Menu Planning Principle 1: Strive for Balance
As you plan meals that are nourishing, appealing, and taste good, you will want to strive for balance in a number of ways.
- Balance flavors in appealing ways.
Make sure individual foods, when served together, make a winning combination. Too many milk flavors may make a meal too bland, and too many strongly flavored foods may make a meal unacceptable to children. For example, a lunch or supper with sausage pizza, Cajun potatoes, coleslaw, and milk has too many spicy and strong flavors.
- Balance higher-fat foods with lower-fat ones.
Avoid having too many higher fat foods in the same week. In other words, do not include sausage pizza on a week's menu if you are already planning to serve hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Look for ways to use low fat side dishes to balance a main dish with a higher fat content. For example, with a grilled cheese sandwich, serve carrots and celery sticks.
Reprinted with permission from Menu Magic for Children USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.
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