As an autistic kid in the foster system, I remember one foster mom I had always made to make my lunches something I’d like. She didn’t tell me to suck it up, she gave me food I liked and made me feel comfy, and that stuck with me. Small things make a kids life better.
When my depression is particularly bad, I tend to overeat, especially junk food. Junk food feels comforting, but cooking proper food just feels like too much effort and I also, somehow, don't feel like I deserve healthy food. Everyone's different, but depression can screw with your mind in so many ways. I hope you can find enough things you can eat, eating anything, healthy or not, is better than nothing. You may not feel like it now, but you are worth being fed. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Thank you for your kind words. Depression really is insidious. It can feel like playing 4d chess against our own minds. I hope you find compassion for yourself when your mind is a hostile place to be.
this may be a little late with school starting NOW; but a "practice week" or even a few days can really help. the weeks before school starts, "practice Lunch". The More yoy PRACTICE, the more you learn what the kids can and can't do. pack it (Together if you can) and sit down together and eat. you get to see if ziplock bags are too difficult for little fingers, or pudding/yogurt cups are stressful to open. old fashioned "wax paper" to wrap food can be less stressful. i remember, a thousand years ago, not being able to open the drink packed in my lunch and the shame and embarrassment in public lunch room was awful. teachers usually have 30 (or more) kids to supervise and can't make sure everyone can open a pudding cup or a drink.
Loved this style of video - lots of great practical advice. No judgement from me on the typically ‘unhealthy’ foods, we experienced many of the same things with our fosters.
thank you! it's been such a mindset shift for me that I still struggle with (social media doesn't help). I'm glad to have worked with pediatric dieticians that helped me shift my mindset.
@@foster.parentinggirl, we all grew up on that kind of food. I ate sugary cereal every morning. Sometimes I still do. We all turned out okay. My daughter is so picky, sometimes that means giving her some French fries for lunch, it’s not ideal, but it’s better than her starving. Luckily she loves green beans carrots and fruit.
I'm an adult only caring for myself, but I still find videos like these helpful! I think it's important to let ourselves eat "safe foods" when we need it. I'm taking meds that makes me less hungry, and if I get stuck in the mindset of having to have a perfectly balanced, proper meal, I might end up eating nothing and then i get a headache and it's all going down hill. I think I need to remind myself that some days it's ok to just eat what feels ok and what gets me through the day, as long as most meals are somewhat balanced it's not going to hurt me.
Something i think is also important. If your kid's goal is reunification and you know there parents will use free lunches, really encouraging the child to eat the free breakfast/lunch at school. Teaching them how to ask for the alternative meal when they dont like the main. Obviously be willing to pack if a kids individual needs require it (fed is best) but i do believe using the free meal at school should be the default just so kids learn that school is a place where you will recieve food.
Thank you so much for making these. You have no idea on the huge impact you have in the world. I have been considering fostering for a while, and your content made it accessible and understandable, and now my husband and I are ready to start our journey. You are so appreciated.
I just can’t imagine how hard it is for these kids to be picked up from all they know and moved to a completely different world. Having food their know, recognise and feel safe around seems like the least adults could do. Let’s worry about “healthy” foods later when the kids are settled and safe in their surroundings
As someone who cares for children with food allergies, I'm always a little bit jealous when I see the huge amount of affordable snacks you can just buy. I have to make almost every single bit by hand, and baking w/o gluten, milk and sometimes even without egg is really challenging.
This video is really beautiful. As an adult who has struggled with food since I was a child, it’s healing to see someone so educated on and gentile about this topic. It can make a world of difference to be met with non-judgment and love when already feeling so much shame about struggling to eat.
I have a couple kids that can't handle breakfast for 30 minutes to an hour after they get up. I homeschool, so most of the time, waiting on breakfast is perfectly fine. However, they attend a program at a local school two days a month, and we have to be out of the house on time. I found they can handle drinking vs eating for those "must have breakfast right away" situations. Carnation Instant High Protein chocolate milk mixes are a favorite around here. Just mix the powder into a cup of milk (or non-dairy milk if needed) and it provides 10-15 grams of protein in a quick glass of chocolate milk.
You're an angel. Anyone who can find complaints is ridiculous. Foster parents are not not easy to find and you're doing amazing work. I'm not a foster parent but I love the videos and I bet you have folks who will be foster parents because of you ❤
Laura, I would like to know about your upbringing and the life experiences that formed you into such an empathetic, caring and patient adult. Can you do a video on YOUR childhood?
