be more adventurous eaters but don’t always know yet what they like and don’t like, we recommend offering the option of smaller portion-reduced price servings of regular adult dishes. This way they can try several dishes with a good chance of finding at least one that they will enjoy, while wasting less food and money if they don’t happen to like one of the dishes. The kids menu for younger children, should also feature significantly smaller portions to avoid food waste while being attractively priced. Another option could be to allow young children (i.e. six and under) to eat free for special early dinner reservations when it can be harder to fill tables.   

It’s said that kids bring happiness but with all these ideas and tips your restaurant will be the one bringing an amazing dining experience to them. So let your inner child come out and start preparing the best kids menu for your restaurant! 🧒

 

 

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10 Fast Food Kids’ Meals, Ranked From Best to Worst — Eat This Not That

Kids are incredibly impressionable—bad eating habits learned in childhood can carry into adulthood, so it’s important that children learn healthy eating habits at a young age to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes later in life. Fast food is a large contributor to the increasing obesity rates in children, which is why we thought it was crucial to identify the best and worst kids’ food options.

So the next time you don’t have time to whip up a meal and have to resort to a fast-food drive-thru, we hope you can refer to this simple guide so that can you feel confident that you’re ordering a healthy meal for your child.

Methodology: In order to separate the best kids’ meals from the worst, we ranked primarily off of calories. For our ranking, any kids’ meal combo that clocked in at 400 calories or below made the best list, while those that exceeded that figure made the worst. We also factored in other nutritionals, such as saturated fat, sodium, and sugar content.

Now, here are 10 fast-food kids’ meals, ranked from best to worst.

Courtesy of Subway

Per mini sandwich and applesauce: 205 calories, 2.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 435 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (4 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 11 g protein

We did not factor in the milk here, but even if you added it in, this would still be the most nutritious fast-food kids’ meal you can buy. Why? This Subway meal offers 11 grams of protein, which will help keep your child full. The sandwich itself is low in calories and offers fresh vegetables on top of the ham, and the mini size is a more manageable meal for your kiddo. Plus, the applesauce is a sweet treat for them to eat after!

Courtesy of Arby’s

Per slider: 290 calories, 12 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 720 mg sodium, 30 g carbs (1 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 15 g protein

Arby’s is known for its roast beef sandwiches, but did you know they also offer chicken sandwiches and sliders, too? On the kids’ menu, you’ll find this fun little sandwich—a chicken tender made into a slider. While this may not seem like the most nutritious option, we did want to point out that if your child wanted to have a little fried food, this portion size will offer them a substantial amount of protein without adding a lot of saturated fat. The sodium content could be better, but it’s not a complete dealbreaker for us in this circumstance. They can enjoy it by itself or with a side of Tree Top Applesauce for an additional 45 calories.

Courtesy of Chick-Fil-A

Served with applesauce and 1 percent chocolate milk: 330 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 535 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (1 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 18 g protein

For just 330 calories, kids can sink their teeth into four pieces of chicken nuggets, applesauce (or fresh fruit), and their choice of either 1 percent chocolate or regular milk. Even when we factor in applesauce and chocolate milk, the nutrition for this particular Chick-Fil-A’s kids meal combo is still reasonable. Chicken nuggets are always a go-to kids’ choice, so we’re happy to see this one isn’t too unhealthy if you’re out at a fast-food restaurant.

Courtesy of Burger King

Per sandwich and applesauce: 350 calories, 16 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 290 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (5 g fiber, 22 g sugar), 11 g protein

Peanut butter jelly time! At Burger King, picky eaters can order a crustless PB&J sandwich with applesauce and still receive a good source of protein and healthful fat. Not to mention, they avoid consuming fried foods! A true rarity when it comes to fast food meal options. This sandwich might be an unexpected choice, but there are plenty of meal options to stay far away from!

Courtesy of McDonald’s

Includes 4-piece chicken McNuggets, kids fries, 1 percent low-fat milk jug, and apple slices: 395 calories, 17.5 g fat (4 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 535 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (1 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 18 g protein

Are you surprised that McDonald’s Happy Meal made the top five? The classic red bow with golden arch handles houses four pieces of Chicken McNuggets, kid-size fries, 1 percent low-fat milk jug, and apple slices. At just under 400 calories and less than five grams of saturated fat, we would consider this to be a harmless kids meal, especially for a fast food place.

Courtesy of Popeyes

428 calories, 23 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 1,047 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (4 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 18 g protein

Popeyes kids’ meal needs a nutrition makeover. This combo will wipe out almost half your child’s daily needs of sodium, and that’s for a meal that falls under 500 calories! Not to mention that the saturated fat content is way too high for a lunch of this small size.

Courtesy of Dairy Queen

Per kid’s vanilla ice cream cone, 2 chicken tenders, one percent low fat milk carton, and one squeezable applesauce: 555 calories, 19 g fat (6.5 g saturated fat, 0.2 g trans fat), 830 mg sodium, 69 g carbs (3 g fiber, 37 g sugar), 27 g protein

Our biggest concern with this kids’ meal combo from Dairy Queen is the trans fat and high sugar content, largely due to the ice cream cone. After all, how could you go to DQ and not order a soft-serve vanilla cone?

Courtesy of Wendy’s

Served with jr. fries, apple bites, and Honest fruit punch: 600 calories, 23 g fat (6 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 965 mg sodium, 72 g carbs (6 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 23 g protein

If you ordered the wrap from Wendy’s all by itself, your child would have a reasonably healthy lunch. However, if made into a combo with a junior size box of French fries, apple slices, and a glass of fruit punch, you can see how the calories, sodium, and sugar contents drastically increase.

Courtesy of Jack in the Box

Served with curly fries: 470 calories, 32 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,320 mg sodium, 63 g carbs (4 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 17 g protein

At Jack in the Box, a child may be tempted to order the chicken sandwich with a kids’ size box of curly fries, and while the calorie count is rather low, the sodium content is sky-high.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Courtesy of Sonic

Served with 1 percent milk and fries: 710 calories, 30.5 g fat (8 g saturated fat, 0.5 g trans fat), 1,520 mg sodium, 85 g carbs (3 g fiber, 36 g sugar), 27 g protein

A junior burger with fries and milk? That will be over 700 calories, half a gram of trans fat, over 1,500 milligrams of sodium, and more than 35 grams of sugar. Sorry Sonic, but this is the farthest thing from a healthy kids’ meal!

Restaurant Chains With Vegan Kids’ Meals | Food

So you want a kids’ meal that’s friendly to animals, your health, and the environment but you’re not sure where you can get one? Look no more—we’ve got you covered! From Ike’s Love & Sandwiches to Olive Garden to Flower Child, lots of restaurant chains offer delicious vegan kids’ meals. So grab your grown-up and hop on over to one of these to get your grub on. ☺️

Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill already has locations up and down the West Coast as well as in Chicago, New York, and Cambridge, Massachusetts—and this chain is always expanding, so as its biggest fans, we’re hoping more and more spots will keep popping up! Its kids’ menu is loaded with delicious staples like vegan chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and even a tasty burger. You get a side (like fries, carrot sticks, steamed kale, or cauli-mashed potatoes) and a dessert, too, and there are even some gluten-free options.

Veggie Grill

Chipotle

Chipotle has locations everywhere, so being able to have a tasty, filling, and animal-friendly kids’ meal from here is super-exciting! Just order the Kid’s Build Your Own option—choose from soft flour or crunchy corn tortillas, guacamole or Sofritas, and two sides, like rice and beans. Plus, you can add pico de gallo, corn, and hot sauce (if that’s your thing). On top of that, you get to choose between fruit or a small bag of chips and a box of apple juice or a small soft drink. Yum.

Earth Burger

This chain, which was once only in Texas, is now in Minnesota as well. And we’re stoked—because all the options are vegan and so delicious. Grab a burger and fries, chick’n tenders with apple slices, or a grilled cheese and a drink, all for just around $5.

Earth Burger

Cheesecake Factory

The kids’ bowtie pasta can be mixed with marinara sauce for a super-tasty meal. Plus, with so many other vegan options on its menu, Cheesecake Factory offers the whole family something delicious to enjoy.

Subway

Subway is another chain that seems to have locations just about everywhere. To grab a vegan kids’ meal here, ask for a Veggie Delight sandwich loaded with all your fave toppings, a squeezable applesauce packet, and a fruit juice or a small soda.

Plant Power Fast Food

This vegan fast-food chain has more than 10 locations in California and one in Las Vegas. It offers delicious kids’ meal options—like a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets. You can enjoy your meal with a side salad or fries and oat milk.

Plant Power Fast Food

Moe’s Southwest Grill

Moe’s has a vegan kids’ meal option that we can’t get enough of: Order the Kids Live Well meal, which comes with a bean-and-rice burrito. Ask for the tofu protein option in it, and hold the cheese. It comes with a side of black beans and an apple juice.

Moe’s Southwest Grill

MOD Pizza

There are a lot of build-your-own personal pizza chains out there with delicious vegan options—like Pizza Rev, Blaze Pizza, &pizza, and others—but MOD Pizza made this list because it has a 6-inch build-your-own-pizza, which is basically one made just for kids! The regular and gluten-free crusts are vegan, and you can get BBQ sauce, garlic rub, olive oil, or red sauce to cover them. Ask for no cheese or add Daiya cheese, then add your toppings (skipping the meats, obviously), like raw or roasted veggies, fruits, leafy greens, and some herbs. Now that sounds like the perfect kids’ meal.

Panda Express

Since Panda Express recently stopped putting chicken broth in its chow mein and eggplant tofu, it’s become a delicious, vegan-friendly place to eat. It has a kids’ meal, too: Get the eggplant tofu or two veggie spring rolls for your entrée, and ask for chow mein, brown or white rice, or steamed broccoli for your side. It comes with a drink and a cookie, but be sure to ask for a fortune cookie instead of the chocolate chip one (which has eggs and cow’s milk in it).

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches

Ike’s is full of mouthwatering vegan sandwiches—and it makes small ones for kids, too! Make sure you double-check with the location where you’ll be eating beforehand, but you should be able to order any vegan sandwich you want in a kids’ size. Our fave is the Meatless Mike—after all, it won a PETA award for best vegan meatballs.

Panera Bread

Panera Bread offers two vegan kids’ meal options. Choose the Kids Ten Vegetable Soup or the Kids Seasonal Greens Salad (and you should definitely add avocado to this tasty salad). Each one also comes with a side: an apple, a French baguette, or a bag of kettle chips.

Panera Bread

Freebirds World Burrito

Freebirds offers a Weebirds menu with a kids’ burrito—it may be smaller than the regular burrito, but trust us, it’s still mighty! Choose a veggie burrito (which comes with guacamole), one with no meat, or one with Beyond Meat. Add some black or pinto beans (but not the refried beans, which aren’t vegan) and Spanish or cilantro lime rice. Now it’s time to add in your freebies—all freebies are vegan except the ranch dressing and sour cream. If you want to spice things up, add a sauce to your burrito (but not the BBQ sauce, which isn’t vegan). And last, the guacamole is extra but makes a great addition.

Mellow Mushroom

This pizza place is loaded with tasty vegan options! And the great thing about pizza is that you can share it with the whole fam. But if you want to get your own meal or if you like your food a certain way, that’s OK—because you can make two of the kids’ menu items vegan. The kids’ pretzel can be made with no cheese or butter (get oil and salt instead, if you want). And the kids’ cheese bread pizza can be made with vegan cheese—or you can even skip the cheese altogether and make it a vegan garlic bread, instead. You get a side of apples or celery and carrots, too.

Mellow Mushroom

Flower Child

This restaurant has more than 24 locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. It focuses on whole foods, including delicious fruits and veggies. With its kids’ meal, you get to enjoy some yummy tofu and two sides of your choice, like brown rice and a tasty fruit medley.

Olive Garden

Choose your favorite pasta (they’re all vegan) and pair it with tomato sauce—plus, have a side of grapes, broccoli, or French fries, and you get a soft drink or lemonade, too. Mmmm. You can order the gluten-free rotini with marinara if you don’t eat gluten or just prefer spiral-shape noodles. ☺️ And don’t forget to chow down on some breadsticks, as they’re always vegan.

Olive Garden

TGI Fridays

This restaurant has the Beyond Burger, so if you’re feeling extra-hungry, you can skip the kids’ meal and go for a tasty vegan burger—just be sure to get it on the challah bun (as the gluten-free bun isn’t vegan), ask for dairy-free sauces, and skip the cheese. But if you’re craving some yummy pasta, the kids’ fettucine with marinara sauce is vegan and comes with steamed broccoli.

Bareburger

This burger chain has tons of vegan options, including three for kids. So the question is: Do you feel like having a burger, a veggie dog, or a vegan grilled cheese? Plus, it offers a kids’ vegan sundae—with nondairy whipped cream and sprinkles!

Bareburger

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Ready for more? Click below if you’ve got a craving for Taco Bell.

How to Eat Vegan at Taco Bell

Value, Taste, & Best Toys

 

If you’re looking for something quick and easy, fast food is the way to go. As a parent, you may be a bit wary about things like nutrition and quality, Meanwhile, your kids are probably most concerned about the fun toys that come in each kids meal.

So we’ll tackle both! This is a list of the best kids’ meals in terms of value, taste, and toys. Every kid deserves a treat every now and then, right? From fast, casual restaurants to drive-through joints, check out our roundup that’s sure to please kiddos of all ages.

Wendy’s Kid’s Meal

 

Wendy’s perfectly portions their kid’s meals for little ones and offers a few different entrees – chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers. Each meal comes with the main dish, a drink, and a side.

For sides, you can pick from Kids’ Natural-Cut Fries, strawberries and blueberries, or apple slices. For drinks, you have a few more options, including Nestle Pure Life Bottled Water, Honest Kids Apple Juice, or 1% regular milk, or 1% chocolate milk.

But what about the toys? Currently, Wendy’s kid’s meals come with Wild Wild Animals Smartlinks paper animals that you can put together and customize with stickers.

Here’s Wendy’s menu so you can find what you want too, and their coupon page so you can save a few bucks while you’re at it.

 

Applebee’s Cheesy Pizza

Applebee’s has a huge variety of kids meals, so if you’re not in the mood for a drive-thru meal, we suggest ordering takeout or delivery from your Neighborhood Bar and Grill.

The kid’s Cheesy Pizza is a fan favorite, and it comes with a side and a drink. Sides include garlic mashed potatoes, mozzarella sticks, steamed broccoli, apple sauce, and French fries. There’s a whole slew of drinks to choose from, as well, like shakes, sodas, milk, iced tea, and lemonade.

Of course, we have the Applebee’s whole menu, but did you know about Applebee’s secret menu? If Applebee’s feels tired, take a look, there are some great finds!

