https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:34:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/class-snack#post-2926150 Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:05:33 +0000 meadow 2926150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kindergarteners attend public school in the AM and montessori school in the PM (wrap around style).</p> <p>Previously they were in a traditional daycare/preschool - so I'm new to this whole montessori thing...</p> <p>Our Montessori school just announced that they want to return to some pre-Covid habits, like parents providing snack for the class instead of everyone bringing their own snack in their lunch boxes.</p> <p>So they asked for volunteers to sign up to provide snack for the week.</p> <p>Have you ever had your child in a school that did this? What do you bring? There are 30 kids in the class and it feels like I would need to bring a boatload of food in. I have always tried to provide my own kids with minimal junkfood and more fruits /grains /proteins so that snack time gave them energy to continue learning. I am not perfect or holier than thou..... but I'm having trouble thinking about what I would send in for a weeks worth of healthy snacks. </p> <p>The curveball is also that I do not drop them off - they ride the bus here - so I guess I would need to bring at least Monday's snacks in on Friday when I pick up the kids. But the logistics are a whole 'nother animal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-year-old-not-eating-at-daycare#post-2919208 Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:39:18 +0000 cake2017 2919208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! I put different options and sometimes just a few things. Looking to go back to bento boxes. Any suggestions which to use and if they hold hot food? I am currently using a lunch box and thermos. Any suggestions to get him to eat more? He won’t do sandwiches. TIA </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/older-infant-refusing-bottle-at-daycare#post-2918880 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:39:34 +0000 LemonJack 2918880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My youngest is nearly 10 months and just started at daycare a few weeks ago. He will NOT take a bottle and refuses to drink any milk all day. He’s there about 8.5 hours. My other two started at daycare at three months, so although both of them rejected the bottle a bit at first, it was nothing like this. He’s reverse cycling and drinking much more at home and at night, so I’m not worried about him getting enough milk, but I know he’s hungry at daycare. He’s not eating much real food there either, which I think is making his provider a little nervous. I’ve assured her he eats plenty at home, and I think honestly most of it is that he’s just not totally comfortable yet. Still, I’d like to help him (and her) as much as possible, so I’m starting him with straw sippy cups this week to help, but wondered if anyone else had any suggestions. I’m guessing this might just be something we need to wait out, but I feel bad for the little guy.</p> <p>I should edit to add that he was taking bottles this summer, which is why I wonder if this is more a comfort thing than anything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/easy-open-containers#post-2917115 Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:22:08 +0000 Rocker2014 2917115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is starting kindergarten in the fall and despite my best efforts she has not been able to master the skill of opening up the containers I use for her lunch on her own. We do sort of an individualized bento style lunch for daycare, which she really enjoys, so I end up putting a lot of separate reusable containers in her lunch (ie. one for chicken nuggets, one for blueberries, one for cucumbers, etc.). I've tried using a one piece lunchbox and for some reason she HATES it - complained about smells mixing, food leaking (even thought it didn't) and I'd rather just not have to deal with that again. Anyone have any suggestions for reusable food containers that are easy to open but don't leak?? I'm terrified of a hangry child getting a bad start in kindergarten!</p> <p>(all of this assumes that we'll be going to school in person in the fall...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transitioning-to-cows-milk-1#post-2909888 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:36:45 +0000 Umbreon 2909888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go back to work in less than 2 months. My doctor said it's okay for baby to drink cow's milk when I'm at work. I will continue to breastfeed when I'm home. She said there is no problem offering it now, he would be able digest it. But obviously breastfeeding is more beneficial at this point for nutrition. </p> <p>Baby is just over 10 months old. When should I start offering cow's milk to get him used to it? How much should I offer? Do I offer it cold? Do I warm it up?</p> <p>I go back to work at the beginning of April.