Notes from my mom made my entire day. And I had a lot of friends and made good grades, I could be having a great day or crappy day, that note always made me feel loved
I love how much of this applies to all ages. I've got a laundry list of health problems, both physical and mental, and some days I just can't. I actually keep some of the orgain kids shakes around for myself for when my nausea was real bad and my stomach can't handle anything solid. Easily the best tasting ones I've tried. But easy foods are so much better. I've been doing a lot of instant mashed potatoes recently because it's what I can manage.
You can pour the juice into thermoses halfway, freeze, then the next day add the rest of rhe juice on top wnd take to school, it'll be nice and cold. really helpful when the temperature climbs above 110
My daughter would only eat deli ham or pepperoni for a year, and a trick I came up with was to put about 3/4 of an inch of water in a small thermos, freeze it, put a baggie in it to separate the ice from the meat, and put the meat in the bag. Most of the ice was still frozen when she came home, so I know it was keeping everything cold. This wasn't a sandwich, but just straight rolled-up ham or pepperoni slices. You could also do this with cheese wedges.
Somehow people seem to forget that eating something is better than eating nothing at all. I had that ingrained in me during chemo. Whatever the reason, if someone is struggling to eat enough food, the priority is no longer on eating the "right" food, it's on eating enough food. Of course if you can eat a more balanced diet you should probably do that, but - not to be dramatic - starving's a bit more unhealthy than junk food lol
Exactly. I have chronic nausea which gives me a very variable appetite. Some days eating anything is an accomplishment so I don't care what it is. The only things I ate all day were ice cream and potato chips? Yay, I ate food.
Sugar is a coping device. The pancakes make a lot of sense to keep people's coping devices during stress. I saw this when running a shelter for battered women..
I’m an adult (ish) and I have several of those character juice bottles with my favorite characters that I’ve kept for years!! I typically don’t use them. But once in a while even I want to see Hello Kitty in my lunch box.!!!!!!
Fairlife milk is a FABULOUS option… their ultra filtration process means their milk is naturally lactose free, has half the sugar grams (because of the lactose being filtered out) and has double the protein, at a whopping 13 grams per cup! All without needing to add a protein powder in them to achieve those macros. Plus omg the chocolate Fairlife milk tastes like a dessert. I used to use almondmilk in my iced coffee but switching to Fairlife milk in my morning coffee gives me a 26 gram protein start to my day. As an autistic person I find eating difficult in the mornings and this has given me a very noticeable boost in my morning energy. And again, it’s just milk. Nothing added.
A lot of parents don’t realize that if a kid doesn’t like the lunch they brought to school there’s a strong chance they just won’t eat :( such a hard balance between nutrition and giving them something they like
One of your last comments reminded me of a kiddo we fostered for a few yrs, that we found out was throwing food away and lying saying they ate it. This was for the healthy foods we gave him, and we realized he was only eating the snacks/treats we packed. I wonder if many kids (even those not in foster care), if given the choice, would pick the healthy choice foods.
This is my problem with public school lunch. They offer sugary snack cake type foods alongside apples and bananas (which are mostly small, bruised and under ripe). Ofc the kids pick the cakes every time. If I dare to complain they shrug their shoulders and say 'well we offer a healthy alternative.' If only they would put more effort into offering something appetizing that was healthy or have two options that are the same nutritional value
A friend of my son's was always so suspicious of healthy food. I'd bring the kids a snack when they were playing, and he'd really give me the side eye - "Wait a minute - is this healthy?" You've got to meet them where they are.
I really like the Perfect Bars! I always keep bars, protein drinks, and other easy foods on hand for when I'm struggling to eat enough/on time. Perfect Bars don't have the tastes and textures I often don't like from protein bars. And they're not granola. My only complaint is that they're a little too sweet for me. I'd be happier with even 25% less honey... which probably means they're perfect for kids. :) I'm interested in the kids Orgain shakes. I bet they taste better than the adult version. Maybe I should give them a try. Protein shakes can be easier to down than solid food-and easier to store half-consumed. The right shake can be helpful on low-appetite days. Really, even a simple glass of milk has a decent amount of nutrition in it. When I don't have a shake on hand, cold milk and a small snack will do it. If my appetite has been really low, I might even designate chocolate milk an essential snack. Adults seriously underestimate the value of milk. (Neurodivergent adult here. There seem to be several of us in the comments. I really, really appreciate how aware you are of potentially neurodivergent childrens' needs. And the needs of stressed and/or full-on traumatized children, period.)
Cooking for a daycare that allowed the kids to choose what they wanted to eat from the options that day, I always had milk and whole wheat buns as part of the meal. A kid who refuses every other part of the meal will still eat a bun, drink a little milk, and that's enough to get them through until next opportunity to eat.