 

Popeyes Kid’s Meal

If your kiddo has a taste for fried chicken, Popeyes has a few delicious options. Kids’ meals include chicken nuggets, tenders, or legs and come with a signature side and a small drink.

Side options include cajun poutine, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, onion rings, Mac and cheese, cajun fries, red beans and rice, and corn on the cob.

The Chicken Leg meal comes with one leg, so if you’re feeding an older child, opting for a combo meal may be a better idea.

We have you covered with KFC’s menu if that’s the case, as well as KFC secret menu if you’re interested in something a little different.

 

Cheesecake Factory Kid’s Meal

Ordering Cheesecake Factory’s kid’s pasta is always a good idea because it’s customizable. And who doesn’t love a giant bowl of noodles and their favorite sauce? Your little one will get the chance to order a bowl full of buttered noodles and parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, or Alfredo.

Bonus: Cheesecake Factory uses bowtie pasta instead of spaghetti for their kids’ meals, which equals less mess for you to clean up.

If you’re going to grab takeout from the Cheesecake Factory, check out their whole menu and our reviews on their food too!

 

Subway Black Forest Ham Mini

An entire six-inch sub may be a bit much for a little one, but Subway’s got the perfect portion with their mini kid’s subs. The Black Forest Ham is one of the more popular options on the Subway menu and comes with your choice of toppings, applesauce, and a toy.

Have a child under three years old? Subway has toys for them, too! And we have Subway coupons that might come in handy if you’re headed there.

 

Chick-Fil-A Chick-n-Strips Kid’s Meal

Chick-Fil-A is always a treat, no matter what age you are.

The Chick-n-Strip meal is one of the hottest items on their menu and is rounded out with Cinnamon Apple Sauce, Waffle Potato Fries™, or Fruit Cup, along with milk or juice, and a toy. Choose between one or two Chick-n-Strips depending on your little one’s appetite.

 

McDonald’s Kid’s Meal

Enjoying a Happy Meal as a kid is a right of passage every now and then. Over the years, McDonald’s has invested in offering healthier menu options for their young consumers.

We love the simplicity of the Hamburger Happy Meal, which comes with a regular hamburger topped with ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles.

On the side, you get fries with the choice of apple slices or Yoplait® GO-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt. To wash it all down, pick between the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug, DASANI® Water, or Honest Kids® Appley Ever After® Organic Juice Drink.

Of course, you can order the Happy Meal with 4 or 6 McNuggets, as well.

 

Arby’s Kids Ham ‘n Cheese Slider

From tasty sliders to crispy chicken tenders, Arby’s has the ultimate lineup for kids.

We think any of the entrees is a solid choice, but the Ham ‘n Cheese is a no-fail option for little ones with picky taste buds. Pair it with kids curly fries or apple sauce, as well as a Capri Sun juice, low-fat white milk, or low-fat chocolate milk.

Or you can check out the whole Arby’s menu before you decide.

 

Chipotle Kid’s Quesadilla

To get your hands on an adult-sized quesadilla, you’d have to order from the Chipotle secret menu, but kids are lucky enough to have it as an option on their menu.

Plus, the beauty of Chipotle is that you can customize everything, so even if you have a picky eater on your hands, there’s bound to be something he or she will like. The quesadilla comes with melted cheese and your choice of protein, like chicken, steak, barbacoa, and carnitas.

On the side, you can add white or brown rice, as well as black or pinto beans. Each kid’s meal comes with a side of tortilla chips, fruit, and a drink (organic milk, organic chocolate milk, organic apple juice, soda, or iced tea.)

 

Burger Kid’s Meal

The King Jr. menu is filled with BK’s most popular menu items, including nuggets (regular and spicy), hamburgers, and cheeseburgers.

Older kids tend to love the spicy nugs, while the younger ones can’t take the heat quite yet. Either way, they come in four-piece combos with dipping sauce, a side (applesauce, fries, or onion rings), and a drink (milk, chocolate milk, apple juice, soda, or orange juice).

 

Panera Signature Mac & Cheese Kid’s Meal

No matter what age you are, Panera’s Mac and cheese is a total hit. (We even created a Panera Mac & Cheese recipe so you make your own at home.)

Kids of all ages will love a creamy, comforting bowl of mac, paired with a fruity yogurt and iced cold drink.

Bonus: Panera usually sells bakery items for a dollar when you order food, so there’s always an incentive for your kids’ good behavior when you eat out. And that’s not the only way you can score Panera on the cheap(er).

 

If you were hoping to feed your kiddo something more nutritious, check out the healthiest fast food items for kids.

150 dishes with step by step photos

Recipes according to GOST for children in kindergarten from 1 to 7 years. Proven recipes with step by step photos, calories and cooking time. Breakfasts for children, lunches, dinners

Breakfast like in kindergarten

Porridge like in kindergarten

Soups like in kindergarten

Second courses like in kindergarten

Side dishes like in kindergarten

Kindergarten vegetable recipes

Desserts and pastries like in kindergarten

Salads like in kindergarten

Children are often reluctant to eat in kindergarten. The food is unusual, not homemade, “strange”.

But it often happens the other way around: “I want it to be like in a kindergarten!”. If this is your case, then this collection of kindergarten-style recipes is perfect for you and your child. Read more

With or without apples, with jam or sour cream, these pancakes are good for everyone.

Sauerkraut soup like in kindergarten is recommended for older children.

Kindergarten-style cheese omelette is a wonderful breakfast for the whole family. Due to the presence of cheese in the recipe, the omelet is not bland, so parents will also like it.

Oranges are citrus fruits that we see on the shelves of shops all year round.

Fish baked in an omelette like in a kindergarten – a dish that is absolutely predictable in taste.

So many parents experience their children’s dislike for vegetables, and this is often frustrating.

Adding another great soup to my kindergarten recipe box. Bean dishes are always hearty and healthy, and green peas, moreover, not only cook quickly, but also please with their beautiful green color.

After a year, the children’s menu expands significantly and one of the first dishes that are introduced into the diet of babies is puree soups.

Pretty satisfying, thanks to potatoes, and fresh, thanks to cucumber, the salad will surely appeal to children.

In winter and spring, it is recommended to introduce dried fruits into the children’s diet, since fresh fruits at this time of the year contain much less vitamins and nutrients.

Another salad in the piggy bank of recipes according to the kindergarten’s technological maps.

From the age of about a year, fruits are introduced into the child’s diet. Of course, if a child has few teeth and still cannot chew pieces, then we can only talk about fruit purees.

I would never have thought that rabbit meatballs like in kindergarten can be so tender and juicy!

Carrots stewed with rice and prunes, like in kindergarten – hearty, tasty, slightly sweet and, thanks to prunes, very fragrant dish.

Almost everyone remembers this pasta and cottage cheese casserole, it was a frequent guest on the tables in many kindergartens.

Boiled pasta baked with eggs, as in kindergarten, is suitable not only for a children’s table, but can also be an interesting side dish for people on a diet (suitable for diets No. 3, No. 4c, diets No. 6, 7, 8, 10 , 11 and 15).

Soup-puree from zucchini, like in kindergarten, turns out to be very tender, calm, pleasant to the taste.

How many children love cauliflower? I don’t know them 🙂 Usually, the very smell of boiled cauliflower already drives the children out of the kitchen, but not in this case.

Fish patties with vegetables baked like in kindergarten – quite an interesting dish.

Delicious and fragrant garnish with a golden crust is potatoes baked in sour cream, like in a kindergarten.

Now even small children know that it is healthy to eat vegetables, but few people realize that the color of these vegetables is also of great importance.

Delicious, hearty and healthy chopped chicken fillet with scrambled eggs and vegetables, cooked like in a kindergarten, the whole family will like it.

Using the most common and familiar products in every kitchen, let’s cook krupenik like in kindergarten.

Kindergarten-style juicy vegetables in a milky sauce are sure to please the smallest eaters.

You will not find anything tricky or unexpected in this salad of fresh vegetables with vegetable oil like in kindergarten.

Potato fritters with curd filling, prepared like in a kindergarten, are tender and satisfying.

Vegetarian borsch mashed like in kindergarten – a simple and good soup for the whole family, especially if you have small children.

Viscosity refers to a rather thick sticky porridge that is difficult to mix and does not spread on a plate.

I propose to bake apples stuffed with raisins, as in kindergarten. A very tasty combination of sour apple pulp with soft raisins and sugar will not leave indifferent neither children nor adults.

It is a pity that in those days when I visited the kindergarten, I could not appreciate the usefulness and deliciousness of the dishes that were prepared for us.

Kindergarten-style pumpkin puree is smooth and tender.

Perhaps, for someone, an apple is not the most familiar ingredient in a salad. But I add it very often and, as it turned out, kindergarten cooks do the same.

Fish dishes must be present on the menu of both children and adults.

Vegetables are a very important part of the nutrition of children, and adults too. But what if the child refuses them? One of the recommended ways is to prepare colorful salads.

“Health” cupcake, prepared like in a kindergarten, turns out to be very light, finely porous and moderately moist.

If you want to treat your family with Stroganoff cookies cooked in the same way as in kindergarten, then you will need to follow the technology of creating this dish, because it is prepared without frying.

Not always a child wants to eat vegetables, but this is so necessary for a growing organism.

Spinach soup with sour cream like in a kindergarten – with a slight sourness, dietary, with a fresh taste.

Personally, I don’t remember any fruit salads on my kindergarten menu. But this does not change anything, fruit salad, like in kindergarten, is definitely provided there.

Children’s diets are useful not only for children, but also for adults, especially for people who care about their figure or follow various diets.

Probably the simplest and most familiar salad is tomatoes with cucumber and onions.

This light vegetable soup is perfect for both children and adults who are tired of heavy meals.

For me, dried fruit compote is strongly associated with childhood and winter, or rather with Christmas, because my mother always cooked it for this particular holiday.

Is it possible to give a child fried food and from what age? Isn’t yeast harmful? I am not particularly competent in this matter, I just prepared delicious pancakes for you according to a kindergarten recipe.

Kindergarten-style vegetable soup that will appeal to both children and adults.

I love simple and precise kindergarten recipes: you can always add your own flavors, seasonings, but the base… The base remains unshakable.

Fish is introduced into the diet of children quite early. It is prepared in different ways, including in the form of cutlets.

Dracena is a type of regular omelette. But if the main ingredients in an omelette are eggs and milk, then in addition to the above, sour cream and flour are added to the drachen.

These Kindergarten cupcakes turn out golden beauties! The taste is simple, creamy and fragrant.

Children’s menu – the most useful and safe, both for kids and adults.

For some reason I don’t remember such porridge in childhood, although I went to kindergarten, it turns out that porridge is included in the diet of children’s institutions.

Kindergarten meals are very often on my home menu.

Milk soups begin to be included in the children’s diet very early. They are mainly made with cereals or pasta, but vegetable dairy products are much less common, but they are wonderful.

Delicate vegetable soufflé can be prepared for lunch as a second course for a baby or as a main course or a side dish for dinner.

I propose to cook sour cream sauce from the kindergarten menu. This sauce is in perfect harmony with vegetable casseroles, main courses, pancakes, pancakes.

I propose to cook liquid Hercules oatmeal from the kindergarten menu, which your kids and not only will surely like!

Surely, on the Internet, you have come across a lot of recipes for rice casseroles!

Very often I cook dishes from the kindergarten menu for my home. It’s so delicious, tender and healthy.

Of course, everyone knows that mashed potatoes are the most delicious vegetable food, well, at least for me.

Beetroot salads appear quite often on my dinner table: beetroot is a healthy vegetable for both children and adults.

Beetroot caviar is a cold appetizer that can be prepared at any time of the year, since beetroot is a vegetable that is on the shelves of our stores all year round, and for a very small fee.

I met this salad a long time ago, but definitely not in kindergarten.

Pleased the family with another dish according to kindergarten recipes – beef patties like in kindergarten.

By and large, pancakes are loved by both young and old. And these airy pancakes on kefir, like in kindergarten, will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.

Like all kindergarten soups, the one below is neither complex nor full of ingredients or seasonings.

This raisin rice porridge is claimed to be runny. But, in my opinion, it lacks at least 200 grams of milk, or even more, to liquid.

A side dish in a child’s menu is very important, especially if it is made from vegetables.

Kissel as a child I loved: both the one that my grandmother cooked, berry, and the one that was sold dry in packs, remember? True, I don’t remember absolutely milk jelly from kindergarten, so many years have passed.

To be honest, I didn’t have any pleasant memories of kindergarten food, the more interesting it was for me to cook several children’s dishes according to the recipes of their technological maps for the Menu of the Week website.

In my practice there were sweet casseroles using pasta, vermicelli and lasagna plates, with the addition of cottage cheese, raisins, vanilla.

By and large, such a vegetable salad can be not only a side dish, but somewhere an independent dish.

Another salad for the kindergarten piggy bank. Simple ingredients, no complicated processes.

The name of the salad speaks for itself – “Sunny” – light, bright and cheerful!

Children are often reluctant to eat in kindergarten. The food is unusual, not homemade, “strange”.

But it often happens the other way around: “I want it like in a kindergarten!”. If this is your case, then this collection of kindergarten-style recipes is perfect for you and your child.

In addition, all the recipes from this collection are prepared according to technological maps for preschool institutions and are ideal for organizing baby food.

If your “Nehochuha” eats mostly pasta and refuses to eat anything else, you will find suitable options here to diversify your child’s diet.

For example, if a child eats semolina in kindergarten but refuses to eat it at home, you can find here the recipe for semolina in the form in which the child eats it in kindergarten.

The same applies to recipes for other breakfasts, as well as soups, second courses and side dishes. The taste and appearance of the dishes is the same as in kindergarten. Suitable for children from 1.5 to 7 years and their parents. After all, we often have to eat up for our “Nehochuhs”, don’t we? 🙂

By the way, you will surely be interested in our training “ How to teach a child to eat right in two weeks? .

What dishes to include in the children’s menu so that it is tasty and healthy

In winter, children’s vulnerable immunity needs to be strengthened by any available means. And for this, you should add as many healthy dishes with a shock portion of vitamins to your daily diet as possible. Mostly it is vegetables in all possible variations. They are good to bake and stew, serve as a side dish, make soups and even delicious desserts based on them. This topic is dedicated to our selection of recipes.

Soup classic

Chicken soup with vegetables is the perfect embodiment of a balanced vitamin meal for a child. To prepare it, take 2 chicken thighs, pour 3 liters of water and leave to cook over low heat for half an hour. In the meantime, we will make a ruddy frying of the onion, carrot and celery stalk in a saucepan. Just don’t overcook the vegetables. As soon as they soften, pour 3 potatoes into cubes and fry for another 5 minutes.