</p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tree-nut-free-food#post-2896267 Sat, 07 Sep 2019 08:10:39 +0000 gotkimchi 2896267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is a tree but allergy in my child’s class so we need to be careful to avoid that - will everything say if it has it? I send generic pirates booty from alsi a lot and the package doesn’t say no nuts but it also doesn’t list it. Are there any pre packaged snacks that people know are safe? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-find-a-bag#post-2894189 Sat, 10 Aug 2019 14:06:02 +0000 meadow 2894189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have 2 three year olds that I bring to daycare each day. They eat breakfast in one classroom then snacks &amp; lunch in their regular room. Their lunchbox is full with snacks &amp; lunch and I enjoy it being separate from breakfast (they don't see what is inside and start making inane requests :-p ).</p> <p>So far, I have carried their 4 beverage cups (milk and water for each) and a plastic container of fruit and a plastic bag with a carb (waffle, belvita, bagel, ...) in a shoulder bag like this: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WWLTXFF/" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WWLTXFF/</a> I liked that it had a bit of insulation when their milk was in sippy cups - but we are upgrading to insulated cups so that is not a must have anymore.</p> <p>The part I don't like about that bag is everything gets jumbled up and leaks. Then the bag stinks...even if I wash it.</p> <p>I was thinking a flat bottomed bag would be perfect for fitting things in and having them stand upright. Maybe get a cheap wine bag that is 2x2 to put all their cups in within a the flat bottomed bag. (Cut the wine bag down to be a bit shorter and some how affix it to the bag?). Or I could buy 2x1 wine bags and line them up in a straight line along the bag....</p> <p>Can anyone think of a better idea/modifications to my idea? Any votes on what flat bottom bag I could get?</p> <p>I was looking at something like: <a href="https://www.mythirtyone.com/us/en/product/9337/small-utility-tote-green-cabana-stripe" rel="nofollow">https://www.mythirtyone.com/us/en/product/9337/small-utility-tote-green-cabana-stripe</a><br /> (I have no desire for name brands or fanciness - so I'm not stuck on anything...)</p> <p>The plastic containers with cut fruit are 7 x 4.5 inches. when laying flat and I don't want them on their sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-for-los-lunch#post-2877997 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 05:14:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2877997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s been about a month since I started packing LO’s school lunch at his new daycare and so far it’s been great. There’s been some tweaks to quantity and what I send. Unless he starts complaining I think I have a winning formula. He eats three meals at daycare AM snack, Lunch, PM snack. The teachers told me pretty early on he wasn’t a fan of the provided PM snack. What I send in his lunch gets split for lunch and PM snack. </p> <p>I pack two Polly-O cheese sticks (that he now realizes are super fun to pull apart and eat), goldfish, string beans (this gets rotated between peas and cherry tomatoes), assorted berries (black, blue, strawberries and raspberries), chick’n tenders (these get baked every morning) and CF’A sauce (LO chooses which color lid- there’s four total), and his favorite Craisins.</p> <p>What did you pack this week for lunch? What’s your kiddo’s favorite food you send? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867078 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 06:26:11 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son’s current daycare provides 5 meals: Breakfast, AM snack, Lunch, PM Snack after nap, PM Snack around 5 pm. The daycare’s I’m considering have 3 meal times: AM snack and PM snack are provided, but parents can pack a lunch or buy lunch. The purchased lunch is $25 extra a week and parents choose from several menu options a day. The LOs are all over the place eating different things. I’m hoping LO will mind his own plate and eat well like he’s always done when he sees so many other food options. I’m leaning to buying his lunch for convenience and variety that I surely couldn’t keep up with, but there’s just so many choices! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-school-breakfast-expectations#post-2865360 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 09:52:37 +0000 MrsBeluga 2865360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please tell me about what your pre-school breakfast looks like? </p> <p>Do the kids eat off plates?<br /> Are your kids expected to 'make' their own breakfast?<br /> Is the menu pretty diverse?