For any kids whose families don't eat pork/they don't want their kids eating pork, usually for religious reasons, a good substitute for regular pepperoni is turkey pepperoni. Tastes and looks identical, so it can help a kid feel more 'normal' if the local community eats a lot of pepperoni.
Apple trick if they need to be cut up - sprinkle cinnamon on, or lemon juice (I love that on green apples!), or some jam to keep the apples from browning. What ever “coating” you pick, just throw some plus the cut apples into a baggie or container and shake.
Also cutting an apple and then using an elastic band to hold it back together helps it not brown. So they're still cut, just held together in their original apple-shape. In case adding stuff makes kids not want it.
I think that anyone who criticizes your choices in food needs to realize that for a lot of kids in the system, just having something familiar like a Lunchable or frozen waffles is very comforting because they’re used to it. Sometimes you just need to give them something you know they’ll eat and work on adding more nutritious items to their regular diet as they become more comfortable and familiar with their new surroundings.
I have a question, if a kid who comes into your home was homeschooled before would you enroll them in a brick and mortar school or would that be up to the mother/father’s wishes still
What do you have to say to a high school aged kid who only wants to eat snacks until dinner. my example is they will only eat a granola bar bag of goldfish an apple. Then ask for dinner only a hour or so after school then eat toast before bed.
@@1004LP I know this old but I think I was misunderstood she only eats one real meal and a few snacks every day I don’t think she’s eating enough but I the past month she’s started eating a bit more in the morning so that’s good
I have read that Imperfect Foods/Misfits Market and the like may actually be doing more harm than good by diverting food away from food banks so maybe dropping them isn't such a bad thing
I’m curious. If you’re opting for lunchables, special bars, and snack bags, how much are you saving compared to paying for school lunch? It certainly seems like less work to do school lunch and then the kid gets lots of choice. What if that’s what they’re used to? Mine aren’t school age yet, so I haven’t crunched the numbers myself.
Schools don't always have "lots of choice." The lunches are planned out by the month and there's no deviation from that. My daughter likes to eat school lunch some days, and she also knows which lunches she doesn't like - so we pack lunches those days. A foster child might flat out refuse to do school lunch and a home-packed lunch can provide them with foods that are safe and easy that they will definitely eat.
Don't be afraid to feed older kids different things, i had stuffed cabbage in foster care and it was delicious, you couldn't really taste the cabbage, it was like healthier pasta. Stay away from the stuff labled low fat cr@p, like ranch, i hated that stuff, and low fat doesn't really say anything about the nutrition, it probably has more sugar.
Hearing how many times you clarify that you do try new things makes me sad that you must have had so many people leave negative comments. Many of them are experiencing so much stress and possibly trauma that they need foods they feel safe with.
i just developed a gluten-thing... some of my extended family members have, too. i think.. i'll have to find things that arent gluten-based lol Just being health-conscious over here.. but maybe im going overboard
Got something resembling a celiac diagnosis recently(not a formal diagnosis but positive blood tests), for carbs rice, corn and potatoes are your friends(including rice cakes, corn chips and corn tortillas, potato chips and fries though double checking for uses of flour in all of these is helpful) , anything thickened might use flour to do so, anything bread like should be double checked, and soy sauce uses wheat - tamari and gluten free soy sauces are a bit more expensive but fill the same niche. Gluten free pastas are pretty good, 1to1 or measure for measure gluten free flours work great in anything that isnt mostly flour (cornbread, crisps, oatmeal muffins). For box mixes I like king arthur brand. If contamination is a proper concern skip any oats not labeled gluten free. Another supprising source of gluten is malt because its made of barley so fancy chocolates often arent gluten free - I have checked lindt truffles and those contain malt. If its intollerance then do what it takes to make your stomach happy if its celiac then not destroying your small intestine is a good thing. Going extra strict at first for at least half a year so you can discover what normal is and figure out what your actual responce is allows you to better gauge risk.
Not meant to be a gotcha question, but would some of this change if you had a child who was chronically overweight? I'm not trying to sound fat-phobic or almond-mom or judgmental, but how and how much would you intervene if a child was unhealthily overweight?
Probably not, same for every child, offer both a wide variety of healthy and safe foods and get the family moving together. They’re likely overweight from the intense stress their body is under from their life situation.
hey! contact your local foster closet! They always need these items. I have a list of foster closets here: www.fosterparentpartner.com/support-for-foster-parents
Awesome, thank you so much. I can’t foster but, thank God there are ppl like you. Even though I can’t, I still want to support in some ways. I think these will make girls feel special. Thank you so much for the information.