Strain the finished broth and pour the contents of the pot. When the potatoes are completely cooked, lay 50-60 g of egg noodles, salt and pepper the soup to taste, add fresh herbs. Grind the cooled chicken thighs and also pour into the pan. It remains to bring the soup to readiness and let it brew under the lid.

Peppers with a surprise

For the second, offer your child hearty stuffed peppers. Let’s start with the filling first. To do this, cook until half cooked 100 g of rice. While it is quietly boiling in a saucepan, we pass the onion into cubes and grated carrots until golden brown. We mix the frying with semi-cooked rice and 300 g of any minced meat, which the child likes best. Add a little salt and dry herbs, knead the mass with your hands. We cut off the caps of 4-5 medium-sized bell peppers, remove the seeds and partitions, fill with minced meat and put upright in a wide pan.

Now let’s fill it. Stir in 300 ml of hot water, 3 tbsp. l. tomato paste and thick sour cream, put salt and black pepper. Pour the stuffed peppers in a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat under a lid for 40–45 minutes. At the end, put the bay leaf and keep the peppers without fire under the lid for a quarter of an hour.

Fish delicacy

In winter, it is especially important to alternate meat in the children’s diet with seafood. Grilled red fish with sauce is just what you need. We rub the lime zest on a fine grater, squeeze the juice from the fruit and mix everything. Shred 5-6 sprigs of cilantro. We cut the onion into a small cube. Mix citrus juice with zest, herbs and onions. Lubricate 5 portioned pieces of salmon with marinade, leave for 15 minutes.

It is better to cook such fish in a grill pan in order to preserve the maximum of nutrients. Fry the salmon on both sides until golden brown stripes appear. Light yogurt sauce is perfect for it. Chop as finely as possible 1 tbsp. l. capers, a clove of garlic, 2-3 sprigs of tarragon. Add 100 g of natural yogurt, juice of half a lemon, season with salt and black pepper. Little gourmets will be pleased, especially if you serve fish on wooden skewers.

Potatoes with vegetable vitamins

Experience shows that children prefer potatoes to many other vegetables. And therefore, you won’t have to persuade them to eat baked potatoes for a long time. We wash 4 oblong tubers in water, wipe dry, grease with oil and bake whole with the skin in the oven at 220 ° C for 45–50 minutes.

Let’s make the salad while the root vegetables are ready. Cut 6-8 cherry tomatoes into slices, fresh cucumber into half circles, red onion into half rings. Do not forget to pour boiling water over the onion to remove unpleasant bitterness. We chop 5-6 sprigs of parsley, mix with vegetables, salt to taste, season with Greek yogurt.

We cool the finished potato tubers, cut off the side part and remove part of the core, we will also mix it into the salad. We fill potato boats with salad and decorate with lettuce leaves.

Curd breakfast

All food for children in the cold season should be healthy, and desserts are no exception. In this regard, the traditional cottage cheese casserole is a win-win option for all occasions.

Whisk the egg vigorously with 1 tbsp. l. sugar and a pinch of salt. Add 300 g of cottage cheese with a fat content of at least 9%, 1 tbsp. l. semolina, 0.5 tsp. baking powder and a pinch of vanilla. We knead the resulting mass well and leave it for 10-15 minutes so that the semolina disperses. If desired, you can put a grated apple, a handful of raisins, banana slices or dried berries here.

Lubricate ceramic molds with oil, sprinkle with ground breadcrumbs and fill with curd mass. We put them in the oven at 180 ° C for about half an hour. This cottage cheese casserole can be prepared for breakfast. Just let it cool down properly, garnish with mint and serve with sour cream.

Cake with an orange mood

Even homemade cakes can be loaded with vitamins and made extremely healthy. Spicy carrot cake is just such a case.

In one container, mix 130 g flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 70–80 g of sugar, 0.5 tsp each. cinnamon and ground ginger, a pinch of vanilla and nutmeg. In another container, beat 2 eggs with 80 ml of vegetable oil, pour 300 g of grated raw carrots. We combine dry and liquid bases, carefully knead the dough until a homogeneous consistency.

Fill buttered muffin tins with it and bake in the oven at 180°C for 40-45 minutes. When the carrot muffins cool down, they will taste even better. Serve a healthy dessert with whipped cream, and there won’t be a crumb left.

Health cocktail

Almost all children drink milk with pleasure. Why don’t we make a strawberry and banana milkshake?

Grind 200 g of fresh strawberries in a blender and rub the resulting mass through a sieve to get rid of small seeds. Mash a large ripe banana with a fork into a thick gruel. We combine strawberry and banana puree, add honey and vanilla sugar to taste, beat everything until a smooth consistency is obtained. Pour in 400 ml of milk and continue whisking until a fluffy foam appears. Pour the cocktail into tall glasses, decorate with mint petals and treat the children. Don’t forget the colorful straws. It is much more pleasant to sip a thick fragrant cocktail through them.

This is the vitamin menu we propose to prepare for your children. For more fun ideas, check out the recipes page from Eat at Home readers. And what vitamin dishes do you prepare for your child? Share branded recipes in the comments and tell us what helps you keep children’s immunity normal.

Menu in the children’s camp for a week

High-quality, healthy and tasty portioned meals for children are among the main priorities of the Next Camp children’s camp. All races

in the summer camp

five meals a day are organized in accordance with the wellness menu recommended by the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and approved for use in children’s camps by Rospotrebnadzor.

The daily diet of each child includes: meat, fish, dairy products, bread and bakery products, vegetables, fruits, berries, juices, confectionery, pastries of own production. If necessary, there is the possibility of replacing meals for children with food allergies!

We carefully monitor the preparation of food in the camp, and the cooks cook very tasty. The food at the Next Camp children’s camp is not like “canteen food”, children compare it with how their mothers and grandmothers cook at home. Very often this comparison is in favor of our chefs 🙂

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Wheat bread, rye bread,
drinking water – on the tables
for every meal!

Breakfast:

– Millet porridge with milk
– Curd mousse
– Ham sandwich
– Tea with sugar

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9024ET

Children’s camp menu,

Day 7

Wheat bread, rye bread,
drinking water – on the tables
for every meal!

Breakfast:

— Stewed cabbage
— Dairy sausages
— Cheese sandwich
— Tea with sugar

Children’s camp menu, 1 day Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water at the table every meals0 -15 at each meal! Breakfast: – Semolina porridge with milk – Hard-boiled egg – Cheese sandwich – Coffee drink with milk	Lunch – Cucumber and tomato salad – Fresh cabbage soup – Boiled pasta with oil – Compote 15 chicken from seasonal apples Snack — Fruit juice — Apple — Moskovskaya bun	Dinner — Children’s salad — Cod meatballs in tomato sauce — Potato puree 9 — Black tea with sugar0256 Fifth food (Dream Interpretation) – Drink Milk -Sokovy – Waffley Artek
Children’s camp menu PEACH BREASE 90 every meal! Breakfast: – Porridge “Druzhba” with milk – Yoghurt – Sandwich with hot sausage – Cocoa with milk	Lunch – Fresh cabbage salad with carrots – Pea soup with brisket -Greek porridge -liver Liver in Straganovsky -compote from kuraga Polkatnik -Fruit juice -pear -Cotor with maple syrup	Dinner -SAMISTIC SAMISE -KOTKOMS BODICS -KOTKOUS potato — Black tea with sugar Fifth meal (dream book) — Drinking yoghurt — Cake “Barney Bear”
Cake bread day 3, children’s camp bread 0157 drinking water – on the tables for every meal! Breakfast: — Sausages “Milk” boiled — Omelette natural — Sandwich with the words. butter and cheese – Tea with sugar and lemon	Lunch – Vinaigrette with herring s / s – Potato soup with stars – Boiled rice – Beef cutlet – Pear and prunes compote Lunch -7 — Banana — Cookies “School”	Dinner — Lightly salted cucumber – Potato casserole with cod – Windle with ham – Black tea with sugar Fifth power (Dream Interpretation) – Bifilif – Guliver candy
Lunch – Carrots with pears – Yushka from zucchini – rice boiled – Chicken portioned baked – Dya compote Power Polter – Fruit juice – Bolka with apples – Bolka with apples – Salad from St. cucumbers — Stewed beef with vegetables — Boiled pasta with sl. oil — Black tea with sugar and lemon Fifth meal (dream book) — Drinking yogurt — Choco Pie cake
Children’s camp menu, Day 5 Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water – on the tables for every meal! Breakfast: — Corn porridge with milk — Breakfast bun with melted cheese — Pink salmon sandwich with s/s — Coffee drink with milk	Lunch — Cucumber salad — Moscow borscht — 9015 – Veal steak with gravy – Apple and plum compote Afternoon snack – Acidophilus – Mango puree (sorbet) – Honey cake	Dinner – Seafood salad – Potato casserole with meat – Apple chips – Black tea with sugar 9025 – 9026 fifth meal (9026) Ryazhenka — Pie with fruit filling
Children’s camp menu, Day 6 Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water – on the tables 9015! Breakfast: — Cottage cheese and fruit pudding — Hercules oatmeal porridge with milk — Red caviar sandwich — Hot chocolate with milk	Lunch — Vitamin salad — Starorusskaya fish soup from river fish boiled with greens — Veal zrazy with vegetables — Fruit juice Snack — Milk-juice drink — Banana and strawberry sherbet — Kurabie biscuits	Dinner — Lightly salted herring – Macaron “Navy” with minced meat – sandwich with “sausage” – black tea with sugar Fifth power (dream book) – fruit kefir – candy “Bear in the north”
Lunch – Seaweed salad – Bean soup on c/b – Wheat bread croutons – Potato stew with chicken – Cherry and cherry compote Afternoon snack – Baked milk from sweet fruit mousse — Cheesecake with cottage cheese	Dinner — St. radish – Marinated cod – Mashed potatoes – Black tea with herbs and sugar Fifth meal (dream book) – Drinking yogurt – Bun “Special with poppy”
Children’s camp menu, Day 8 Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water – on the tables for every meal! Breakfast: — Dairy vermicelli — Natural omelette with sausage — Brisket sandwich in/to — Fruit tea with sugar	Lunch — Cucumber salad — Pickle “Leningradsky” — Loose buckwheat Beef azu in tomato-cream sauce – Fresh rosehip drink Snack – Acidophilus – Fresh tangerines – Cottage cheese ring	Dinner – Beet and apple salad – Fish soufflé with milk sauce – Boiled potatoes with 9 herbs – 9 and sugar Fifth meal (dream book) – Drinking yogurt – Marshmallow portioned
Children’s camp menu, Day 9 Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water – on the tables for every meal! Breakfast: — Cottage cheese and fruit pudding — Fruit pilaf with dried fruits — Cheese sandwich — Coffee drink with milk	Lunch — Spring salad — Soup with dumplings on can — boiled macaroni — Beef meatballs with vegetables — Vitamin apple drink (nectar) Afternoon snack — Milk-juice drink — Vanilla milkshake — Croissants with berries – Plobir Creamy	Dinner – canned mackerel – rice of boiled scattered – Salad from asparagus and celery – Black tea with mint and sugar Fifth 902 – kefir 9024 – gingerbread.
Children’s camp menu, Day 10 Wheat bread, rye bread, drinking water – on the tables for every meal! Breakfast: – Porridge “Artek” with milk – Pancakes with condensed milk – Sandwich with beef tongue – Cocoa with milk	Lunch – Carrot and pear salad – Potato soup with meatballs – Seasonal vegetable stew – baked in sour cream sauce from raisins and figs Afternoon snack – Fruit juice – Grapes – Apple marshmallow	Dinner – Vegetable slices – Home-style roast with veal – Envelopes with ham and cheese – Black tea with herbs and sugar Fifth meal (dream book) – Ryazhenka – Wafer rolls with filling

menu, or maybe a buffet. Specify the “type of food” with the camp manager when buying a ticket.

what are the problems, how the menu is compiled, calorie content, norms of sugars, fruits and vegetables

Vika Vishnyakova

nutritionist

Author profile

Ekaterina Tabatchikova

collected data

Author profile

I am a nutritionist — I help people build a balanced diet and healthy relationships.

I work not only with adults, but also with children. For example, I am compiling menus for private kindergartens that are focused on an evidence-based approach to health.

The menu in the kindergarten must comply with the sanitary and epidemiological standards for children’s institutions and the methodological recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor. These norms should support the health of children – future adults.

But in practice, Russian nutritional standards are very different from global recommendations: children are offered too many calories and few nutrients.

I will tell you what is wrong with the food in Russian kindergartens and how it can be corrected.

How the menu is made in kindergartens

Food for children can be prepared directly in the kindergarten or ordered from catering organizations. If the garden prepares food on its own, it will have to fulfill all the requirements for catering: premises, equipment, raw materials. For example, the kitchen should include seven rooms. Not every kindergarten has such opportunities.

SP 2.4.3648-20 – sanitary requirements for organizations of education and training, recreation and rehabilitation of children and youth

are eating. In this case, the number and area of ​​premises are tied to the number of children: there should be at least 0.7 m2 per person.

No matter how the kindergarten gets food, the menu must comply with certain rules. These rules are set not by the kindergarten or the city administration, but by Rospotrebnadzor and the sanitary doctor of Russia – it was they who prepared the documents that underlie menu planning in kindergartens in Russia:

1. Guidelines for rational nutrition.
2. Sanitary and epidemiological norms for the nutrition of children in preschool and school institutions.

Guidelines for rational nutrition explain how many calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals a Russian should receive depending on gender, age and type of work – mental or physical. These recommendations were developed by the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, and approved by Rospotrebnadzor in 2008.

The recommendations generally do not contradict global practice. For example, the share of animal proteins should be 60% – the same amount is recommended in other countries. The number of vegetables and fruits on our menu is also similar to global norms, but there are significantly more sugar and calories.

The new version of the sanitary and epidemiological norms for children’s nutrition, or sanpin for short, came into force in January 2021 and will be valid for at least six years. In this document, the chief sanitary doctor of Russia explains how the menu should look and what the products should be, as well as how to store them. For example, chilled meat and vegetables should not be stored on the same shelf in the refrigerator, and drinking water in a jug should be changed every three hours, even if the children have not drunk everything.

Sanpin has special requirements for the daily nutrition of orphans. They need to be given more vegetables – 300 instead of 220 g, fruits – 260 instead of 100 g. But the volume of unhealthy foods is also increasing. For example, the daily intake of sugar reaches 55 g, while children aged 3-7 without orphan status receive 30 g.

If you violate the norms of the sanpin, you can get a fine: the head of the kindergarten will pay from 5,000 to 10,000 R – these are amounts for officials. Rospotrebnadzor checks how the rules are observed in the kitchen: after a complaint from the parents or according to the schedule – once every three years.