</p> <p>My daughters pre-school has kids eating off of paper towels (just for breakfast), buttering their own toast, and the menu is basic (cereal + toast)... just wondering if this is normal or not... has me kinda mad given how much $$$$$ we spend to send her there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/schoolcamp-lunches-and-snacks-how-to-package#post-2830411 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 17:57:05 +0000 JCCovi 2830411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to pack lunch, morning snack, and afternoon snack for my daughters camp that starts tomorrow. She'll also be attending that school for K and it will be the same. How should I pack everything so it's clear which is which and doesn't take up a ton of space? </p> <p>She has a stainless steel lunch box with layers for her lunch and I was going to put it inside one of those insulated kid lunch bags. I could use a smaller container for each snack, but I don't know if they would all fit in the lunch bag? Do I need to label them which meal/snack they are for? Should I sent two bags, one for snack and one for lunch? </p> [attach=5112/18/paunr5.600x485.Screen-Shot-2018-06-24-at-3.52.24-PM.png] [attach=5112/18/paunr6.600x506.Screen-Shot-2018-06-24-at-3.52.30-PM.png] [attach=5112/18/paunr7.420x489.Screen-Shot-2018-06-24-at-3.54.22-PM.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thermal-lunch-box-recommendations#post-2828178 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 13:04:38 +0000 Becky 2828178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is starting K in September and lunch isn’t until 1:15. Any recommendations on a lunchbox situation that will keep things cool but not be too hard for her to bring on the bus, open herself, etc?Also any ideas for lunches that don’t need to be kept super cold are appreciated! Right now my default is turkey sandwiches and I’m not sure that will work unless there’s a really awesome lunch box/bag out there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-raisins-and-apples#post-2817553 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:06:25 +0000 jennlin821 2817553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD just moved up to the toddler room, and daycare provides the snacks. One of which is raisins. These stand out to me as a choking hazard, but the internet says they are safe starting around 9 mo. DD is 15 mo, only has 7 teeth, so I have no idea how she could even eat these, unless she is swallowing them whole. </p> <p>I am hyper aware of choking hazards because I choked on a piece of hard candy when I was 6 and have been terrified ever since. (No hard candy allowed in my house ever!) </p> <p>Daycare also gives apples. I've seen some of the older kids (20mo) walking around eating a whole apple, but they told me they cut them up for DD, without skin. But again, this seems to be a huge choking hazard to me. </p> <p>So let me know if I'm freaking out over nothing, or if I should be freaking out....</p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nut-free-granola-bars#post-2813871 Tue, 03 Apr 2018 09:25:41 +0000 jennlin821 2813871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD just moved up to the toddler room in daycare. Instead of each child bringing their own snacks, we provide a snack for the whole class, which is assigned on a schedule. </p> <p>I was assigned nut-free soft granola bars.<br /> Any recommendations? </p> <p>I don't really want to spend a few hours reading the labels on all the granola bars in the supermarket!</p> <p>Additionally, DD is 15 mo and only has 7 teeth.... we haven't given her granola bars and I'm terrified she won't be able to chew them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3yo-refusing-lunch-at-daycare#post-2808399 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:25:56 +0000 codeitall 2808399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be the first to admit, we are not really healthy eaters at my house. DH is a big snacker and I've never been particularly good at eating regularly. In fact, 3 of my friends told him his new job was to make me eat when we got married...</p> <p>But DS has always been good about eating at daycare till this last month. Daycare has a standard meal plan with USDA and he's been just fine eating it till 2 weeks ago when he cried when they put chicken nuggets on his plate. And the next day he cried and refused meatballs.</p> <p>Note that he has eaten these successfully at home since then. I was worried that maybe he had developed a new allergy (he is allergic to milk) so we took him in for more tests, but he's only allergic to milk still! Since then, he has been off and on with food at daycare. Some days he eats, some he doesn't.</p> <p>What's wrong with my 3yo? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-does-you-day-care-or-school-lunch-cost#post-2798299 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:25:59 +0000 Corduroy 2798299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Building off the lunch protein quality thread. If you pay for lunch separately from tuition, how much do you pay?