The effects of hunger or starvation are going to impact a child far more quickly than the Lead you are concerned about. The products tested by consumer reports, which you are referring to, are available on the market because they do not violate FDA guidelines, and the Lead content reported does not exceed CA daily recommendations, there are no federal limits. Maybe cringe at the government. Maybe cringe at the corporations. Maybe cringe at the late stage capitalism prioritizing profits over people, and creating such high levels of stress and demand on caretakers of children that there IS a role and demand for these products, regardless of their relatively low quality standards and single use packaging. Maybe cringe at the country and the generations of trauma and abuse that led to a child needing to be removed from their home and family of origin for their own safety. Maybe cringe at the drunk drivers who injure single parents so badly they are unable to care for their children temporarily. We don’t live in an ideal world, fam. We all are making sacrifices and compromises with the resources we can pull together, and I hate to break it to you, but Laura here simply isn’t on the same level as Heinz Kraft or the US FDA. She’s doing her best to win her days for kids who have challenges that are more imminent and more salient than the long term effects of eating a Lunchable maybe 5x a week in the mix of a variety of other foods. There’s a lot wrong in this world, but the foster parents doing the absolute most to make sure their foster kids are protected, safe, supported, and FED AT ALL are not the ones I’ll be cringing at, personally, and CERTAINLY not at this REMARKABLE foster parents going even further above and beyond to share her face, voice, personality, consideration, and experience with others who may be willing to learn so that they themselves can better help one of the millions of children in foster care in this country. I hope you find something else to cringe at, too.
Here in Israel there r many many kids that don't know where they r starting school. Because since October 7th over 100,000 families have been misplaced from their homes some because there r still many rockets coming over every day so they go around looking for a safe placeto live And some because they actually don't have a house to go to as it's been destroyed. It definitely helps to pack the kids special things in their lunch boxs, but also things they used to having where they used to live...
@@waffles3629 they shouldn't have kids if they can't feed them. Your being brain washed about this kid staring crapp if you could into their home u will see big screen TV's lots of luxuries people don't see because they don't check. Let's just say some one I knew their own sister does it and the have money to feed there kids. I don't want to feed other kids . Do have if u can't feed them.
@@bobs1356 but the kids are here, if their parents aren't feeding them and no one else is either, they aren't eating. So I ask again, do you think should children should starve because their parents aren't feeding them? If thinking kids deserve to eat is brainwashing to you then everything must be brainwashing.
@@bobs1356 I hope you’re okay with abortion then. I do agree that people should not have children when they can not afford them, but I also understand situations change, feel abortion has a necessary place in society and do not agree that children who are already here again at no fault if their own should have to suffer. I do work in homes and your assumption is off, some low income families do prioritize materials over necessities, but that is not the majority and that is again still no fault of the child.
update: i tried that berry coconut water drink and didn't like it lol
I don't like coconut unless its on a samoa. Tastes like baby wipes.
As an autistic kid in the foster system, I remember one foster mom I had always made to make my lunches something I’d like. She didn’t tell me to suck it up, she gave me food I liked and made me feel comfy, and that stuck with me. Small things make a kids life better.
Absolutely! Sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest differences! 💕
This video has quite helpful ideas for feeding myself. I am in a depression relapse and really struggle with eating anything. Thanks!
I hope you can find something that feels safe and supportive to you during this time!
Thank you, that's very kind.
When my depression is particularly bad, I tend to overeat, especially junk food. Junk food feels comforting, but cooking proper food just feels like too much effort and I also, somehow, don't feel like I deserve healthy food. Everyone's different, but depression can screw with your mind in so many ways. I hope you can find enough things you can eat, eating anything, healthy or not, is better than nothing. You may not feel like it now, but you are worth being fed. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Thank you for your kind words. Depression really is insidious. It can feel like playing 4d chess against our own minds. I hope you find compassion for yourself when your mind is a hostile place to be.
That's because look who we have in the white house. We got 4 more years of you eating anything if the radicals get in.
this may be a little late with school starting NOW; but a "practice week" or even a few days can really help. the weeks before school starts, "practice Lunch". The More yoy PRACTICE, the more you learn what the kids can and can't do. pack it (Together if you can) and sit down together and eat. you get to see if ziplock bags are too difficult for little fingers, or pudding/yogurt cups are stressful to open. old fashioned "wax paper" to wrap food can be less stressful. i remember, a thousand years ago, not being able to open the drink packed in my lunch and the shame and embarrassment in public lunch room was awful. teachers usually have 30 (or more) kids to supervise and can't make sure everyone can open a pudding cup or a drink.
thank you for adding this in!! practicing can be soo helpful
Loved this style of video - lots of great practical advice.