Art. 6.6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation

But there are also requirements in this sanpin that will not be able to somehow improve the health of children, but rather, on the contrary, in the long term can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity. This is especially true of an excess of sugar, calories and a simultaneous lack of fiber and unsaturated fats.

How people die in Russia

Some points of our sanpin are at odds with the recommendations of international associations involved in child health: the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the European Society of Gastroenterology, hepatologists and food industry specialists, the US National Institutes of Health and the UK Department of Health.

Feeding young children – WHO guidelines

Children, food and nutrition – summary of the UN Children’s Fund

Dietary recommendations:
USA,
Canada,
UK

with the practice of other countries and WHO recommendations. To do this, we studied 10 daily menus in randomly selected kindergartens in major Russian cities: two Mondays, two Tuesdays, and so on. To correctly estimate the amount of fish, we took the menu of two Thursdays – “fish” days.

Here are the menus, you can also study them:

1. Monday and Tuesday at Kindergarten No. 102 in Novosibirsk.
2. Wednesday and Friday at Kindergarten No. 39 in Kazan.
3. Thursday and Friday in kindergartens in St. Petersburg.
4. Tuesday and Wednesday at Kindergarten No. 99 in Yekaterinburg.
5. Monday and Thursday in Moscow kindergartens.

So, here are the problems on the menu in Russian kindergartens.

On the website of the educational institution, you can see the menu for kindergartens, nurseries and schools. It is standardized for everyone, so most often in the state gardens of Moscow the menu will be the same or with minimal discrepancies

Too many calories

Sanpin recommends that children aged 3-7 years consume 1800 kcal per day. In practice, this figure is higher. For example, the menu in one Moscow kindergarten contains dishes with a total nutritional value of 2220 kcal.

Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the organization of public catering for the population. Appendix 10, table 1

WHO recommends that girls aged 4-6 years consume 1545 kcal per day, boys – 1715 kcal. The average value for preschoolers regardless of gender will be 1630 kcal.

Here are the norms in other countries:

1. USA: 1200-1600 kcal/day. At the same time, the calorie content of the diet is tied to physical activity, and the largest number of calories – 1600 – is necessary for boys whose daily physical activity is more than 60 minutes a day. Other children need fewer calories.
2. UK: 1378 kcal/day for girls aged 4-6 and 1482 kcal/day for boys of the same age. The average caloric content of the diet for children of both sexes will be 1430 kcal per day.
3. Estonia: 1200-1810 kcal/day. The maximum is in seven-year-old boys with high physical activity, the minimum is in four-year-old girls with low activity.
4. In Canada, daily calorie intake is tied to age, height and weight. For example, a three-year-old child needs 1500 kcal/day.

It is worth considering that Western recommendations indicate calorie rates for the whole day. But children eat not only in the garden, so the Russian 1800 kcal just for the time in the kindergarten can be too much for a preschooler. Perhaps such a high calorie content of dishes in sanpin is due to the fact that not all children willingly eat in kindergarten: many leave half a portion or even more on the plate. Nevertheless, every third Russian child under the age of 13 is overweight – and this figure is growing every year.

Too many free sugars

According to Sanpin, a kindergartener can eat from 30 g of sugar per day. But the European Community of Child Nutrition Specialists recommends eating only up to 20 years

At the same time, in fact, the daily menu in kindergartens contains more sugar. For example, on Tuesdays in a kindergarten in Kazan, children receive 40 g of sugar – we could easily calculate this because the administration indicated the amount of sugar in the daily menu.

In gardens where the total amount of sugar in the menu per day is not indicated, we counted it according to recipes for cooks – technological cards. In Russia, meals that catering establishments can prepare for children are listed in approved collections. Cooking other dishes or deviating from approved recipes is prohibited.

Therefore, if we want to know exactly what recipe is used to prepare semolina porridge or how much sugar, semolina and milk are put into it, we can look at this information in the collection of recipes. For ten selected orchards, we got an average figure of 67 g of sugar per day.

This does not contradict sanpin, since the rules do not indicate the upper limit of sugar, but the minimum.

Some gardens show how much sugar is in each dish Others indicate the number of the flow chart, from which we can find out the recipe and ingredients of the dish

It turns out that every day children eat 3.5 times the safe amount of sugar. The main sources of free sugars in the diet of children in kindergartens are compotes, teas and fortified drinks.

There are special rules for orphans: about 40% more sugar is added to their excessive sugar intake, and instead of 30 g, children receive at least 55 g of sugar per day.

Too much salt

The current Russian norm is 5 g of salt per day for children aged 5-7. For adults, the figure is the same.

However, WHO recommends salt reduction for children based on their energy needs compared to adults. For example, if an adult consumes on average 3,000 kcal per day, and a preschooler consumes 1,630 kcal, then the child should receive 2.7 g of salt per day. This means that the norms of salt consumption in sanpin are almost twice as high as compared to the WHO recommendations.

In fact, it is almost impossible to calculate how much salt a child in kindergarten eats per day: manufacturers in Russia are not required to indicate how much salt is contained in 100 g of a product.

Replacing fruits with juices and an unknown amount of fiber

Sanpin allows replacing some products with others: for example, instead of beef, give children beef liver, instead of drinking milk – condensed with sugar, and replace fresh fruits with juice. Substitutions are formulated with nutritional value, i.e. calories. The amount of fiber, vitamins and minerals does not seem to matter.

Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for public catering. Appendix 11

On the menu in kindergartens, we see that children receive fresh fruit once a day – for second breakfast. Usually it is a pear, an apple or an orange: each kindergartener will eat 80-100 g. If the kitchen decides to replace the fruit with juice, then the portion will be larger: 106-133 g of juice.

But this substitution of fruit for juice reduces fiber intake and increases the already high content of free sugars in the children’s menu.

Fruit Amounts for Children and Adults – USDA Guidelines

Fiber is an indigestible component of foods, an important food source for microorganisms in the human intestine. It reduces the risk of developing non-communicable diseases and death from them. Adults are recommended 25-29 grams of fiber per day. Children need less: children over 3 years old – 10-20 g of fiber per day according to the standards of Rospotrebnadzor and 15-20 g according to the standards of the UK Ministry of Health.

We do not know if this norm is maintained in kindergartens: the menu parameters include calories, proteins, fats and total carbohydrates, but how much fiber is there, we can only guess.

Although fiber is classified as a carbohydrate, it is impossible to talk about its amount based on the total amount of carbohydrates in the product. For example, 30 grams of carbs could be in one banana, two carrots, or one Twix bar. At the same time, there will be almost no fiber in chocolate, but there will be 18 g of sugar, and in banana and carrot – 0 free sugars and 5.4 g of fiber.

Too few vegetables

For children under 7 years of age, Sanpin recommends eating 220 g of vegetables and 140 g of potatoes per day. This is in line with world practice, but there is a problem: in fact, this norm is not observed in kindergartens.

We compared 10 menus, and judging by them, on average, children receive about 190 g of vegetables and 93 g of potatoes – this is 21% less than the required amount.

This is the menu in a kindergarten in Novosibirsk. Children will receive 50 g of salad vegetables and 88 g of borscht. Only 138 instead of 220. Potatoes are found only in borscht – a maximum of 132 g, depending on the season. This is close to the requirements of sanpin. We counted the number of vegetables thanks to the technological map

A lot of ultra-processed products

This category includes processed meat – sausages and sausage – and other products of deep processing: pastries, confectionery, sweet drinks. According to Russian standards, children should not be given raw smoked sausage, and boiled sausage can only be included in the menu in orphanages: a pupil of 3-7 years old will receive 10 g of sausage per day.

Classification of products by degree of processing

Study on the association of frequent consumption of fast food and obesity in children

Scientific review on the impact of fast food on children’s health

Study on the relationship of fast food in the diet of children and their lipid metabolism disorders

Study on the relationship of regular consumption of fast food and an increased risk of premature death

On the other hand, other ultra-processed foods are allowed in ordinary kindergartens: pastries, bread, fruit juices. These foods are high in calories but low in nutrients.

Studies show that children who regularly consume 30-50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop lipid disorders and obesity. Studies in adults show that people who get more than 15% of their total calories from ultra-processed foods have a 58% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

In a typical kindergarten day menu, more than 21% of calories are presented in the form of products with high calorie content but low nutritional value: juices, compotes and tea with sugar, pastries, jams and bread made from premium flour.

This is the menu in the Moscow garden. Your child will get 2,659 calories per day, of which 36% comes from ultra-processed foods

These diets can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In addition, ultra-processed foods can crowd out other foods from the diet: children are more likely to eat sweet cereals, white bread and pastries than vegetables, fruits, fish and legumes.

Too little vegetable protein

Rospotrebnadzor recommends consuming 35 g of vegetable protein per day. Such protein is found mainly in legumes and nuts, and there are very few of them in the current menu in kindergartens or not at all. Deficiencies in these food groups lead to deficiencies in fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, the main components of dietary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Of the 10 menus examined, none contained nuts. Children get vegetable protein mainly from buckwheat porridge, green peas and some bread.

An example of a daily menu in a kindergarten in Novosibirsk, which contains 21 g of vegetable protein A is a daily menu in a kindergarten in Yekaterinburg: vegetable protein is found in bread and carrot salad. Total 9.3 g

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Too little fish

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the British Ministry of Health recommend eating two servings of fish per week, and one serving should be fatty fish, such as mackerel or salmon. For children, this amount of fish is about 60 g per week.

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Fish in Children’s Diets

UK Department of Health Guidelines

Current regulations recommend giving Russian preschoolers 37 grams of fish per day, including light or lightly salted. This is an adequate amount, however, in practice, fish is often replaced with meat or dairy products. So you can: in the table of substitutions in sanpin it is indicated that instead of 100 g of cod, you can offer the child 87 g of beef or 105 g of cottage cheese.

But in this case, the norm of fish is not maintained. And fish and seafood is the only guaranteed source of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids in the diet. The ones that are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Of the 10 kindergarten menus we studied, fish dishes were only in half. If we calculate the average weight of fish dishes, we get 57 g – it looks like a normal amount. But in fact, the weight of a portion does not consist only of the weight of the fish. For example, potatoes, carrots and butter are put in pollock ear. Most likely, children receive about 30-40 g of pure fish per week – this is two times lower than the norm.

There is one fish dish on the daily menu – fish soup. It seems that the weight is not bad – as much as 200 g. But if you look at the technological map, it becomes clear that the child will receive 32 g of canned fish

Why is this a problem

Such a menu will not harm the child for a day, a week, or two. But over a few years, unhealthy eating habits can form.

A child who is accustomed to breakfast with semolina, a loaf and tea with sugar, with a high degree of probability, grows into an adult for whom such a breakfast is the norm.

Regular nutritional imbalance is a risk factor for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It turns out that by instilling unhealthy eating habits in children, we are raising them into adults with the risk of developing fatal diseases.

What can be changed? Any deviation from the menu is fraught with both the kindergarten administration and the food supplier who decides to put less sugar in the compote.

Therefore, blaming the kindergarten for a bad menu is unproductive.

At the state level, it is necessary to revise the calorie norms – this is likely to help reduce the daily amount of sugar in children’s menus. It is also necessary to revise the norms in sanpin: increase the amount of vegetables, fish, legumes, nuts and whole grain carbohydrates, reduce the amount of salt, exclude the replacement of fruits with juices, and do not give drinks with added sugar to children at all.

However, private kindergartens can do something themselves to make children’s nutrition more balanced. For example, they can approve the menu, choose another food supplier, or cook on their own. Yes, the menu must meet the requirements of the SanPin, but the norm of 1800 kcal can be obtained not through sweet buns and processed grain porridge, but thanks to legumes, oily sea fish, whole grain carbohydrates, a large number of vegetables and fruits, dairy products without sugar.

This way, children will have a chance to reach the norm for fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, vegetable protein and not exceed the norm for salt and sugar.

How to help your child

Feed breakfast at home. Try to include unsaturated fats, such as nuts and seeds, and whole grain carbohydrates: rye flour and second-grade flour breads, cereals with shells, vegetables, and fruits. A quick and healthy option is a smoothie with oatmeal, nuts, fruit, and a sugar-free fermented milk drink.

Teach your child to drink water and ask for it when he is thirsty. The current sanpin provides for the mandatory availability of drinking water in any kindergarten, so the child should always have a choice whether to drink sweet compote or a glass of water. Separately, you can ask the teacher not to specifically remind about compote, but to put a glass of water.

Bring your own food. This item is especially relevant for children with special diets or medical nutrition. It is possible that you will be able to get a certificate from the pediatrician about the need to eat less sugar and more vegetables. To accept a child with their own lunch box, the kindergarten must have a refrigerator and a microwave. If there is no technology, then talk with the teacher so that the child is not forced to eat up if he does not want to.

Teach your child to make healthy choices. The family plays a decisive role in shaping a child’s eating habits: children are more likely to eat vegetables and fruits if they see that their parents themselves choose such food. After the kindergarten, the child often has dinner at home, so it’s better to offer him something that he didn’t get in the kindergarten: cutting fresh vegetables, broccoli or cabbage salad, fish, legumes and other foods that are more healthy than sweet semolina.

What is the result

The menu in kindergartens and schools in Russia has drawbacks: it contains more sugar, salt and calories than the international scientific consensus allows. There are few vegetables and fruits, and carbohydrates are mainly refined sources, almost completely devoid of fiber: semolina, sugary drinks. Red meat is more common than fish and legumes.

Here is what can be done to ensure that Russian children in kindergartens are fed in accordance with international recommendations:

1. Set the upper limit of free sugars to 15 g per day.
2. Reduce the amount of salt to 2-3 g per day.
3. Do not replace fruits and vegetables with juices.
4. Meet your daily fiber requirement. To do this, enter the breakdown of carbohydrates into free sugars and fiber into the menu and indicate it on the menu along with calories, proteins and fats.
5. Enter the required minimum of dishes – sources of vegetable protein.
6. Exclude industrial sweets like juices and jellies from the menu in kindergartens.
7. Increase oily fish intake to a minimum of two 30g servings per week.
8. Revise the allowance for orphans – keep the amount of sugar at an acceptable level, and increase the calorie content through foods with a rich nutritional value.

Children’s birthday menu: how to organize the perfect party for your child

Children’s birthday is a special holiday. Little guests in cute outfits. Gifts in bright packaging. Funny games and contests, laughter and running around. But there are also troubles that every mother knows about. How to entertain kids. How to make sure that no one is shy and does not get bored. And, most importantly, how to feed them. It’s no secret that many children are hard to please when it comes to food. Besides, not everything is possible for them. In this article, we will tell you how to properly compose a menu for a children’s holiday. And in the end we will give some simple and tasty recipes.

Food selection

Are you planning a menu for a birthday party? First of all, ask the invited parents if the children have allergic reactions to any products. Even if not, we advise you to give up too spicy, fatty and salty dishes. Here – spicy seasonings, spices, garlic. Here are ten simple rules to help you.

