Baby kitchen food

The 11 Best Play Food Sets for Toddlers & Preschoolers — The Montessori-Minded Mom

Play food sets can provide toddlers endless opportunities for imaginative play. They also compliment play kitchens very nicely when gifted together.

If you are thinking about buying some play food, but you are not quite sure which set is the best, you have come to the right place.

I have put together some information on the benefits of play food, if play food aligns with Montessori, and listed some of the most unique and fun play food sets I could find!

(This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing from these links costs you nothing extra, but helps with our website upkeep.)

The benefits of play food sets for toddlers

Pretend play is a normal and healthy part of a child's development.

Through pretend play, children attempt to recreate what they experience or witness in real life. This helps them make sense of the world around them.

Play food sets are beneficial for children, as they allow for imaginative play opportunities. With play food, toddlers and preschoolers pretend to prepare, cook, and serve meals for themselves and others.

Playing with play food helps develop:

• fine motor skills
• gross motor skills
• problem-solving skills
• lauguage and literacy skills
• emotional intellegence

Play kitchens and food are open-ended toys and are great for helping children play independently.

Is play food Montessori aligned?

Montessori favors real-life tasks over pretend tasks. This does not mean there is no place for imaginative play in Montessori learning environments and homes, however.

In Montessori homes, children work with their caregivers on real-life kitchen tasks, but they also experiment and explore cooking concepts through the use of play kitchens and play food.

Though this is a debated topic, my educated take on the play kitchens and play food sets is that they actually complement the Montessori philosophy nicely.

The 11 best play food sets for toddlers & preschoolers

When you think of play food sets, you might just think of the standard ones you see on social media a lot or the generic plastic ones you've seen in the big-box department stores.

There are so many different fun kinds of play food sets, though. There's no reason to settle when it comes to these sets.

Hopefully, you can find a set, or combination of sets, that reflect the food culture in your household.

1. Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

What toddler doesn't enjoy the taste of sweet fruit? This play food set lets small children pretend to slice and prepare fruit treats for themselves and their friends.

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2. Learning Resources Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set

This play food set comes with mock produce baskets that can be used for sitting activities or for farmer's market play.

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3. Wooden Barbecue Grill Toy

Many parents involve their toddlers and preschoolers in kitchen activities, but outdoor grilling remains a mystery, as it's not safe to let children help us grill.

This is a really fun set for kids to play with while the caregiver is grilling.

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4.

Going out to a restaurant is such a treat for kids. Getting to replicate the experience with parents and siblings is equally special.

Complete with a coffee tank and menu, this play food set really has everything kids need to recreate a special dining experience.

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5. Learning Resources New Sprouts Stir Fry Play Food Set

We are a household of stir-fried vegetable lovers. So, I was so excited to find this veggie and Wok set.

If your child has not yet been introduced to all the delicious ways vegetables can be prepared, this is a fantastic play food set to do just that.

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6. Growing Vegetables Wooden Playset

This is such a cute play food set that doubles as a gardening toy. Toddlers and preschoolers get to “dig up” their own little vegetable garden and cook up a healthy, fresh meal in their play kitchen.

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7. PairPear Wooden Play Food Cutting Meat Set

This is a fun play food set for toddlers and preschoolers that focuses on meat and cheese. It comes with a play knife so kids can pretend to cut the play food, as well.

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8. Let's Make a Pizza – Pretend Food Playset with 4 Wooden Pie Slices

This is a great play food set for topping-averse toddlers. It gets them excited about experimenting with their pizza.

This is my favorite pizza-making play food set, as the pizza ends up looking a lot more realistic that with other sets.

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9. Learning Resources New Sprouts Soup's On!

There's little that's healthier or more comforting than home-cooked soup. I just love this set, as it helps children understand the creativity and simplicity that comes with preparing soup.

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10. Hape Egg Carton

Do you have a toddler who enjoys cracking eggs with you while you cook? If so, they are sure to enjoy this unique Hape egg toy.

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11. Melissa & Doug Fill & Fold Taco & Tortilla Set

This is a really neat play food set that lets kids cook taco filling ingredients on a play skillet, then wrap them in a play tortilla.

The ingredients all fasten together inside the tortilla with hook and loop strips and children can then pretend to add their favorite sauces.