No judgement from me on the typically ‘unhealthy’ foods, we experienced many of the same things with our fosters.
thank you! it's been such a mindset shift for me that I still struggle with (social media doesn't help). I'm glad to have worked with pediatric dieticians that helped me shift my mindset.
@@foster.parentinggirl, we all grew up on that kind of food. I ate sugary cereal every morning. Sometimes I still do. We all turned out okay. My daughter is so picky, sometimes that means giving her some French fries for lunch, it’s not ideal, but it’s better than her starving. Luckily she loves green beans carrots and fruit.
You are nailing this long form content!! I LOVE IT!
I appreciate the support! 💛
loving the judgement free zone of food, fed is best!
Best advice I ever heard was "balance isn't created in one meal". I think it applies to everything really, but particularly feeding kids
I'm an adult only caring for myself, but I still find videos like these helpful! I think it's important to let ourselves eat "safe foods" when we need it. I'm taking meds that makes me less hungry, and if I get stuck in the mindset of having to have a perfectly balanced, proper meal, I might end up eating nothing and then i get a headache and it's all going down hill. I think I need to remind myself that some days it's ok to just eat what feels ok and what gets me through the day, as long as most meals are somewhat balanced it's not going to hurt me.
Something i think is also important. If your kid's goal is reunification and you know there parents will use free lunches, really encouraging the child to eat the free breakfast/lunch at school. Teaching them how to ask for the alternative meal when they dont like the main. Obviously be willing to pack if a kids individual needs require it (fed is best) but i do believe using the free meal at school should be the default just so kids learn that school is a place where you will recieve food.
THANK YOU for not stopping your valuable content, I agree that you're nailing long form content. Keep it up! ❤️
This is so respectful and child-centred. I so love this approach.
Thank you so much for making these. You have no idea on the huge impact you have in the world. I have been considering fostering for a while, and your content made it accessible and understandable, and now my husband and I are ready to start our journey. You are so appreciated.
I just can’t imagine how hard it is for these kids to be picked up from all they know and moved to a completely different world. Having food their know, recognise and feel safe around seems like the least adults could do. Let’s worry about “healthy” foods later when the kids are settled and safe in their surroundings
As someone who cares for children with food allergies, I'm always a little bit jealous when I see the huge amount of affordable snacks you can just buy. I have to make almost every single bit by hand, and baking w/o gluten, milk and sometimes even without egg is really challenging.
This video is really beautiful. As an adult who has struggled with food since I was a child, it’s healing to see someone so educated on and gentile about this topic. It can make a world of difference to be met with non-judgment and love when already feeling so much shame about struggling to eat.
You are such an inspiration! Can’t wait to start fostering once my bio daughter gets a bit older.
thank you for having an open heart and mind to foster in the future!
I have a couple kids that can't handle breakfast for 30 minutes to an hour after they get up. I homeschool, so most of the time, waiting on breakfast is perfectly fine. However, they attend a program at a local school two days a month, and we have to be out of the house on time. I found they can handle drinking vs eating for those "must have breakfast right away" situations. Carnation Instant High Protein chocolate milk mixes are a favorite around here. Just mix the powder into a cup of milk (or non-dairy milk if needed) and it provides 10-15 grams of protein in a quick glass of chocolate milk.
You're an angel. Anyone who can find complaints is ridiculous. Foster parents are not not easy to find and you're doing amazing work. I'm not a foster parent but I love the videos and I bet you have folks who will be foster parents because of you ❤
Laura, I would like to know about your upbringing and the life experiences that formed you into such an empathetic, caring and patient adult. Can you do a video on YOUR childhood?
Notes from my mom made my entire day. And I had a lot of friends and made good grades, I could be having a great day or crappy day, that note always made me feel loved
I love how much of this applies to all ages. I've got a laundry list of health problems, both physical and mental, and some days I just can't. I actually keep some of the orgain kids shakes around for myself for when my nausea was real bad and my stomach can't handle anything solid. Easily the best tasting ones I've tried. But easy foods are so much better. I've been doing a lot of instant mashed potatoes recently because it's what I can manage.
Is anyone else just watching her for general parenting ideas? 😂 My 5yo daughter is gonna love these tips. Thanks ❤
fed is best.
I agree 💛
You can pour the juice into thermoses halfway, freeze, then the next day add the rest of rhe juice on top wnd take to school, it'll be nice and cold. really helpful when the temperature climbs above 110
What a good idea!