1. The simpler the better. You can cook multi-ingredient salads all night, but practice shows that children are unlikely to appreciate these delicious combinations. Let the dishes be simple: fruit and cheese canapés. Salads of two or three ingredients, pancakes.

2. Speaking of canapes. Different children may not eat certain foods. You will spend several hours stringing meat, vegetables, fruits. And when the guests gather, whims will begin: “Remove the olives!”, “Can I have a fish separately?”, “I don’t eat cheese!”. To avoid this, offer the kids a constructor: skewers for canapes separately, components cut into pieces – separately. And let everyone choose combinations to their liking.

3. Remove bones. Necessarily. A children’s holiday is always outdoor games, running around, hustling … In such an environment it is easy to choke. Therefore, the fruits are thoroughly washed, peeled, and seeds are selected. Cut into small pieces and serve.

4. Make several different fillings. For example, vegetable oil, sour cream, yogurt without filler. So your salads will definitely taste everything.

5. Give up fish. No matter how carefully you choose the bones, small ones will still remain. Which means you can choke on them. In addition, not all children love seafood.

6. Chicken is the best option for hot. Almost all kids love it. In addition, chicken meat involves a large selection of dishes: there are kebabs, meatballs, and roasts.

7. Be careful when choosing desserts. Now there are many confectioners offering to order very beautiful cakes and pastries – bright, with figurines of cartoon characters. But if there are children under five years old at the holiday, it is better to cook sweets yourself – so you will know exactly what products were used.

8. Take care of drinks. All kids love soda, but it’s not very healthy. A great alternative is homemade fruit drink or compote. Dilute them with mineral water, and it will taste exactly like store-bought lemonade.

9. Table setting is important. Dishes should be not only tasty, but also beautiful: a child will eat unusually decorated dishes much more willingly than “simple” food. The first and second can be decorated with vegetables. Sweets – berries, whipped cream, powdered sugar.

10. Break the meal into three parts. Children do not like to sit at the table for a long time: five to ten minutes is enough for them to eat. We advise you to do this: light snacks, then games. The main course is games again. Dessert – and the end of the holiday.

Menu and age

Thinking over the children’s birthday menu, be guided by the age of the invitees. After all, three-year-olds are one thing, and ten-year-olds are quite another. Their tastes and preferences are very different. Here are a few key points.

• 1-2 years. We take only neutral products without allergenic properties. Chocolate, strawberries, purchased cakes – it’s better to wait with this for now. Chicken pate crackers, meatballs and mashed potatoes for a hot, light soufflé for dessert are good options for the little ones.

• 3-4 years. At this age, babies become finicky and capricious in food, it can be difficult to feed them. So have a few options. These can be “constructors” for canapes, which we wrote about above. For hot – chicken, for a side dish – mashed potatoes or spaghetti. Dessert – cake with yogurt or sour cream.

• 5-7 years. The list of allowed dishes is wider here. You can cook three or four simple salads, sandwiches with lightly salted fish. For hot – pizza: make it yourself or order in a trusted place. You can also order a cake: ask the pastry chef to make it not too sweet.

• 8-10 years old. At this age, children are more interested in the holiday itself, so if the birthday is themed – pirate, cartoon, princess style – the menu should match. If not, then again, pizza, nuggets, meat and sweet pies are perfect.

Recipes for children’s parties

Finally – a few simple recipes that your kids will definitely like.

Sweet salad

Preparing quickly and simply: thoroughly wash apples, pears, kiwi, bananas and grapes, peel and pit. Cut into small pieces, mix. Top with low-fat yogurt and ice cream. The composition can be changed at will: add tangerines, raisins, nuts.

Chicken balls

Chop two large onions and fry in sunflower oil. Mix with 1 kg of minced chicken, add 100 g of bread soaked in milk there. Put the minced meat in the refrigerator for several hours. Then form small balls and fry them until crispy. After that, bake for 20 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees. Before serving, stick a plastic skewer into each ball.

Potato boats

Bake large potatoes in the oven according to the number of guests. When ready, cut each in half and scoop out the flesh. Fry minced meat with onions. Fill their boats. Sprinkle grated cheese on top and place back in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees. Ready!

What about pizza?

Like it or not, birthday pizza is the perfect dish. Firstly, all children love it – you must admit, a rare child will refuse pizza. Secondly, it will save you energy – after all, pizza can be ordered. And the time freed from cooking should be spent on organizing the holiday itself – games, contests and other entertainment.

Of course, you need to order pizza only in a trusted place – in one where they cook from fresh ingredients and vouch for the quality. Some Ufa restaurants, such as Gusto, have a special children’s menu. It includes pizzas prepared with children’s tastes in mind. In the composition – tender ham, sausages, mashed potatoes, tomatoes. And no spices, hot sauces. The menu also includes French fries and nuggets. Therefore, if you decide to order food for a children’s birthday in Ufa, Gusto is a good option.

Menu

	Monday	Tuesday	Medium	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
breakfast	Porridge milk semolina	Porridge millet milk	Porridge herculean dairy	Porridge rice milk	Omelet natural	Curd casserole with condensed milk	Vermicelli boiled in milk
	Cheese mild varieties	Omelet baked	Cheese mild varieties	Sausage boiled	Jam industrial for a sandwich	Omelet natural	Cocoa on fresh milk
	Coffee drink with milk	Cocoa on fresh milk	Coffee drink with milk	Cocoa on fresh milk	Coffee drink with milk	Tea with sugar	Cheese mild varieties
	Oil creamy	Oil creamy	Oil creamy	Oil creamy	Oil creamy	Oil creamy	Oil creamy
	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat
2 breakfast	Juice fruity	Juice fruity	Juice fruity	Juice fruity	Juice fruity	Juice fruity	Juice fruity
lunch	Salad from canned corn. with r/m	Tomato fresh	Salad from St. cucumbers with r/butter	Cucumbers fresh	Salad from boiled carrots with r / oil.	Cucumbers fresh	Salad from green peas
	Rassolnik on m / b with meat with sour cream	Soup with vermicelli on chicken b-not	Borsch on m/b with sour cream	Vegetable soup in chicken broth with sour cream	Puree soup pea on m / b with croutons	Puree soup from different vegetables	Fish soup (salmon)
	Cutlet meat baked	drumstick broil chicken.	Beef Stroganoff from resp. meat	Cutlet baked chicken	Meatballs meat and cereals	Soufflé from baked meat resp.	Roast at home
	Macaroni boiled.	Rice boiled with vegetables	Macaroni boiled	Potato puree	Stew from vegetables	Macaroni boiled.
	Decoction rosehip	Compote from svezhezamor. black	Compote from dried apricots	Compote prunes	Kisel cranberry	Decoction rosehip	Compote from dried apricots
	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat
	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread rye	Bread rye	Bread rye
afternoon tea	Oranges	Apples	Oranges	Bananas	Apples	Pears	Tea with sugar
	Patties with cabbage baked	Yogurt	Bun with jam	Curd children’s with fruit. fill.	Bun rich	Wafers	Bun baked with raisins
	Tea with sugar	Cookies	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar	Yogurt	Oranges
supper	Tomato fresh	Salad from resp. beets with butter	Tomato fresh	Vinaigrette with r/oil	Tomato fresh	Vinaigrette with r/oil	Cucumbers fresh
	Cutlets chopped fish	Stew from birds (turkey)	Cutlets chopped fish	Soufflé from baked boiled meat	meatballs fish	Cutlets chopped turkey	cabbage rolls lazy with boiled meat
	Stew from vegetables		Potato puree	Porridge buckwheat spill.	Potato puree	Rice boiled crumbly
	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar and lemon	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar	Tea with sugar
	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat	Bread wheat
	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread wheat	Bread rye	Bread rye	Bread rye	Bread rye
dinner2	Kefir with sugar syrup	Ryazhenka with sugar syrup	Biokefir with sugar syrup	Kefir with sugar syrup	Biokefir with sugar syrup	Ryazhenka with sugar syrup	Yogurt

We ask you to send gifts only from the list of allowed products!

• Children in the sanatorium are on a therapeutic dietary balanced diet and the use of prohibited foods often leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
  

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  Recorded Classes

• 
  Home Extension Materials

• 
  Offline Learning Plans

FLEX SCHEDULE

Choose from a library of recorded classes to suit your own schedule. Classes are 30 minutes long.

LIVE CLASSES

For Ages 3 – 4

• 
  (1) Live Class Per Day

• 
  ABCmouse Membership

• 
  Parent-Teacher Events

• 
  Recorded Classes

• 
  Home Extension Materials

• 
  Offline Learning Plans

LIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
(Eastern Time)

LIVE CLASSES

For Ages 4 – 5

• 
  (2) Live Classes Per Day

• 
  ABCmouse Membership

• 
  Parent-Teacher Events

• 
  Recorded Classes

• 
  Home Extension Materials

• 
  Offline Learning Plans

LIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
(Eastern Time)

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
(Eastern Time)

Enroll and get ABCmouse.

com

A subscription to the award-winning ABCmouse.com® Curriculum is included for Kids ‘R’ Kids Online Academy Preschool and Pre-K students. Student assessments are operated through this learning app and it is a tool for many of our Home Extension Materials for the children. 

How do PRESCHOOLERS

CREATE

THINK

LEARN

in an online classroom?

Our students are very enthusiastic.They click the screen to participate and parents report they love the Home Extension Activities. Preschool and Pre-K teachers are live and classes are interactive. Your child’s name will be called out with encouragement to participate. Take a look at how our students thrive in the best online preschool program around.

Areas of Study

We nurture a future love for reading starting with letter recognition and moving on to sounds and sight words.

Math concepts begin with counting and addition, and soon students are using measurement and geometry.

Science, technology, engineering and math concepts are incorporated into nearly every part of the program.

Fine motor skills include pencil grip and holding scissors while gross motor skills include balance, hopping, and skipping.

We use preschoolers’ natural fascination with animals to open doors into life sciences and social studies learning.

Arts help children express emotions and music theory is rooted in math concepts and emotional cognition.

“My daughter has thrived in the KRK Online Learning experience. The teachers are incredibly engaging. She’s developed a great relationship with them and now has so many applied tech skills.”

Online Learning Academy parent from Texas

“It’s such a beautiful thing to have her reference what she learned in class. To this day she likes to emphasize when there is a big, bigger and biggest of something. It was the lesson discussed during her first class. That’s how impactful the learning environment has been for her over the last 6 months.”

Online Learning Academy parent from Texas

“This online program has been a great way to integrate a new routine during our stay-at-home way of life. The online classes are well organized and offer a great program, from learning letters, sight words, vocabulary, stories, songs, math, science and art!

Online Learning Academy parent from North Carolina

“The teacher has a great way to get the kids involved and feel connected, and our daughter is now sad when she doesn’t have class during the weekend! She has learned so much and it also helped her to connect with friends even if they are virtual. We definitely recommend this program for kids staying at home and striving to learn!”

Online Learning Academy parent from North Carolina

“My 5 year old is enjoying virtual classes which are provided by Kids ‘R’ Kids. They spend 30 minutes in a session managing different activities. They are good at time and manage all different skills which children require in this age.”

Online Learning Academy parent from Pennsylvania

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Kids R Kids of North Flower Mound

Kids R Kids of North Flower Mound – Care.com Lewisville, TX Child Care Center

 

Costimate^™

^$164

per week

Ratings
(1)

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

Availability

Costimate^™

^$164/week

Ratings
(1)

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

Availability

—

At Care.com, we realize that cost of care is a big consideration for families. That’s why we are offering an estimate which is based on an average of known rates charged by similar businesses in the area. For actual rates, contact the business directly.

Details and information displayed here were provided by this business and may not reflect its current status. We strongly encourage you to perform your own research when selecting a care provider.

1

In business since: 2015

Total Employees: 11-50

Care.com has not verified this business license.
We strongly encourage you to contact this provider directly or

Texas’s
licensing
department

to verify their license, qualifications, and credentials.

The Care.com Safety Center
has many resources and tools to assist you in verifying and evaluating
potential care providers.

Monday :	6:30AM – 6:30PM
Tuesday :	6:30AM – 6:30PM
Wednesday :	6:30AM – 6:30PM
Thursday :	6:30AM – 6:30PM
Friday :	6:30AM – 6:30AM
Saturday :	Closed
Sunday :	Closed

Type

Child Care Center/Day Care Center

Preschool (or Nursery School or Pre-K)

Additional Details

Summer care / camp

Philosophy

Developmental (Play-Based)

Cooperative

Academic

Montessori

Languages

English

Program Capacity:

320

Costimate^™

^$164/week

At Care. com, we realize
that cost of care is a big consideration for families. That’s
why we are offering an estimate which is based on an average of
known rates charged by similar businesses in the area. For
actual rates, contact the business directly.

OFFERINGS

Full Time (5 days/wk)

Part Time (1-4 days/wk)

Full-Day

Extended Care (Before School)

Extended Care (After School)

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• Personal Check|
• Cash|
• Credit Card

11/18/2016

We have been with Kids R Kids of North Flower Mound since the summer of 2015 and can’t say enough wonderful things about the staff, the owners and the facility. I have three kids ages 8, 4, and 2, and as a teacher myself, the quality of the curriculum and instruction was a major consideration for me when interviewing child care centers. I have been very impressed by the variety of programs KRK offers from Spanish class to yoga and technology/robotics. My kids love their teachers and actually look forward to going each day. I love that my two year old already knows all her shapes, colors, numbers and ABCs, and my four year old comes home telling me about our solar system and ocean life.
My son is in 3rd grade and attends the summer program at KRK. It is packed full of field trips projects, and interactive learning opportunities. He actually asks me to sign him up at KRK for summers and school holidays rather than stay home because he says it’s more fun!
With my two younger children we have experienced everything from the infant rooms all the way up to Pre-K and have been very pleased with how well they have been cared for. With the Watch Me Grow program, I can see what’s going on in the classrooms and it always warms my heart to log in and see one of my babies being rocked or hugged. I also receive pictures of my kids throughout the day playing and engaging in various activities, which really brightens my day.
I recommend KRK of North Flower Mound to anyone looking for high quality child care with a balanced approach to education and socio-emotional development. They really do it all and they do it well

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Legacy Learning Center

2214 ACROPOLIS DR
,
FLOWER MOUND,
TX
75028

The Goddard School of Flower Mound

4051 CROSS TIMBERS RD
,
Flower Mound,
TX
75028

KLA Schools of Flower Mound

4600 Bridlewood Blvd
,
Flower Mound,
TX
75028

Primrose School of Highland Village

2100 Highland Village
,
Highland Village,
TX
75077

High Meadows Academy

1702 Justin Rd
,
Lewisville,
TX
75077

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Child Care / Preschools / Preschools in Lewisville, TX / Kids R Kids of North Flower Mound

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Kids R Kids Learning Center

Write a Review

About the Provider

Description: Kids R Kids Learning Center is a Licensed Center – III in Shreveport LA, with a maximum capacity of 59 children. This child care center helps with children in the age range of Infant (Under 1), Toddler (ages 1-2), PK (ages 3-4). The provider does not participate in a subsidized child care program.