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You see, there are so many play food sets to choose from and each of them has something unique to offer children in the way of creative play.

Do you have a play food set that your child absolutely loves? Leave a comment or drop me an email. I'd love to hear about it!

Cheers and don't forget to subscribe!

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how to get it, who is supposed to, what products are given in Moscow and the regions, work schedule

Yulia Shubina

refused dairy cuisine

Author profile

In Russia, expectant mothers and families with children can receive free food.

Each subject has its own rules. I received kits at a dairy kitchen in Moscow - I'll tell you who usually gets help and how to get it in different regions.

What is a dairy kitchen?

The forerunners of the dairy kitchen were centers called "A Drop of Milk" where they gave out food for premature babies. They appeared in the Russian Empire in 1901 year.

Dairy kitchen - Big Medical Encyclopedia

There are more such organizations in the USSR. Dairy kitchens helped save the lives of many children during the Second World War: then they began to offer additional food, including to full-term babies. They continued to do so after the war.

Today there is no concept of "dairy cuisine" in Russian legislation. But there is a guarantee: according to the doctor, children under three years old, pregnant and lactating women must be provided with food. What to give and to what extent - the leadership of each region decides independently.

Art. 52 of the law "On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens in the Russian Federation"

How to get a dairy kitchen in Moscow

Only people with a Moscow residence permit can use a dairy kitchen in Moscow. Here are the people who will be given food:

1. pregnant and lactating women;
2. formula-fed or formula-fed children under 6 months;
3. children from 6 months to 3 years;
4. children under 7 from large families;
5. children under 15 with chronic diseases: glomerulonephritis, hemoblastosis, malignant neoplasms;
6. disabled children under 18 years of age.

Regulation on the provision of free food for certain categories of children and women who are residents of the city of Moscow

But you can’t just go to the dairy kitchen for food: first you need to get a prescription from a doctor. For this, pregnant women need to contact the antenatal clinic, in all other cases, the prescription will be issued at the children's clinic where the child is assigned.

To confirm the right to receive products, the antenatal clinic or polyclinic will ask you to submit documents. They will need to be brought only once, after which all the necessary information will already be in the system. Here's what you need:

1. Pregnant woman's passport or child's birth certificate together with the passport of either parent.
2. Compulsory health insurance policy for a pregnant woman or child.
3. Certificate of registration of a child in Moscow (form 8), pregnant women will need to show the registration page in their passport instead.
4. If the child is under guardianship, you will additionally need a document confirming the establishment of guardianship.
5. If the child is older than 3 years, you will need to confirm his benefits: a certificate of a large family, a certificate from a medical and social examination, or a medical certificate confirming the presence of a chronic disease will do.

They will also ask you to fill out an application for receiving products: a ready-made form will be provided at the clinic, you only need to sign it.

/kids-rule-everything-around-me/

Benefits for families with many children in Moscow until the 10th day of the month. It was tiresome.

Now everything has changed: a doctor issues a benefit once through the EMIAS system and information about it is automatically transferred to the dairy kitchen until it expires. For example, this happens when a pregnant woman gives birth to a child or he reaches the age of three. Now you can go to the dairy kitchen right away, without wasting time getting a prescription from a doctor and without worrying about what date is on the calendar.

Where to go with a prescription for a dairy kitchen

Each polyclinic has its own dairy kitchen - food packages will need to be received there. Sometimes several points are assigned to one clinic - then parents are offered to choose. You can find out what milk distribution points are in your area using the map on the Gormedtekhnika portal.

Those who come to buy food for the first time are assigned a number by the dairy kitchen staff. It must be remembered and called every time to get a set. Nothing critical will happen if the parents forget the number and instead ask to find a set by the child's last name, but it is more convenient for the kitchen staff to work with him.

Dairy kitchens usually distribute visitors by day of the week. In some kitchens, employees ask parents when it is more convenient for them to come for kits, while in others they appoint themselves: for example, they give out kits for pregnant women on Mondays, and for children under six months on Wednesdays. This rule is also not strict: if you miss the right day, you can safely come for a set on another.

/baby-cost/

How much does a baby cost in the first year? We did not encounter this: even at the end of the month, my husband easily received a full set of products for 30 days.