My daughter would only eat deli ham or pepperoni for a year, and a trick I came up with was to put about 3/4 of an inch of water in a small thermos, freeze it, put a baggie in it to separate the ice from the meat, and put the meat in the bag. Most of the ice was still frozen when she came home, so I know it was keeping everything cold. This wasn't a sandwich, but just straight rolled-up ham or pepperoni slices. You could also do this with cheese wedges.
that's a good camping/backpacking tip
Somehow people seem to forget that eating something is better than eating nothing at all. I had that ingrained in me during chemo. Whatever the reason, if someone is struggling to eat enough food, the priority is no longer on eating the "right" food, it's on eating enough food. Of course if you can eat a more balanced diet you should probably do that, but - not to be dramatic - starving's a bit more unhealthy than junk food lol
Yes and food is comfort ❤
Exactly. I have chronic nausea which gives me a very variable appetite. Some days eating anything is an accomplishment so I don't care what it is. The only things I ate all day were ice cream and potato chips? Yay, I ate food.
I’m autistic and this was really helpful! Gave me some more ideas for possible safe foods and healthy foods I won’t mind!
Laura, you are such an amazing resource, so informative and supportive. Thank you.
I've never seen these scratch-off notes before, super cute idea
Sugar is a coping device. The pancakes make a lot of sense to keep people's coping devices during stress. I saw this when running a shelter for battered women..
Love this type of video! You are so thoughtful and kind with your. choices
Ty for watching!
I’m an adult (ish) and I have several of those character juice bottles with my favorite characters that I’ve kept for years!! I typically don’t use them. But once in a while even I want to see Hello Kitty in my lunch box.!!!!!!
Fairlife milk is a FABULOUS option… their ultra filtration process means their milk is naturally lactose free, has half the sugar grams (because of the lactose being filtered out) and has double the protein, at a whopping 13 grams per cup! All without needing to add a protein powder in them to achieve those macros. Plus omg the chocolate Fairlife milk tastes like a dessert.
I used to use almondmilk in my iced coffee but switching to Fairlife milk in my morning coffee gives me a 26 gram protein start to my day. As an autistic person I find eating difficult in the mornings and this has given me a very noticeable boost in my morning energy.
And again, it’s just milk. Nothing added.
Ty so much for the tip!!
A lot of parents don’t realize that if a kid doesn’t like the lunch they brought to school there’s a strong chance they just won’t eat :( such a hard balance between nutrition and giving them something they like
One of your last comments reminded me of a kiddo we fostered for a few yrs, that we found out was throwing food away and lying saying they ate it. This was for the healthy foods we gave him, and we realized he was only eating the snacks/treats we packed. I wonder if many kids (even those not in foster care), if given the choice, would pick the healthy choice foods.
This is my problem with public school lunch. They offer sugary snack cake type foods alongside apples and bananas (which are mostly small, bruised and under ripe). Ofc the kids pick the cakes every time. If I dare to complain they shrug their shoulders and say 'well we offer a healthy alternative.' If only they would put more effort into offering something appetizing that was healthy or have two options that are the same nutritional value
Find food the kid likes, fed is best
A friend of my son's was always so suspicious of healthy food. I'd bring the kids a snack when they were playing, and he'd really give me the side eye - "Wait a minute - is this healthy?" You've got to meet them where they are.
i love this style of video, much more relaxed
Thank you for the feedback!
I really like the Perfect Bars! I always keep bars, protein drinks, and other easy foods on hand for when I'm struggling to eat enough/on time.
Perfect Bars don't have the tastes and textures I often don't like from protein bars. And they're not granola. My only complaint is that they're a little too sweet for me. I'd be happier with even 25% less honey... which probably means they're perfect for kids. :)
I'm interested in the kids Orgain shakes. I bet they taste better than the adult version. Maybe I should give them a try. Protein shakes can be easier to down than solid food-and easier to store half-consumed. The right shake can be helpful on low-appetite days.
Really, even a simple glass of milk has a decent amount of nutrition in it. When I don't have a shake on hand, cold milk and a small snack will do it. If my appetite has been really low, I might even designate chocolate milk an essential snack. Adults seriously underestimate the value of milk.
(Neurodivergent adult here. There seem to be several of us in the comments. I really, really appreciate how aware you are of potentially neurodivergent childrens' needs. And the needs of stressed and/or full-on traumatized children, period.)
Cooking for a daycare that allowed the kids to choose what they wanted to eat from the options that day, I always had milk and whole wheat buns as part of the meal. A kid who refuses every other part of the meal will still eat a bun, drink a little milk, and that's enough to get them through until next opportunity to eat.
For any kids whose families don't eat pork/they don't want their kids eating pork, usually for religious reasons, a good substitute for regular pepperoni is turkey pepperoni. Tastes and looks identical, so it can help a kid feel more 'normal' if the local community eats a lot of pepperoni.