Additional Information: Rated 1 Star by Quality Start Child Care Rating SystemNight Time Care Available;

Program and Licensing Details

• Capacity:
  59
• Age Range:
  Infant (Under 1), Toddler (ages 1-2), PK (ages 3-4)
• State Rating:
  3
• Enrolled in Subsidized Child Care Program:
  No
• Type of Care:
  Early Learning Center IIIBefore School Care; After School Care; Before School Care; After School Care;
• Transportation:
  YES
• District Office:
  Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services – Licensing Section
• District Office Phone:
  (225) 342-9905 (Note: This is not the facility phone number. )

Location Map

Inspection/Report History

Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable,
but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns,
as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.

Date	Notes
2020-08-19	No deficiencies were cited on this date.
2020-02-27	Click Here
2019-05-28	No deficiencies were cited on this date.
2019-05-16	Click Here
2019-02-07	Click Here
2018-12-17	No deficiencies were cited on this date.
2018-09-19	Click Here
2018-05-08	Click Here
2018-04-02	No deficiencies were cited on this date.
2018-03-07	Click Here
2017-12-20	Click Here
2017-08-10	Click Here *
2017-06-13	Click Here
Inspection visit information is available online. However, if a report is not available of if you are unable to access the report, you may contact the DOE Licensing Division at (225)342-9905 for this information.

If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.

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Please read our brief review guidelines to make your review as helpful as possible.

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Parents question daycare after son’s assault, employee arrested

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) – When Kari and DJ Barrentine found bruises on their 3-year-old son one day during a bath, they knew the black-and-blue spots were more than just the result of a rambunctious little boy.

The bruises were around his rib cage and armpits. Some in the distinct patters of an adult’s hand.

The worried parents checked the video from inside their son’s preschool room at Kids R Kids of Lake Norman and found video of a staff member handling their son roughly; in one instance, appearing to throw him on the ground.

After watching the video, the Barrentines called the daycare and went in for a meeting the next morning. That’s when staff showed them more video from another area of the school that showed their son being assaulted worse than what’s on the video.

“For one of the first times in my life, I had no words,” DJ Barrentine told WBTV in an interview.

“I was appalled, incredibly sad for my son, angry beyond all recognition. It was one of the worst things I’ve seen.”

An inspection report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which regulates daycares, found multiple violations related to the incident.

“On June 11, 2020, a staff member handled a three-year-old child roughly by picking up the child (sic) arm by the arms, poking, and pinching the child, which resulted in bruising to the child’s arms and underarm area,” the report read.

State investigators found the Barrentine’s son had been maltreated and that the incident happened in front of other young children.

The staff at Kids R Kids of Lake Norman also called the Huntersville Police, who charged the staff member, Ticaydiyah Young, with one count of misdemeanor assault on a child under 12. That charge is pending.

Young has also been disqualified from caring for children by DHHS. The daycare was given a written warning, records show.

DJ Barrentine said he and his wife were pleased to see the charges and other administrative action but wondered why nothing else was done to discipline other staff members at the facility. They also wonder how their child could have been abused in the first place.

Kids R Kids of Lake Norman is licensed by the state as a five-star facility. There are cameras in each room that parents can go back and watch on demand until the end of each day.

“It’s five-star rated. It was pretty much the most expensive in the area at the time and it had cameras,” Barrentine explained. “We were like ‘OK, well, paying the higher price, getting that better care, we can see what’s happening. Nothing can go wrong.’”

But, when asked how a child could be assaulted by a staff member at their daycare, the owners of the facility, Stephen and Laura Patton, could not offer an explanation.

“Well, first of all, like we want to thank you for coming and letting us talk about this. Child Safety is our number one priority,” Stephen Patton said when first asked how a child could be assaulted at the daycare.

“It’s our number one concern and as parents ourselves of three kids, three daughters, they all did child care as well, so we understand that trust that has to be involved when you’re dropping off your most precious thing and we worked on stop to maintain that trust.”

“But none of that answers the question: how could this have happened in your facility in the first place? If you had all these measures in place?” a reporter asked.

“How was it that a staff member that you hired and allowed to supervise these children could treat a child this way?”

“You know, again, we found it completely unacceptable,” Patton said. “And, yes, the former employee’s actions were – we would never stand for that.”

The Pattons pointed to steps they took after learning about the abuse from the Barrentines, including immediately firing the employee, calling police and self-reporting the incident to state regulators.

But they could not explain why none of the other employees at their daycare reported the incident after it happened.

“You know, we were… Again, we were notified by the parent – which, and we were so grateful that she did – so we could address this,” Stephen Patton said.

“None of the other staff members at your facility reported it,” a reporter asked. “Does that concern you?”

“Again, we take this with the utmost seriousness. We dealt with it immediately. We addressed that with our staff,” Patton said.

The Barrentine’s returned to Kids R Kids of Lake Norman briefly before ultimately leaving. DJ Barrentine said his son is now in counseling regarding the abuse.

“He goes through therapy every week to help with his behavior because this has definitely changed him,” he said.

The Barrentines said they called WBTV in hopes of warning other parents about what happened, even at a highly-rated facility.

“That just shows and proves no matter how much money you spend, no matter where you are and no matter what false sense of security those cameras give you, this stuff happens everywhere,” DJ Barrentine said.

Copyright 2021 WBTV. All rights reserved.

Home – Kidz r Kidz

Enrol now for free kinder in 2022!

Book a tour

Learn more about us

“EARLY DEVELOPMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE GROWTH OF YOUR CHILD.”

focus on

school
readiness

Structured Kindergarten program offered by a qualified teacher holding a Bachelor of early childhood and primary education

Meet our educators

Do you know Kidz R Kidz offers both 3 and 4 year old

FUNDED kindergarten programs!

This is a fantastic way for working families to still ensure their children are gaining that vital learning before they start their journey at school without needing to work around the short hours offered at other kinder programs.

We also supply all your child’s food for the day so there is no stress about forgetting a lunch box in the morning rush.

At KidzRKidz we are a small family owned and opporated centre that prides itself on the genuine care and attention we are able to give each child because we don’t have large numbers of children in each room and all of our staff know every child and their individual interests.

So come down and meet our amazing bachelor trained kindergarten teacher and start your child on their jounrey to loving learning now!

COVID-19

We are staying up to date with all COVID requirements and following all Government guidelines.

 

HELLO, I’M SAMANTHA ROONEY, DIRECTOR OF KIDZ R KIDZ EARLY LEARNING CENTRE.
I have been in the early childhood sector for over 10 years, so my knowledge and skills assist me in creating a warm, caring and professional child care setting for your children. Your child is born with amazing potential and capacities: curiosity, a drive to understand, the ability to wait, to wonder and to be amazed, the capacity to express themselves in many ways and the desire to form relationships with others and with the physical world.

Read more…

I’m very passionate about exploring the wider community and bringing the child’s family and culture into the centre through experiences, food and cultural days and my aim is to ensure that our program and service reflect this. I believe that a child’s first teacher is their parent, I strive to have a strong and positive relationship with all my parents and families to ensure that a child’s transition from home to care can be a smooth and positive transition for all.
​Our child care centre is a 47 place centre catering for 0-5 year old children. We have approximately 10 educators whom hold Diploma Qualifications and we also have a kindergarten teacher with an Early Childhood & Primary Teaching degree. Our educators are all as passionate about early childhood as I am and will give your children the best care possible. We also run sessional kindergarten 5days a week and provide child care subsidy, and free four year old kinder sessions for holders of health care and some concession cards.
If ever you feel you would like to discuss your child’s progress or have a question about the program or other issues please don’t hesitate to ask. I am only a phone call away.

Call or email now using the buttons below or check out our contact page for more options.

2020 Preschool graduation

2020 went so quickly! . It was a big year for our preschoolers.
They all graduated and are having an interesting 1st year of school.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR MARKET

&
CAR SHOW 2022

Sorry to say, all our Market and Cars Show days scheduled for 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19.

Hopefully we can all get out and about, and back to normal this year.

Check our socials regularly for news about rescheduled events in the near future.

Facebook

Instagram

Catering for 0-6 year olds

• Caring & Personalized Service with family values

• Privately owned and family operated

• Small multicutural cente with limited placements  

• Government Funded and Accredited by ACECQA

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Free Date Night Service!

Hopefully 2021 gets back to some sort of normality so we can reintroduce our free date night service. For parents wanting to enjoy a night out while the kids are safe with the familiar faces they see at the centre everyday!

Kids Party Room Hire!

Need somewhere for your child’s next Birthday Party? Chat to us about our weekend room hire available to all families with children enrolled at the centre.

A great resource worth checking out, Kidsafe Victoria.

Click the image to check them out.

Customers reviews

My daughter has gone there for nearly a year and a half now and she loves it… learns new things made good friends… she found it easy to settle… the staff are really awsome and caring! I would recommend it to all my friends and family!

SIMAR KAUR CHAHAL

I have been at this centre for nearly 5 years. Two out of my Three children go here and I can’t fault them. Amazingly friendly staff who make you feel welcome, and my children love going here – so much excitement and learning for them. Glad I chose this centre for my kids!

CHLOE PHILLIPS

Check out OUR 5 STAR Google Reviews

NEWS.

..

For all our latest news, photos and happenings please check out our facebook & instagram pages.

Don’t forget to like and share anything you may find interesting!

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Do you know Kidz R Kidz offers both 3 and 4 year old FUNDED kindergarten programs!

4 months of life. What should a child be able to do?

More related:

Baby 6 to 7 months old, what to do with him Baby 5 to 6 months, what to do with him Baby 4 to 5 months. What to do with him Baby 3 to 4 months old. What to do with him Baby 1 to 2 months old. What to do with him

Starting from 4 months, lying on the tummy, the baby raises high
head resting on the forearms. At this time, he comprehends complex types of movement.
For example, he tries to work the muscles of his back and legs. Feeling your own body
for the baby plays a very important role! This feeling is very important to stimulate
massage, games and gentle touches.

4 months for your baby “training”. The back is still weak, the baby begins
pull up to sit down in the future. He loves to be supported
mice are picked up by the handles and tends to dance.

At this age, the child sleeps only 3 times a day, and is awake for two
hours in a row.

The kid is actively cooing and recognizes his mother, rejoices, he easily has a “complex
revitalization”.

By the end of 4 months, the baby can laugh loudly and contagiously! That his
surrounds – it becomes more and more interesting for him. By sound he can
look for people, look forward and backward, over your shoulder. He answers his family
joyful roar.

The kid is frightened if he hears the angry voice of a loved one. His face changes
facial expressions, he might even cry!

At this age, the baby easily distinguishes the timbre and strength of sounds, under a beautiful
classical music, he is awake and enjoys it, and tired, falls asleep under a gentle
lullaby. If you like to dance with your baby, dance! Download carefully
child to a slow melody and more quickly to a rhythmic one. So you
develop a sense of rhythm in your crumbs through movement.

At this age, kids get great pleasure from playing with sounds.
Completely independent of the mother’s speech, children all over the world begin to pronounce
first syllables: “ba”, “ma”, “am”, “ta”, etc. Some babies can change
tonality and volume of his speech, and even hum whole melodies.
All sounds for the crumbs are alive! He just enjoys them. Sense of speech, each
vowel and consonant has certain properties for the child. Therefore, kids
love to listen to poetry, even those that seem strange to you.
At this time, the initial development of the eyeball is completed.

He examines objects, as if feeling them with his eyes, determining their shape and
the size. Such a long and varied visual concentration, his attention
to objects, active cooing – all this is evidence of a normal
psychophysical development.

The development of vision allows the baby to examine and memorize objects in detail and
of people. At this age, he begins to distinguish some colors, to catch the difference
shapes such as oval, triangle and rectangle. He starts
respond to a change in the appearance of a person whom he knows well. Mom put on
a new dress, a hat or glasses – all this is interesting for him, he tries everything
to consider and study, in a new image, he strives to recognize his own face.

At 4 months, the baby will already enjoy his reflection in the mirror. To do this, many toys have a safe mirror. He will
greet your “stranger” with a joyful and radiant smile.
At the fourth month, the baby is already trying to turn on its side. A little later he
can roll over from stomach to back. All these movements are still uncertain, and
more like rollovers.

Having come across toys, he examines them, seeks to grab and touch them.
He still does not know how to grab objects on his own, but he keeps the nested
rattle in the palm of your hand, firmly enough.

Any objects that fall into the hands of the baby, be sure to fall into the mouth.
for further research. This is a new step in the development of the child! Baby strive
explore the world with your sensitive mouth. This is how he gains experience.
tactile sensations…

During feeding, the baby skillfully grabs and holds the breast with his hands
mother or bottle.

The kid already knows how to perceive tactilely various materials and objects. give him
the opportunity to accumulate experience of more and more new sensations. Offer your baby toys made of different materials, such as teethers.
This is a time of unforgettable impressions and emotions, both for the baby and for the young.
moms!

Why does the baby cry – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Bondarenko Margarita Gennadievna

Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT)

Clinic “Mother and Child” Kuntsevo,

I want to eat!

Most often the baby cries because he wants to eat. And to understand that he is hungry is the easiest way. At first, the baby shows concern, smacks his lips, turns his head to his mother’s hand, stroking his cheek, tries to put his own fist in his mouth. All this means that there is very little time left before the hungry cry. Noticing such signs, you should not wait: feed the baby on demand. Otherwise, starting to cry, he will have to spend a lot of energy trying to calm down, and therefore, he will eat less and the next time he will get hungry again too soon. In general, for children who are breastfed, during the first month of life there is no clear feeding regimen. A newborn can be applied to the breast up to 10-12 times a day.

I want to sleep!

The next reason for screaming is, oddly enough, the desire to sleep. Many parents think that a baby can fall asleep anytime, anywhere, and even in almost any position. No, it’s not like that – he needs help. How do you know if your baby wants to sleep? It’s easy to guess. At first, he will behave restlessly, cry, push out the pacifier, rub his eyes, yawn. And then he starts crying. Here, too, it is necessary to try to calm the child as quickly as possible so that he does not disperse in crying, otherwise it will be more difficult for him to fall asleep. Rituals will help: you can shake the baby, sing a song, put it in the usual sleeping place.

I’m wet!

