Healthy Daycare Meals in Schaumburg & Hawthorn Woods
Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are included for every child — cooked fresh each morning, planned around USDA child-care nutrition standards, and posted here so you always know what’s on the plate.
Kiddy Garden serves breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack to every enrolled child at its Schaumburg and Hawthorn Woods, Illinois centers, and meals are included in tuition. Meals are cooked fresh each morning by ChildEats, a family-run children’s caterer in Northbrook, IL, on a menu planned around the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern. Dairy-free, egg-free and vegetarian menus and halal-certified chicken are available, and infants follow each family’s own feeding plan.
Fruit is chosen by season and subject to availability. Menus are prepared by our catering partner, ChildEats. Children with allergies or dietary needs on file are served the menu that matches their plan — questions? Ask your center director.
Portions by Age
How Much Food Is on Your Child’s Plate?
Our menus are planned around the USDA’s minimum portions for child care. Pick an age and a meal to see what a serving looks like.
Child’s age
Meal
Lunch3–5 yrs
🥛¾ cupmilk
All five components at every lunch, with a whole-grain serving at least once a day.
🥛Milk¾ cup (6 fl oz)
🍗Protein1½ oz cooked chicken or turkey1½ oz-eq
🥦Vegetables¼ cup
🍎Fruit¼ cup
🌾Grainsabout ½ slice of bread or ¼ cup cooked pasta or rice½ oz-eq
On today’s menu
Chicken Pilaf
Steamed Rice
Cole Slaw
Seasonal Fruit
Milk by age (USDA): unflavored whole milk at age 1; unflavored low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk for ages 2–5; low-fat or fat-free from age 6. oz-eq = ounce equivalent, the USDA’s serving measure for grains and protein.
Source: USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns for breakfast, lunch and snack.
🍼
Feeding Infants (6 Weeks – 15 Months)
Babies don’t follow the plate above. We follow the feeding plan you set — breast milk, formula, and solid foods for older infants — on your baby’s own schedule, and log every feeding in Brightwheel so you can see it in real time.
Every child is different. Here’s how we set up meals for yours.
Managing a severe allergy, such as peanuts or tree nuts? Please talk with the center director before enrolling so we can review menus and procedures together. Helpful reading: AAP on food allergies in children ↗
Tell us at enrollmentList any allergy, intolerance or dietary need on your enrollment forms — or as soon as it’s diagnosed.
We match the right menuYour child’s meals come from the menu that fits their needs, and we talk through anything a standard menu doesn’t cover.
Follow along in BrightwheelTeachers log meals during the day, so you can see what your child ate.
Yes. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are included for every enrolled child at both our Schaumburg and Hawthorn Woods centers, so there’s nothing to pack and no separate food charge on your invoice. Infants follow the feeding plan you set with us.
Who prepares the meals?
Meals are cooked fresh each morning by ChildEats, a family-run children’s catering company based in Northbrook, Illinois, and delivered to both of our centers. ChildEats plans its menus with certified dietitians and says it focuses on organic produce, antibiotic-free proteins and whole grains.
Do your meals meet USDA nutrition standards?
Our menus are planned around the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern, the federal nutrition standard for child care. It sets minimum servings of milk, fruit, vegetables, grains and protein for each age group — you can see the amounts for your child’s age in the portion guide on this page.
Can Kiddy Garden handle food allergies?
Yes. We serve dedicated dairy-free and egg-free menus every day, and we plan around other allergies case by case. Share any allergy or dietary need on your enrollment forms. If your child has a severe allergy, such as to peanuts or tree nuts, please talk with the center director before enrolling so we can review menus and procedures together.
Do you offer vegetarian or halal meals?
Yes. Our vegetarian menu is lacto-ovo (it includes eggs and dairy) and features dishes like falafel, cheese pizza, veggie nuggets and vegetable patties. For families who eat halal, halal-certified chicken is available, and supplier certification can be shared on request.
What do infants eat at daycare?
Babies from 6 weeks to 15 months follow the feeding plan you set with us — breast milk, formula, and solid foods for older infants — on your baby’s own schedule. Each feeding is logged in the Brightwheel app so you can follow along in real time. Learn more about our Infant Program.
How will I know what my child ate today?
Through Brightwheel. Teachers log meals during the day, so you can see what your child ate without waiting for pickup. The full monthly menu is always on this page, and the menu card at the top shows today’s breakfast and lunch.
How often does the menu change?
The menu follows a five-week cycle and is refreshed every month, with fruit chosen by season. The current menu covers September 28 – October 30, 2026.