Dairy kitchens in the capital are open from 06:30 to 15:00 from Monday to Saturday. From 12:30 to 13:00 - lunch break.

To receive food, you will need to show your passport or other identification document - the husband usually shows the rights. According to the rules, dairy kitchens give out food packages only to parents, and if you need someone else to receive them, you need to issue a power of attorney. In reality, you can agree with the employees: sometimes my brother got the dairy kitchen and no one asked for additional papers - I think the point is that we have the same last name with him.

Before you go to the dairy kitchen, think about how you will collect food. We had to take a taxi, and other parents came with hiking backpacks: a set for a child of 6-12 months for 30 days weighs about 10 kg.

What kind of products are given in the dairy kitchen in Moscow

Pregnant, lactating women and children of different ages are given different amounts and composition of products. Mothers are given juice and milk, and babies are given supplementary or complementary foods, depending on their age. These can be mixtures, canned purees, instant cereals and similar juices and milk, as for mothers.

Regulation on the provision of free food for certain categories of children and women who are residents of the city of MoscowPDF, 653 KB

To whom they give	What is	How much per month
Formula-fed infants 0-3 months	Powdered and liquid milk formulas	5. 5 kg
Formula-fed babies 4 months old	Powdered and liquid milk mixtures, fruit juice, fruit puree	7.9 kg
Formula-fed babies 5 months old	Dry and liquid milk mixtures, fruit juice, vegetable puree, dry porridge, fruit puree	9.8 kg
Children 6 months on any type of feeding	Dry and liquid mixtures, fruit juice, dry porridge, vegetable puree, fruit puree	7.3 kg
Children 7-8 months	Dry and liquid mixtures, children's cottage cheese, fruit juice, dry porridge, vegetable puree, fruit puree, meat puree with vegetables, meat puree	9.9 kg
Children 9-12 months	Dry and liquid mixtures, children's cottage cheese, kefir, fruit juice, dry porridge, vegetable puree, fruit puree, meat puree with vegetables, meat puree	12.3 kg
Children 1-2 years old	Milk, kefir, cottage cheese, fruit puree, fruit juice	9. 8 kg
Children 2-3 years old	Milk, kefir, cottage cheese, fruit puree, fruit juice	8.4 kg
Pregnant	Fruit juice, milk	12.9L
Nursing	Milk, fruit juice	16.2 L
Children from large families, disabled children	Milk	18 l

Children 0-3 months on artificial feeding

What

Dry and liquid milk mixtures

volume

5.5 kg

children 4 months 4 months on artificial feeding 9000

What

Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhaya Sukhai and liquid milk formulas, fruit juice, fruit puree

Volume per month

7.9 kg

Children 5 months on artificial feeding

, fruit puree 9Ol000 7.3 kg

Children 7-8 months

What

Dry and liquid mixtures, baby cottage cheese, fruit juice, dry porridge, vegetable puree, fruit puree, meat puree with vegetables, meat puree

volume for a month

12. 3 kg

Children 1-2 years old

What are

Milk, kefir, cottage cheese, fruit puree, fruit juice

volume for a month

9,000 9000 children 2-3 years

What

Milk, kefir, cottage cheese, fruit puree, fruit juice

volume per month

8.4 kg

Pregnant

What

Fruit juice, milk

volume 9000,

12.9 l

Burners

What

Milk, Fruit juice

volume per month

16.2 l

Children from large families, children with disabilities

that

milk

volume

0003

18L

My experience of getting food in a dairy kitchen

I started getting free food when I was pregnant. I was observed at the antenatal clinic by registration, so I was given a prescription for the nearest dairy kitchen. But due to the fact that I live in a different area, getting groceries was inconvenient. They found a way out quickly: my younger brother began to call for boxes. The products remained with him: I didn’t really need them.

When our daughter was born, we assigned her to a polyclinic in our place of residence. They began to receive recipes for a dairy kitchen near the house. As a nursing mother, I was given juice and milk. I did not plan to take these products, but my brother liked them. Therefore, we used the recipe.

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How to introduce complementary foods to children

Later, I learned that in the first six months we were also given a dairy kitchen for our daughter: she was mixed-fed. But for some reason, the pediatrician did not report this. True, this fact did not upset me much: I fed my daughter with Nutrilon Comfort, they are not given out in sets. And we would not change the mixture just to get it for free: for a baby, this is fraught with digestive problems.