Apple trick if they need to be cut up - sprinkle cinnamon on, or lemon juice (I love that on green apples!), or some jam to keep the apples from browning. What ever “coating” you pick, just throw some plus the cut apples into a baggie or container and shake.
Ty for the idea!!
@@foster.parenting thank YOU for ALL of your ideas in all of your videos ❤️❤️❤️ you and Peter (Now I am Known) have encouraged our family so much!!!
I also find if you dip an apple in a lemon/lime soda will keep them from browning.
Also cutting an apple and then using an elastic band to hold it back together helps it not brown. So they're still cut, just held together in their original apple-shape. In case adding stuff makes kids not want it.
I think that anyone who criticizes your choices in food needs to realize that for a lot of kids in the system, just having something familiar like a Lunchable or frozen waffles is very comforting because they’re used to it. Sometimes you just need to give them something you know they’ll eat and work on adding more nutritious items to their regular diet as they become more comfortable and familiar with their new surroundings.
Absolutely. Thank you for adding to the conversation!
Great video and gives a helpful point of view!
I have learned so much for you. Thank you for doing these videos.
I wish they had snack time when i was in school.
Love this video- where do you get the smaller water bottle?
The black ones? From Amazon! I linked them in the caption. I think other brands make them too
I have a question, if a kid who comes into your home was homeschooled before would you enroll them in a brick and mortar school or would that be up to the mother/father’s wishes still
I wish that trick worked on my daughter 😩she looked at me with such disgust over a dab of ketchup 🥹she runs away from food like she’s scared of it
What’s her favorite food?
Maybe she is sensitive to certain textures?
What do you have to say to a high school aged kid who only wants to eat snacks until dinner. my example is they will only eat a granola bar bag of goldfish an apple. Then ask for dinner only a hour or so after school then eat toast before bed.
Sounds like they are a teenager who is growing a lot and needs a lot of food.
That’s pretty normal, 3 meals and 3 snacks is recommended
@@1004LP I know this old but I think I was misunderstood she only eats one real meal and a few snacks every day I don’t think she’s eating enough but I the past month she’s started eating a bit more in the morning so that’s good
I have read that Imperfect Foods/Misfits Market and the like may actually be doing more harm than good by diverting food away from food banks so maybe dropping them isn't such a bad thing
ohhh thank you for this comment. I'm going to investigate. Do you know of any better options?
@@foster.parentingCheck out Thrive Market. Great deals! Yes, small membership fee, but waived for veterans and other groups.
I’m curious. If you’re opting for lunchables, special bars, and snack bags, how much are you saving compared to paying for school lunch? It certainly seems like less work to do school lunch and then the kid gets lots of choice. What if that’s what they’re used to? Mine aren’t school age yet, so I haven’t crunched the numbers myself.
This video is also great information for people who live in places where school lunch doesn't exist.
Schools don't always have "lots of choice." The lunches are planned out by the month and there's no deviation from that. My daughter likes to eat school lunch some days, and she also knows which lunches she doesn't like - so we pack lunches those days. A foster child might flat out refuse to do school lunch and a home-packed lunch can provide them with foods that are safe and easy that they will definitely eat.
My point of few is. Better kid eats something than nothing and if the kid is stabilized try new things.
Don't be afraid to feed older kids different things, i had stuffed cabbage in foster care and it was delicious, you couldn't really taste the cabbage, it was like healthier pasta. Stay away from the stuff labled low fat cr@p, like ranch, i hated that stuff, and low fat doesn't really say anything about the nutrition, it probably has more sugar.
Hearing how many times you clarify that you do try new things makes me sad that you must have had so many people leave negative comments.
Many of them are experiencing so much stress and possibly trauma that they need foods they feel safe with.
i just developed a gluten-thing... some of my extended family members have, too. i think.. i'll have to find things that arent gluten-based lol Just being health-conscious over here.. but maybe im going overboard
Got something resembling a celiac diagnosis recently(not a formal diagnosis but positive blood tests), for carbs rice, corn and potatoes are your friends(including rice cakes, corn chips and corn tortillas, potato chips and fries though double checking for uses of flour in all of these is helpful) , anything thickened might use flour to do so, anything bread like should be double checked, and soy sauce uses wheat - tamari and gluten free soy sauces are a bit more expensive but fill the same niche. Gluten free pastas are pretty good, 1to1 or measure for measure gluten free flours work great in anything that isnt mostly flour (cornbread, crisps, oatmeal muffins). For box mixes I like king arthur brand.