Crying can be a signal that the baby is uncomfortable, such as a wet diaper. Cold and wet, they irritate the skin, so he screams: “Mom, dad, change me quickly!” Crying about this is whimpering, incessant, although it sounds either stronger or weaker, it may be accompanied by hiccups, as the child freezes in wet diapers. If the diaper is changed, and the baby is warmer to cover, he will calm down. If the child is not in diapers, but in reusable diapers, you should not relax either: they can leak or get wet inside. So, the baby is also wet and cold. If the child sleeps in one diaper all night, then he may be disturbed by a greatly increased diaper volume. And of course, children do not like to be in dirty diapers (diapers): feces quickly irritate delicate skin.

I’m hot!

If the baby is hot, he will also cry about it. He will begin to whimper, scatter his arms and legs, his skin will turn red, a small red rash (prickly heat) may appear under his clothes. At the same time, the temperature of the baby sometimes even rises to 37.5 ° C. This is what saves here: the child must be undressed (and removed diapers, especially disposable ones), wiped with a towel moistened with water at room temperature, and allowed to lie in the air for several minutes. Then you need to dress the baby, but in other, clean clothes. In the fight against overheating and prickly heat, a reasonable amount of clothing and a comfortable room temperature – no higher than 24-25 ° C will help, first of all.

I’m uncomfortable!

The reason for the inconvenience can be any: the child may cry when the temperature changes, when changing clothes, changing the diaper or wiping his bottom with a damp cloth. Newborns feel more comfortable when they are dressed or wrapped in diapers, because the touch of air on the skin is not always pleasant for them. In addition, children often do not like to be changed, especially if it is winter and you have to wear a lot of clothes. There is only one way out: learn to act as quickly as possible, causing the crumbs a minimum of inconvenience.

A few words about clothes. It is better not to buy clothes with fasteners on the back and coarse seams inside – the baby may not like it. And sometimes even the slightest thread or hair caught between the clothes and the skin of the baby causes him great inconvenience.

I want attention!

Attention and tactile sensations are very important for a child. He loves to see the faces of his mom and dad, hear their voices, communicate with them. But so far, the baby cannot ask his parents to take him in his arms, read him a fairy tale, sing a song, play – but this does not mean at all that he does not need it. Therefore, crying, the baby wants to be paid attention to, requires communication. Do not worry that the baby will get used to the hands too much. While he is so small, he needs to feel a sense of security – it is this that will later help him gain confidence in his abilities. Well, different cradles, deck chairs, playpens, child seats will only help mom and dad free their hands and at the same time place their beloved child next to them.

Once you learn to understand your baby’s “language”, you will see that the reasons for crying vary from case to case. A little time and patience – and very soon you will understand what the child wants, already from the first seconds of his discontent.

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to the doctor – Bondarenko Margarita Gennadievna

Clinic “Mother and Child” Kuntsevo

Children’s otorhinolaryngologyFor childrenDispanserizationMonitoring of children at home0020

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Malysh and Carlson – read online

This story actually happened. But, of course, it happened far away from you and me – in the Swedish city of Stockholm, where only Swedes live.
It always happens like that: if something special happens, it is sure to be far away from you for some reason…

The kid was a Swede, that’s why, by the way, he lived in Stockholm. In general, the Kid had a different name, a real one, but he turned out to be the youngest in the family, and everyone just called him Kid.

One day the Kid was sitting in his room and sadly thinking about how lonely he was.

Because my father, for example, had a mother. And my mother, for example, had a father. Even brother and sister, when they did not quarrel, they always walked together. And only to the Kid himself there is no one.

How many times did he ask to be bought a dog! And what? Exactly the same number of times he was denied. And you and I do not need to explain how lonely a person is when he does not have a dog.

And at that very moment the Kid saw Carlson. At first he was a little confused. Everyone will be confused if a person who flies without an airplane or even a helicopter, but simply by himself, hangs right in the air in front of him.

Hangs and in addition says:

— Excuse me, can I land here?

“Sit down, please,” said the Kid, frightened.

But when the man said that his name was Carlson, who lives on the roof, for some reason the Kid stopped being afraid at all. When he answered Carlson that his own name was Malysh, he felt that they had already become friends. And Carlson, probably, also felt it. Anyway, he suggested:
“Now let’s have a little fun.”
– How? asked the Kid.
And I thought to myself that for the time being it is quite possible to endure without a dog.
“Calm, only calm,” said Carlson. – Now let’s figure it out.

And he began to think, slowly flying around the room.
– Now I understand who is the best specialist in pampering in the world? Carlson asked, swinging on the chandelier as if on a swing.
“What if she breaks?”

— Listen, this will be great! Let’s try, shall we?
– Yes … And mom? .. And also dad.
“Nothing,” said Carlson. – It’s a matter of life.
And he began to sway with all his might …

The kid really wanted Carlson to be friends with him all his life. So when the chandelier fell and broke, he pretended not to be upset in the least.

He even said:
– Well, well, that’s nonsense. It’s a matter of life.
“It’s nothing to you, of course,” Carlson snapped, rubbing his knee. – If you yourself would have fallen, then I would have looked at you.
– Are you in pain? The Kid was alarmed.
– It wouldn’t hurt! If you want to know, I’m the most seriously ill person in the world right now. And if I hurt myself for your pleasure, then you should treat me …

Since Carlson lived on the roof, he had to get to his house, of course, by air.

It was not easy for Carlson: in fact, besides the Kid, he also had to carry a bunch of medicines.
On one of the roofs, Carlson had a very nice house, green, with a white porch and a bell, with a sign: “Call to Carlson, who lives on the roof.”

Carlson immediately fell into bed.
– Give me medicine! he called to the Kid.

The kid handed him a jar. He was very interested in whether this medicine would help Carlson.

Until now, he believed that the medicine should be bitter, but Carlson said that jam is the best remedy for bruises. That would be great…

At first it seemed that no, it wouldn’t help. Carlson drank the jam straight from the jar, over the edge, and thought. It was as if he was listening to what was going on inside him.

— No more jam? he asked afterwards.
– Not.
– Not a bit?

The kid looked into the jar and said:
– Not a bit.
And only then Carlson exclaimed:
– Hooray! A miracle happened. I recovered.

The kid hopefully thought that maybe tomorrow he would be able to hurt his knee.

And Carlson said:
Now I don’t mind having a little fun. Let’s go have some fun…

They walked around the roofs for quite a while, and suddenly Carlson said:
— Shh!
The kid also saw two men climbing into the attic.
– The thieves! – the Kid whispered happily.

And imagine, they were real thieves. Kid and Carlson, hiding behind a pipe, watched as they removed someone else’s underwear from the ropes.

Carlson whispered:
“Do you know who is the best thief deterrent in the world?”
– You?
– Now you will see.

Wrapped in a sheet, with a bucket on his head and a brush in his hands, Carlson looked like a real ghost. Even the Kid felt uneasy, and there was nothing to say about thieves.

The kid liked it so much on the roof with Carlson that he even completely forgot about the dog that they didn’t want to buy him…

He remembered her only the next morning, and that because it was just his birthday.

There were a lot of gifts on the bed, but the Kid was still so sad, so lonely! Even when Carlson arrived, he did not become happier.

Just a little.

Carlson was offended. He stopped taking a bite of the birthday cake and declared:
– I do not play this way. I flew to you, but you are not at all happy.
“Even for my birthday, and still they didn’t give me a dog …” said the Kid plaintively.
“But you have me!” I’m better than a dog,” Carlson said quietly.

The kid was about to agree, but then a bark was heard from the corridor.
Dad brought a puppy! Now the Kid had his own dog! Both Carlson and the puppy – how happy you can be sometimes. The kid burst into the room screaming:
— Carlson, Carlson, they gave me a present…

And he fell silent. Because Carlson was no longer in the room.
The kid ran to the window, looked out – but there was no one else there either.

Carlson disappeared – as if he had never appeared at all. The kid would probably cry again, but then the puppy licked him on the cheek.

And stroking the puppy, the Kid then thought that Carlson would definitely return. Someday…

Euromed Clinics pediatric neurologist answers questions

A neurologist is one of the main specialists for children from birth. For the first time, your baby meets with a pediatric neurologist while still in the maternity hospital, then scheduled examinations by this doctor are carried out every month, at three, at half a year, at 9 months (if indicated), per year. We talked with the pediatric neurologist of EuroMed Clinic Natalia Petrovna Isaenko about why a child is shown to a specialist so often, what are the most common neurological diseases in babies, and what needs to be done to ensure that your child grows up healthy and calm.

— Natalya Petrovna, what does a neurologist pay attention to during routine examinations of babies?

– First of all, the neurologist reveals gross congenital anomalies. Next, we look at how the pre-speech, motor, emotional development of the child goes.

In each age period, the child should have certain skills. Parents, unlike a neurologist, most often cannot objectively assess how the development of their child fits into age norms.

– But after all, all children are different, and their development may not correspond to the tables and the established framework?

— Yes, it happens. Here it is necessary to approach very individually. Indeed, despite the fact that we are guided by existing norms, we have certain tables, painted schemes of what a child should do at what age, there is a possibility of deviations from them, and this is not scary. Some child may begin to perform certain actions a little earlier, some – a little later. Much depends on the conditions in which the child lives, what parents do in relation to the child, etc.

But that is why it is important to consult a neurologist in order to professionally assess whether the child is developing normally or there are frightening moments that may indicate certain health problems.

Is it normal for a small child to cry often?

– Recently, it is believed that a healthy child, when he is full, who has enough day and night sleep, should not cry. If the child cries often and for no reason, then there is a problem. These can be headaches, neck problems (subluxations, infringement), neurological problems. In the first months of life – problems with the gastrointestinal tract: colic, increased gas formation, etc. In connection with this, there may be crying during meals, refusal of the breast, of the bottle. During eating, intestinal motility increases, and therefore the child experiences discomfort.

Young children are usually very weather dependent and react to the weather – this can also be a reason for crying.

It seems to me that many children cry because they are bored, they require parental attention so much. Now there is a psychological acceleration in children and, accordingly, they need more attention. This is usually clearly visible. Many parents themselves provoke this fixation: the child began to cry, the mother took him in her arms, shook him, put him to her chest. Of course, the baby in his mother’s arms and, moreover, at the breast is fine, and he will repeat crying, demanding repetition. It is not necessary to apply it to the chest every time the child has cried. It is better to try to switch: distract, rattle a rattle, stroke …

Another reason for crying is overwork. Parents often do not believe that the baby can overwork, they do not understand why. Babies have an immature nervous system, plus they receive a huge amount of new information and impressions every day – for them, everything in the world is new and unfamiliar! Therefore, a good sleep is so important, when the child can take a break from impressions.

If the child screams before going to bed, sleeps little, nervously, often wakes up, it is necessary to move the mode, improve sleep, monitor the quality of sleep.

– When we talk about a full sleep, what do we mean, how should a child sleep?

– For very young children, the norm is to sleep for at least an hour and a half on daytime sleep, six hours in a row – at night. During the adaptation period, in the first months of life, the baby may wake up at night more often, but still, the intervals should be at least 3 hours. Sleeping for 30-40 minutes is not enough, the child does not have enough time to rest. Here such a moment is important: the phase of sleep in a child is just these 30-40 minutes. But the child must be able to move from phase to phase independently. What happens in practice? The child was brought in, opened his eyes, his mother immediately takes him in her arms, begins to feed him. He gets used to it and no longer falls asleep on his own. Therefore, it is important to teach the child to move from phase to phase without waking up: do not touch him if he wakes up, do not disturb him; if he cried, was capricious – pump him up, stroke him, but try so that the child continues to sleep without a break for food.

Older children who sleep once a day should have 2-3 hours of naps during the day. If you sleep more, that’s good.

To improve sleep, the regime is important. I recommend directly writing down in a notebook (or in an application on a smartphone) how much the child sleeps, the time when he fell asleep and woke up, when he screams before going to bed, what his mood is after sleep … So we can track the quantity and quality of sleep. Look at what days the child slept well, fell asleep easily – and focus on the daily routine.

– One of the most common diagnoses that many children are given in the hospital is “neurogenic torticollis.” How serious is this problem?

– Neurogenic torticollis – asymmetry of muscle tone. A child is often born with asymmetric muscle tone. A small child does not yet have voluntary movements, they are chaotic. And at the moment of relaxation, sleep, the child is drawn to where the tone is increased. That is, the child lies with a certain turn of the head. If you do not deal with this problem, do not correct it, there is a deformation of the neck and skull. The child constantly looks in one direction, lies on one side, as a result, the head flattens, its shape changes.

You can work with this, the main thing is to do it. What is being done to correct torticollis and its consequences? We change position, we shift the child so that he lies on different sides alternately, and not on one, on his back. Lay on the stomach. Also, therapeutic exercises, massage, swimming pool are recommended for the correction of torticollis.

Torticollis returns to normal between 3 and 6 months of a child’s life. During this period, the child becomes more active, turns his head, arms, begins to roll over, tries to crawl, sit down.

It is important not to confuse neurogenic torticollis, which is treated by neurologists, with congenital muscular torticollis, a gross pathology treated by orthopedic doctors.

Is headaches in children a reason to visit a neurologist?

Yes, definitely. Children under 5-6 years of age should not have headaches – they are not yet ripe for this. In young children, headaches can be caused by somatic causes: parasitosis, anemia, allergies, some problems from the gastrointestinal tract …

In older children, headaches can be triggered by problems with the spine of the neck. In the pubertal period, various autonomic dysfunctions are often encountered. This is a common problem in teenagers.

In any case, it is necessary to be examined. There is a good chance that we will not find anything, and the headaches will eventually go away on their own. But it can be a symptom of some serious diseases that should not be left to chance.

Is nocturnal enuresis (urinary incontinence) common? When do we talk about this diagnosis?

Yes, this is also a common disease. As a diagnosis, enuresis is made after 3-4 years.

If we talk about the norms in development, by the age of one and a half years the child should learn not to urinate at night. A modern child spends some time in disposable diapers. Then they are removed. The first time of the night will be “wet”. But by the age of two, “dry nights” should already be formed.

After that, some time passes – and the child begins to urinate again at night, say, at 4 years old. This is secondary enuresis.

If the diaper is removed, and the child continues to urinate at night, this is primary enuresis.

There are many reasons for enuresis: these are infectious diseases, malformations, dysfunction of the genitourinary system, immaturity of the nervous system, stress, neurosis, etc. In any case, this problem cannot be ignored, but you need to contact a neurologist as soon as possible for correction this disease.

– Young children have convulsions when the temperature rises. How dangerous is it?

Febrile convulsions (that is, convulsions with an increase in body temperature) is a paradoxical reaction of the nervous system, the cerebral cortex to such an irritant as high temperature. Against this background, there is a splash. Febrile seizures may occur only once, or they may recur with each episode of fever. Most often, they occur in emotional and active children. Special treatment is not required, the main thing is not to allow the body temperature to rise above 37.5 ° C, to bring it down immediately with antipyretic drugs so that episodes of convulsions do not recur. If necessary, the neurologist will recommend sedatives. Such children are observed by a neurologist, it is recommended to see a doctor every six months.

