An interesting article to share with parents...

Busy parents often pick their children up from your child care and head straight out to eat. Here is an article that you might want to share with them.
America's Worst Frech Fires (and what you should eat instead)
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/46018/americas-worst-french-fries-and-what-you-should-eat-instead/

Peanut Butter Pancakes Recipe

Peanut butter packs these breakfast flapjacks with protein and just the right amount of nutty flavor. Freeze any extras between layers of waxed paper, then simply heat them in the microwave for 35 seconds, flipping halfway through, for a busy-morning breakfast.

Ingredients:

* 1 cup flour

* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 large egg

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk

* 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

* 2 tablespoons sugar

* maple syrup

1) In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.

2) In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, sugar, and oil until smooth. Beat in the egg, then the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until blended.

3) Next, lightly coat a griddle or skillet with oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Drop the batter onto the griddle/skillet by 1/4 cup measures. Cook until tiny bubbles appear on the surfaces of the cakes, then flip them and cook a few minutes more. Drizzle pancakes with maple syrup. Serve with a banana and a tall glass of milk. Makes twelve 4-in pancakes.

Kids in the Kitchen

Top 10 Safety Rules for Kids
1. Check that the oven and other cooking appliances are turned off before you leave the kitchen.
2. Keep electrical appliances away from water to avoid shocks. Stay away from electrical sockets, especially if your hands are wet.
3. If you burn yourself, tell an adult immediately and hold the burned area under cool running water.
4. Don't put knives or other sharp objects into a sink full of water. Someone could reach in and get hurt.
5. Watch out for sharp knives. Let an adult cut or slice foods or help you do it.
6. Never put water on a cooking fire -- it could make the fire bigger. Ask an adult for help! Put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. If the fire is small, it can be put out with baking soda or smothered with a lid. Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames.
7. Don't put cooked food on an unwashed plate or cutting board that held raw food. Always use a clean plate.
8. Never add water to a pan that has hot oil in it. It could make the oil splatter and burn someone.
9. Always turn pot handles in toward the back of the rangetop. This way no one can bump into them and knock the pot over.
10. Keep paper towels, dish towels and pot holders away from the rangetop so they don't catch on fire.

Source: Kraftfoods.com

Smart Shopping Tips for Food Groups

Meats:
* Chicken, turkey, and chuck cuts are usually good buys.
* Light tuna is one of the least expensive kinds of canned fish.
* Eggs make good main dishes.
Milk:
* Use nonfat dry milk or evaporated milk in cooking.
* Buy yogurt in larger containers rather than single-serving containers.
Fruits and Vegetables:
* Buy fresh produce in season for best prices.
* Buy only the amount you can use.
* Compare prices of frozen and canned fruit and vegetables to fresh.
* Buy juice in large containers.
Grains:
* Buy generic brand cereals that are unsweetened.
* Check unit pricing. Usually the heaviest size cereal will cost less per ounce but not always.
* Buy long-cooking rice rather than instant.

Note: Sweets can be expensive. It is best to limit them, since most are low in nutrients, and eating too many sweets may lead to tooth decay.

Senate Hearing on Child Nutrition Programs

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing "Reauthorization of U.S. Child Nutrition Programs: Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health." The hearing focused on the upcoming reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs and the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual report on hunger and food insecurity, "Household Food Security in the U.S., 2008" that details the number of American households who experience food insecurity at some point during the year. Chairman Lincoln (D-AR) stated during the hearing that the committee will take the necessary steps during reauthorization to ensure that all children eligible for federal child nutrition programs have access to them; improve the nutritional quality of the meal benefits provided through child nutrition programs; and modernize and improve the integrity of child nutrition programs. For information about the hearing, including testimony, click here: http://ag.senate.gov/site/calendar.html. To view the U.S. Department of Agriculture report click here: http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/householdfoodsecurity/.

Junk Food vs. Healthy Nutrition For Children

I found a great article on this topic here... http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9522

This would be great to print out and share with the families in your care.

Hope this is helpful.

Food can be a choking hazard

A hazard you may encounter while feeding small children is choking. We are all aware that children commonly put small objects in their mouths that can easily cause them to end up choking, putting their lives at risk. However, it can be a little difficult to gauge when a child may encounter a problem with swallowing food that results in choking. You don't want to compromise nutrition, but you have to consider if certain healthy foods may pose a choking hazard.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the most common foods that cause choking are chunks of meat or cheese, peanuts, popcorn, hard, sticky, or gooey candy, seeds, raw vegetables, whole grapes, and hot dogs, raisins, chewing gum, and chunks of peanut butter.

Being CPR and First Aid certified will keep you best equipped to handle any choking situation, but the main goal is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This can be done by taking several precautions. To begin with, never leave children unattended during breakfast, snack, or lunch time. Always monitor them closely as they eat so that you can react to any signs of choking or aspiration. Additionally, never feed children unless they are seated properly in an upright, stationary position. Children that try to eat while moving around or lying down have a greater chance of accidentally choking. Furthermore, since children under the age of 4 do not have a full set of teeth, it is always best to cut round, firm foods into small ½ inch size pieces.