If contamination is a proper concern skip any oats not labeled gluten free. Another supprising source of gluten is malt because its made of barley so fancy chocolates often arent gluten free - I have checked lindt truffles and those contain malt.
If its intollerance then do what it takes to make your stomach happy if its celiac then not destroying your small intestine is a good thing. Going extra strict at first for at least half a year so you can discover what normal is and figure out what your actual responce is allows you to better gauge risk.
Not meant to be a gotcha question, but would some of this change if you had a child who was chronically overweight? I'm not trying to sound fat-phobic or almond-mom or judgmental, but how and how much would you intervene if a child was unhealthily overweight?
Probably not, same for every child, offer both a wide variety of healthy and safe foods and get the family moving together. They’re likely overweight from the intense stress their body is under from their life situation.
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Hey Laura, I’m making some “back to school bags”. I want to donate to foster kids. Would you be interested in?
hey! contact your local foster closet! They always need these items. I have a list of foster closets here: www.fosterparentpartner.com/support-for-foster-parents
Awesome, thank you so much. I can’t foster but, thank God there are ppl like you. Even though I can’t, I still want to support in some ways. I think these will make girls feel special.
Thank you so much for the information.
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I have question since your not fostering any more are these your bio kids or you adopted kids what’s the situation i’m so confused
i have kids in my home permanently. I also support a few families with respite :)
@@foster.parentingthat's awesome. I'm glad you still can help out
I like your content, and .... I am cringing over the Lunchables, that are known to be high in Lead content.
The effects of hunger or starvation are going to impact a child far more quickly than the Lead you are concerned about. The products tested by consumer reports, which you are referring to, are available on the market because they do not violate FDA guidelines, and the Lead content reported does not exceed CA daily recommendations, there are no federal limits. Maybe cringe at the government. Maybe cringe at the corporations. Maybe cringe at the late stage capitalism prioritizing profits over people, and creating such high levels of stress and demand on caretakers of children that there IS a role and demand for these products, regardless of their relatively low quality standards and single use packaging. Maybe cringe at the country and the generations of trauma and abuse that led to a child needing to be removed from their home and family of origin for their own safety. Maybe cringe at the drunk drivers who injure single parents so badly they are unable to care for their children temporarily. We don’t live in an ideal world, fam. We all are making sacrifices and compromises with the resources we can pull together, and I hate to break it to you, but Laura here simply isn’t on the same level as Heinz Kraft or the US FDA. She’s doing her best to win her days for kids who have challenges that are more imminent and more salient than the long term effects of eating a Lunchable maybe 5x a week in the mix of a variety of other foods.
There’s a lot wrong in this world, but the foster parents doing the absolute most to make sure their foster kids are protected, safe, supported, and FED AT ALL are not the ones I’ll be cringing at, personally, and CERTAINLY not at this REMARKABLE foster parents going even further above and beyond to share her face, voice, personality, consideration, and experience with others who may be willing to learn so that they themselves can better help one of the millions of children in foster care in this country. I hope you find something else to cringe at, too.
Your a doll!
That's a really weird thing to say to a stranger
Here in Israel there r many many kids that don't know where they r starting school. Because since October 7th over 100,000 families have been misplaced from their homes some because there r still many rockets coming over every day so they go around looking for a safe placeto live
And some because they actually don't have a house to go to as it's been destroyed. It definitely helps to pack the kids special things in their lunch boxs, but also things they used to having where they used to live...
So sorry for the suffering.
Not if tax payers have to pay for it. Dont have kids if you cant feed them. I dont want to feed somebody else's brats.
How bizarre to feel comfortable posting that comment, the children are already here and by no fault of their own, they do not deserve to suffer.
So you think kids deserve to starve because their parents are poor?
@@waffles3629 they shouldn't have kids if they can't feed them. Your being brain washed about this kid staring crapp if you could into their home u will see big screen TV's lots of luxuries people don't see because they don't check. Let's just say some one I knew their own sister does it and the have money to feed there kids. I don't want to feed other kids . Do have if u can't feed them.
@@bobs1356 but the kids are here, if their parents aren't feeding them and no one else is either, they aren't eating. So I ask again, do you think should children should starve because their parents aren't feeding them? If thinking kids deserve to eat is brainwashing to you then everything must be brainwashing.
@@bobs1356 I hope you’re okay with abortion then. I do agree that people should not have children when they can not afford them, but I also understand situations change, feel abortion has a necessary place in society and do not agree that children who are already here again at no fault if their own should have to suffer. I do work in homes and your assumption is off, some low income families do prioritize materials over necessities, but that is not the majority and that is again still no fault of the child.