– Can’t febrile convulsions be a sign of incipient epilepsy?

As a rule, febrile convulsions do not have a way out into epilepsy. There are isolated cases when convulsions can really be the debut of epilepsy. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to show the child to a neurologist so that the doctor can see in which direction it develops.

Is epilepsy generally common?

Yes, epilepsy is a common disease. We, in Novosibirsk, even have a special center where epileptologists work – this is a very narrow specialization in neurology. When we confirm epilepsy in a child, I usually refer the patient to an observation center. So there they will be able to help the baby as efficiently as possible, correctly select the drugs and prescribe the correct treatment.

What symptoms should parents pay attention to in order not to miss the onset of epilepsy in a child?

– As a rule, when an attack occurs, it is clearly visible. The child has convulsive twitches, the corner of the mouth twitches, the muscles may pull, saliva flows, foam may come from the mouth, he may urinate. But it happens that a child simply freezes during an attack, and, for example, rubs his hands or makes chewing movements for some time. And then everything passes. After an attack, headache, nausea, impaired coordination and speech can be observed.

Sometimes the first signs of epilepsy appear even before the attack. For example, a child twitches while sleeping. Or he simply changes his usual behavior, becomes obsessive, whiny, asks the same questions in a circle, etc. This is due to the neurological changes that occur with epilepsy.

Thus, if you notice changes in the child’s behavior, he behaves unusually, strangely, be sure to show the child to a neurologist!

If possible, I recommend filming the attack on video – it will be much easier for the doctor to understand what is happening with the child.

– Are there sedatives that can be given to children?

– Hardly ever. Available drugs can be prescribed and given only in hospitals. This is not practiced in outpatient treatment in neurological pediatrics.

With increased excitability and emotionality of the child, I usually suggest starting from afar – to establish a daily routine, give the child the opportunity to actively move and fully relax, walk in the fresh air, etc.

All drugs (vascular, nootropics, etc.) are prescribed strictly according to indications and cannot be taken without a doctor’s recommendation. The consequences of uncontrolled medication may be neurological and behavioral problems in the future: hyperactivity, disinhibition, restlessness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

How common is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children?

Now this diagnosis is made very often. Although, it seems to me, we often attribute to ADHD what it is not: the characteristics of the temperament and character of the child, his activity or even pedagogical neglect …

There are many pathological hyperactivity, but there are still more stories with problems in the family and in the interaction of parents with the child.

— Another common disease is nervous tics. How are they treated?

Yes, tics are very common. We treat both with medication, and – most importantly – with the normalization of the regimen. For a “ticking” child, a good sleep, rest, minimizing the TV, phone, computer is very important. It is very useful to send such children to sports clubs. As a rule, children suffering from a nervous tic are very emotional, temperamental, read a lot and sit at the computer. They are emotionally and informationally overloaded. And the nervous system relieves tension, manifesting itself in tics.

— Speaking of information overload, how do you feel about early development, which is so popular now?

– Badly. Any neurologist, I think, will agree with me. If a child is given a load that is inadequate for his age and development, this can result in quite serious problems in the future, up to psychiatric disorders. A child does not need all this early reading from two years old, English from three and mathematics from five. The child should calmly explore the world, it is important to stimulate his cognitive activity, but do not stuff him with a huge amount of knowledge beyond his age.

— What are the examinations for the diagnosis of neurological diseases?

– Electroencephalogram (EEG). Invented and created to record epi-activity – to confirm or exclude epilepsy, this is the main focus of this examination.

I also refer children with speech and mental disorders to the EEG to see how all cortical rhythms are formed – by age or not. This is corrected by age, over time. Classes with neuropsychologists, defectologists, the Tomatis method (a program for neuro-sensory stimulation) also help.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is one of the most informative surveys.

Be sure to send for an MRI to understand the cause of headaches, especially if the child complains of a headache when moving, when he starts to jump, run, move actively.

Also, MRI is informative in epilepsy, the attacks of which are not treatable. Then we look at the MRI to see if there is a vascular malformation (deviation from normal development) or another vascular defect. This can cause seizures, and the problem is solved surgically. As a rule, after the operation, the seizures in the child stop.

MRI allows you to see the structure of the brain and blood vessels, assess the state of the structure, the presence of cysts, etc.

Computed tomography (CT). Typically, a CT scan is ordered after an injury to look for blood in the injured area.

Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck. Headaches, disinhibition, attention deficit, speech delays can be caused by impaired blood flow through the vessels. Ultrasound allows you to diagnose this, as well as to see anatomical defects (C-shaped, S-shaped course of vessels), anatomically incorrectly formed vessels, improper discharge of vessels into the spinal column, vasoconstriction.

Neurosonography (NSG) – ultrasound of the brain. It is mandatory recommended as a screening (preventive examination) for all newborns. The NSG shows the structures of the brain, how all spheres are formed, the cavity system, ventricles, grooves, the presence of fluid. In parallel with NSG, dopplerometry is performed – we look at the blood flow of the vessels.

NSG is performed in the maternity hospital for children after complicated childbirth, in a month NSG is prescribed to absolutely everyone. NSG can show gross violations that need to be corrected as early as possible in order to minimize their impact on the development of the baby. In the first months of life, many developmental anomalies do not appear, until about 3-4 months they are well compensated, and then the child begins to lag behind in motor and mental development. That is why NSG must be performed without fail, even if outwardly the child looks absolutely normal.

recommendations for parents of children 4-5 months old

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Educational games with children: recommendations for parents of children 4-5 months old

• Tags:
• Expert advice
• 0-1 year
• games for children
• fine motor skills

The first months of life with a little disturber of sleep and tranquility are over, and are you ready to conquer new heights of parenting skills? Especially for you, I, the Parent, have prepared 8 educational games with four- and five-month-old babies.

What skills do babies develop at 4-5 months?

Development of fine motor skills and coordination

By four or five months, babies continue to develop most actively physically. At this age, the first grasping reflexes appear, the child holds his head and even makes the first attempts to sit down. He reaches for toys, tries them “by the tooth”, getting an idea of ​​the texture and volume of objects.

Development of visual memory and attention

Babies of four or five months already consciously smile when they see mom or dad, babble happily and express emotions. The baby can focus his eyes, begins to distinguish between near and far objects, find familiar ones.

Speech development

At the same age, children begin to actively develop auditory perception and speech. The baby turns his head in the direction of the voice of an adult or a sounding toy. Cheerful music can cause him joyful excitement, and sad, on the contrary, make him freeze.

The baby is trying to babble: unlike babbling, babbling is a more complex type of speech that prepares your child for pronouncing the first conscious sounds and syllables.

8 educational games for children 4-5 months old

The older the baby gets, the more interesting it is to play with him. I, the Parent, have chosen developing activities for young mothers and fathers that will distract from everyday duties and cause sincere joy for the child.

3 fine motor and coordination games

Playing with objects of different shapes and textures

Inviting your baby to grab and feel objects of different shapes and textures will help develop his coordination and fine motor skills.

– playing with objects of various shapes

Cubes with a face of four centimeters and balls of the same diameter are suitable for playing. Pick up three items of each type. Putting the baby in turn balls and cubes, make sure that he distributes his fingers over the entire surface of the object.

– playing with objects of different textures

Give your child objects of different shapes and surfaces – smooth, slippery, rough, soft, hard, fluffy, reasonably prickly, elastic. You can buy tactile pouches at the kids’ store: they’re filled with cereals, beans, or plastic balls. The more variety, the more interesting and useful the games will be for the baby. Tactile bags can not only be given to a child for palpation, they are good for massage.

Hands and feet game

Four months is the time when the baby “introduces” his hands and feet. Leg grab games develop overall coordination and motor skills.

A kid at this age is very fond of kicking something. Hang toys, balls, rattles over the crib: the child will push them away, and over time he will be able to arrange a “foot shooting range” and choose which toy he wants to swing. It is not necessary to hang objects – a ball or a tumbler can be put in a crib.

The game “Little pianist”

Closer to five months of age, your little “grab” begins to press on objects: the child gets an idea of ​​the volume and density of objects.

Keyboard instruments are best for playing. Do not be surprised – at five months old, a child can already receive his first toy piano as a gift! It will bring him not only joyful excitement, but also teach him to associate sound with finger movements.

Before playing, show the little pianist how to play the keys and draw his attention to the instrument.

3 games for the development of visual memory and attention

Games aimed at developing attention and visual memory will help your child learn to memorize new objects and find already known ones.

Game “My light, mirror, tell me!”

This game is a favorite of all moms. She teaches the baby to follow his own mirror image.

Draw the child’s attention to the mirror so that he looks around himself. Bring the baby to the mirror, then move away. Let him see that the reflection changes as you move. Take the “toy” and point to the child, then to yourself. During the game, the baby will learn to distinguish between his own and your reflections. Do not forget to accompany all actions with comments.

You can play this for five minutes a day, gradually involving other family members in the game.

Old and New Game

This game teaches your child to memorize new objects and find familiar ones.

Show your child familiar toys, occasionally adding a new one. Notice the reaction of recognition, surprise, pronounce the names of objects, their shape, color, comment on the child’s reaction. If he asks, put a toy in his pen. Take the child in your arms and walk, showing him the room, large bright objects outside the window, on the floor, on the wall. Switch the baby’s attention gradually.

Hide-and-seek

Hide-and-seek develops baby’s attention.

Show your child a bright toy, hold it at a distance of thirty centimeters, allowing the baby to calmly examine every detail. Then take it a little to the side, move it away, bring it closer, hide it behind the side of the bed. Take another toy and do the same. It is important that the baby observes the movements of objects, is interested in their disappearance and appearance.

Accompany all your actions with comments so as not to frighten the child with the unexpected appearance of toys.

2 games for the development of speech

Of course, a child at four or five months does not yet speak a word. But the task of the parents is to prepare him for the pronunciation of sounds and syllables.

Sounds of toys

Bells, rattles, squeakers, whistles – all this, no doubt, will please a four-five-month-old baby. Make sounds with toys, and then repeat yourself: this is how you teach your child to pronounce the first articulate syllables.

It is better to introduce the baby to objects that make loud sounds from a distance, bringing them closer as they get used to them.

Please note that children under five months of age do not like toys that are harsh, rattling or laughing.

The game “First syllables”

The purpose of the game is to teach the child to pronounce the simplest syllables – “ma-ma”, “ba-ba”, “yes-yes” and others.

To do this, read nursery rhymes to your child, focusing on syllables. Highlight them with intonations, accompany with gestures:

Geese, geese, ha-ha-ha!
Do you want to eat? Yes Yes Yes.

Pay attention to those syllables that the child gets better, pronounce them several times.

When to finish playing with a 4-5 month old baby?

You can play with your baby as long as he is awake. But pay attention to his emotions: notice when the child likes the game, and when he is not in the mood or tired. In this case, the game should be stopped.

Invite older children to play with your baby if you already have them. Let the child learn to interact and build relationships with each family member.

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Svetlana Balashova

At what time can a child sit down?

Sitting is a complex process. It is based on a set of previously acquired skills. It is not worth rushing this process – you can harm the health of the baby. Everything should develop harmoniously and gradually.

When the child sits down

The baby begins to sit with the support of parents at six months. Without the help of adults sits at 8-9 months. These figures are approximate, as each child is individual and develops in his own way. The child begins to sit down when he is ready for it. Trying to speed up this process by placing pillows under the back, parents violate the baby’s posture. The muscles of the child have not yet grown stronger and are not ready to keep their back straight.

How to tell if your baby is ready to sit up on his own

To determine whether the baby is ready to sit or not, just watch him:

• the baby already holds its head confidently;
• full control of their limbs;
• in a pose lying on his stomach, the baby rises in his arms;
• makes swaying movements while lying on his stomach, as if trying to crawl;
• trying to take a semi-sitting position, leaning on his hands.

These signs indicate that the child will sit down soon.

How to teach a child to sit

To help your baby learn to sit up on his own, it is important to strengthen his muscular frame. For this, there are special exercises that are explained by pediatricians, orthopedists, massage therapists at the reception. At home, parents can help their child:

• wear in an upright position facing forward;
• spread on the stomach so that the baby rises in his arms and holds himself;
• perform a set of strengthening exercises.

All exercises should be done only in consultation with a specialist. Since, violating the technique of their implementation, you can harm the baby. During a remote consultation, our doctors will explain how to properly teach a baby to sit down, what exercises to perform, and describe in detail the technique of exercising with a child.

Why the child does not sit

The main reason is the lag in psychomotor and motor development. This may be due to fetal hypoxia, post-vaccination complications, increased intracranial pressure, ZPR. If the child has not sat down by 7 months, this will indicate the presence of a delay in motor or motor development. Quite often, such pathologies are combined with ZPR. In this case, it is necessary to contact narrowly focused specialists for correction.

Read also
Mental retardation in children

What should parents do if the child does not sit

With constant visits to specialists, problems are detected at an early stage. If the child does not sit independently at 8 months, doctors may prescribe an ultrasound of the hip joints, the brain. Based on the data received, treatment and correction will be prescribed.

Developmental delay does not always indicate pathologies. Sometimes this is a feature of the development of the baby. If a child has mastered the skills of holding his head later than his peers, then he will learn to sit later. Therefore, it is important to establish in time the reason for the delay.

You can strengthen the muscle corset with the help of:

• bathing in the bathroom;
• massage for hyper- and hypotonicity of muscles;
• You can strengthen your back and neck muscles by laying the baby on your stomach.

Important! You can speed up the development of skills with the help of massage courses. It should only be carried out by a specialist. Parents can perform simple actions at home, gymnastics for babies according to the recommendations of a massage therapist.

Skill stages

First, the baby learns to kneel, pull up the body, stand at the support, and walk. All skills are mastered in stages. At six months, the baby is still unable to sit on its own. He can lie down to rise on the handles, hold his head. If he is not supported, in a sitting position he will fall on his side, since the muscles have not yet grown stronger.

At 7 months, the baby sits more confidently. He is already able to sit up on his own from a prone position. At 8-9months, the skill of sitting has already been fully mastered. The baby is now learning to crawl.

FAQ

At what age can a boy start sitting down?

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Babies start sitting at 7 months. The first time you can start planting at six months, supporting the crumbs. To help the child sit down, it is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, back, neck.

What to do if the baby tries to sit up on his own?

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In this case, you need to help the child if his age allows him to sit down. In other words, it is impossible to offer a child to sit up to six months. The child learns to sit down gradually mastering various skills.

When can a newborn sit down?

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Babies up to 1 month old are considered newborns.