</p> <p>Preschool is $5/day for lunch made by the director. I think it’s usually noodles or fried rice with meat and veggies. We rarely buy because I think it’s spendy but it is DD’s absolute favorite treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-food-looking-for-experience#post-2798208 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:43:43 +0000 Mrs D 2798208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - I'm about to lose my mind with DDs daycare. </p> <p>How often does your daycare provide protein in their diets...and what type of protein?</p> <p>Do they provide it Breakfast &amp; Lunch? Snack too? Every day?</p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-your-go-to-meals-for-your-babysitter-to-prepare#post-2797233 Mon, 15 Jan 2018 20:57:20 +0000 lamariniere 2797233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We finally have a regular date night babysitter, but I'm stumped as to what to leave her to prepare for dinner for my LOs (4 and 7). So far, I've either left fresh ravioli that just needs to be boiled for a few minutes, or quiche that just needs to be heated in the microwave. Also, I want to keep it really simple, she's not from the same culture, and I don't think she's used to preparing western food. What are your go-tos? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-lunch-ideas-for-2yo#post-2778587 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 10:21:52 +0000 MrsADS 2778587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to pack lunch for my 2yo (just turned 2 in August) at daycare every day and I am totally blanking on ideas. I feel like I send the same stuff every day. He is really picky and the lunch is cold so that makes it tougher. I would love to hear your ideas.</p> <p>Today I packed him brown rice, deli low sodium turkey, Daiya shredded mozzarella, leftover green beans, and cut up grapes and clementines. The school asks us to send dairy + protein + grain + fruit + veg. Sometimes I do a half sandwich cut up into strips, or protein pasta w/butter melted on it. Or rice with 2 cut up chicken nuggets.</p> <p>Would love to hear your ideas!</p> <p>Edit: the daycare does have a hot lunch option you can order, but it's pretty pricey ($6/day) and I don't even know if my son would eat it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/substantial-purees#post-2705315 Thu, 02 Mar 2017 21:05:58 +0000 Pollywog 2705315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Daycare has a rule that kids can only have purees until they have 4 teeth. My 13 month old is a late teether and I'm trying to find ideas for hardy purees to keep him full. I send 2 purees a day--one savory and one fruity. Any suggestions? </p> <p>To make this more fun, LO is allergic to dairy, eggs, soy, and gluten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pack-cereal-and-milk#post-2702181 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:41:07 +0000 travellingbee 2702181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably a silly question...DS1 (4) is getting to where he likes cereal with milk for breakfast but we don't have time for him to eat at home so he eats at school. Suggestions for how you would pack cereal and milk to bring to school? Just send a sippy to dump into a bowl with a lid? Is there a better solution? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/packed-meal-ideas-for-lactose-intolerant-10-month-old-730am-530pm#post-2684996 Mon, 23 Jan 2017 11:45:44 +0000 Cherrybee 2684996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going back to work in 3 weeks. S's childminder doesn't provide any food at all so I will need to pack breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. </p> <p>I tend to give S whatever I'm eating or a pouch/jar if that's not possible. She mostly has hot food.... Is it weird to send cold steamed veggies? Cold chicken strips? </p> <p>What kind of things would you pack? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-keep-your-food-standards-when-lo-starts-preschool#post-2652260 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 16:07:16 +0000 Corduroy 2652260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD (3.5) started preschool two months ago. Previously she attended an in home daycare where lunch was provided. Now we pack lunch. LO is generally a good eater. She's only recently started rejecting veggies but she likes meat, dairy and fruit. We don't do "kid food" at home so LO is seeing a lot of stuff at preschool that she hadn't had exposure to before. </p> <p>Lately she's been asking for lunches that don't meet my nutritional standards and rejecting the balanced meals I send. Today preschool asked me to send lunches she likes better because they are having to give her crackers or different lunches when she doesn't like hers. </p> <p>My thinking is that I need to put my foot down on the crackers and stuff. She'll eat her lunch or won't. Eventually she'll get hungry and eat her lunches. </p> <p>Am I being too harsh? How have others dealt with this? