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The mere thoughts of formulating daycare menus can send the most sane, intelligent day care operator into a tailspin as they contemplate food pyramids and daily nutritional requirements and all thoughts of common sense go out the window. There is no need for panic when the steps involved are as simple as ensuring that the food is nutritious, prepared hygienically and easy to cook in large quantities.

Keep your approach down home simple and focus on healthy, easily prepared meals. Your mom and grandma could probably give you some tips on one pot meals that would be ideal for your daycare menus. You don't need to be super chef just a mom in the kitchen. The range of options available is huge and can include thick soups, steamed vegetables, stews, casseroles, pasta, fish and seasonal fruit. Snacks are a breeze with raisins, cheese, rice cakes, carrot sticks, crackers, yogurts and sandwiches.

My day care is in Ireland and I don't provide food (check if this is an option in your area) so we reheat the meals that the kids bring in. Another option to consider is ordering pre-prepared, frozen meals and heating on the premises. Delivery to your day care is part of the service for many companies who prepare these frozen meals. This will add to your costs but you could have parents pay for this service.

Health, safety and hygiene procedures must be in place when wherever food preparation occurs. You are protecting not only the children you feed but also yourself and your day care business. You must be able to prove that you are not to blame should a case of food poisoning break out. This can be achieved by formulating a food safety policy which will detail all the steps and procedures in place at your day care to achieve food safety.

Check for menus posted on the internet as my day cares will have details on their websites. Arrange visits to day cares locally and ask about their food options. Booklets and information should be available from your child care licensing inspector. The key thing to bear in mind is that daycare menus shouldn't be complicated, just simple, honest to goodness nourishing food.