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-school-serves-lunchsnack#post-2643093 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 08:02:13 +0000 Bao 2643093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are they mindful of choking hazard foods? My LO is over 4 now, so maybe I'm just being 'that' parent, but they have grapes often at school and they don't cut them. I'm wondering if it's due to their age now? Maybe I need to chill out at home, too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624613 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 00:30:21 +0000 Aria 2624613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We recently hired a sitter from an agency. She did one trial run while I was home and yesterday was her first day solo. </p> <p>My DD is 19 months and has a peanut and tree nut allergy. To avoid any issues with food, I expressly told her that DD was only to be fed the food I had prepared for her and gave her a list of approved foods should she need to offer her something else. </p> <p>When my husband got home, the sitter mentioned to him that she gave my daughter bread because when she made herself a sandwich my daughter got very upset when she saw her eat it (DD is obsessed with bread). The bread we have is fine for her to eat but it was NOT on the list of foods I gave her, and I have no idea whether she even read the label before offering it to her. </p> <p>I am really upset about this. I just want someone I can trust to follow my directions when it comes to food. However, I'm torn because prior to this I really liked her and my daughter likes her too. Asking for a new sitter and scheduling a new trial would be a huge inconvenience and my daughter was not actually at risk in this case. </p> <p>I'm so torn on what to do. Talk to her about it and hope she never does it again or go with someone new? I need some perspective, I already have so much anxiety about leaving my daughter that I can't tell if I'm being unreasonable or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/yumbox-vs-bentgo-kids#post-2624801 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:09:36 +0000 PinkElephant 2624801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need to update our lunchbox collection, since DD1 has refused to eat school lunch and we are packing a lunch each day now. I'll most likely get a Bentgo Kids or a Yumbox, and am wondering - has anyone used both that can compare the two and tell me their preference? I would go with the Bentgo based on price alone, but alas, there is no pink option, which might be a dealbreaker for DD. </p> <p>Currently we're using a combination of Sugar Booger 3-compartment bentos, little individual bento-style containers from Daiso, and OXO baby food containers with screw-on lids for yogurt/applesauce, but I'd love to get a one-stop container that can also handle liquidy foods (hummus, yogurt) - the Sugar Booger container really can't.</p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/no-school-snack#post-2617320 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:15:00 +0000 Bao 2617320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This year LO's school will be serving lunch when they first get there (PM preschool), so they won't be serving a snack because she is only there for 3 hours. Snack time was her favorite part of the day last year, I feel bad telling her she won't get to have snack at school this year haha! </p> <p>Does your LO not get a snack at school? Do they care? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-los-school-lunch-menu#post-2616539 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 11:01:33 +0000 Bao 2616539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO's preschool will be providing hot lunch for them for free this year, yay! I'm interested to see what's on the menu. I'm curious what other school lunch menus include, share your LO's below! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-half-day-preschooler-eat-lunch-at-school#post-2614342 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 08:45:00 +0000 Bao 2614342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just found out that they serve lunch for free at LO's school right when they get there at 12:45, I had no idea this was going to be an option since school is just 12:45-3:45. I guess if they don't want to eat they can take that time to look at books. I'm sure we will take advantage of it though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-for-daycare#post-2603111 Fri, 12 Aug 2016 08:55:49 +0000 Pollywog 2603111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 6 month old has been dabbling with solids for the past month, and just really got the hang of food two weeks ago. We've been doing a modified baby led weaning approach (we use mesh feeders and will spoon feed him small bites of soft foods in public). Due to allergies, he can't have most baby foods. Pouches, puffs, melts, jars, and cereals are out.</p> <p>He's been on three substantial meals a day for the past two weeks while daycare has been closed and he won't nap for me without having solids first. I'm afraid he won't take an afternoon nap at daycare because he will be waiting for lunch.</p> <p>I'm trying to figure out if I should pack food for daycare, and if so, what. Maybe a mushy avocado or sweet potato? I'm fine if he doesn't have solids there, as long as he sleeps. What are you guys doing? </p>