What purees, juices and mixtures did they give us? I read the advice of pediatricians on Instagram and decided, at least at first, to follow the composition of baby food.

From 6 months we began to receive dairy products. I was pleasantly surprised: there was nothing superfluous in the compositions. Therefore, for six months we actively used the food that was given to us. Monthly managed to save 1000-2000 R.

up to 2000 R

we saved on baby food

The variety of canned purees in the dairy kitchen pleased me. First, they gave the classic trio of vegetables that are recommended to start complementary foods with: broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini from Agushi. True, I didn’t really like the Agusha zucchini: it was too liquid and it was inconvenient to feed a child with it. Later, carrots and pumpkins of the same brand were added - with excellent composition and consistency.

Meat puree was also varied: the sets included poultry, beef, and veal. From 9months, jars of “chicken and vegetables” and “beef and vegetables” began to be issued. My daughter still eats this, despite the fact that she mostly prefers a common table. By the way, for some reason, there were no fish in the set from the dairy kitchen, although the pediatrician's memo said that fish should be introduced from 10-11 months.

Fruit puree was also given out by Agusha. The compositions were good, the tastes were different: we came across an apple, a pear, a peach. When my daughter got older, they began to give puree from several fruits and berries, for example, "apple, cherry, blueberry."

In addition, the set contained a mixture of two types: dry and liquid. We refused the liquid mixture: my daughter ate another, and in the kitchen they gave the same Agusha. The liquid mixture was packed in a separate box, so the husband immediately said: “We don’t take this.” We gave Nestogen dry mix to friends.

/list/fake-healthy-foods/

Corn flakes and "children's menu": what not to feed a child

My daughter fell in love with Agusha cottage cheese: she liked trying to eat from plastic packaging on her own.

What I didn't like about the dairy kitchen

First of all, the composition of some of the products that were given out on a monthly basis was contrary to the recommendations for complementary foods.

National program for optimizing the feeding of children in the first year of life in the Russian Federation - methodological recommendations of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, p. The documents indicated that the products were issued in accordance with the age marking of the manufacturer, but in our case this did not always coincide with reality.

For example, milk porridges were not recommended until 9 months of age. In fact, we began to receive instant cereals with powdered milk from 7 months. Even the pediatrician did not advise giving fruit juice until a year old. And we began to receive it from 6 months - as a result, adults drank the juice from us.

Feeding and nutrition of infants and young children - guidelines for the WHO European RegionPDF, 1.28 MB0003

Secondly, cereals included fructose and milk powder. Rospotrebnadzor does not recommend introducing sugar up to a year. And WHO recommends to refrain from cow's milk in favor of breast milk, as cow's milk is too rich in protein and sodium.

Thirdly, did not contain mashed potatoes with chunks in the packages. This was a little depressing: it is recommended to start introducing pieces from 9-10 months.

But in the end, I understand that mashing food with a fork is much easier than making a full-fledged puree on your own. In addition, I know that in other regions the level of support for the authorities is significantly lower compared to Moscow. So I was grateful for what I have.

Why did we end up giving up free products

This happened simultaneously for two reasons. The first - by the year my daughter switched to a common table. The second - a set of products for children from the age of one did not suit her.

For example, I try to give cow's milk and juices as treats, the rest of the time she drinks water. My daughter prefers grained cottage cheese and ordinary cereals to dry cereals and children's creamy cottage cheese: she likes to eat them with her hands or with a spoon. I never add sugar to buckwheat or rice - purchased cereals cannot boast of this.

The only thing that could really be useful to us from the set for children from one year old is Agusha kefir, it has a good composition. But they give a lot of it, and the shelf life is short. On the one hand, this is good: it means that there are no preservatives in kefir, with which ultra-pasteurized milk is stored for months. But on the other hand, we had to drink kefir with the whole family until it got spoiled.

/farm-products/

I feed my family with farm products and save money

In addition, it was simply unprofitable to force my husband to go to the dairy kitchen for one yogurt.

How are things going with free meals in the regions

Each region independently determines what products, to whom and in what quantities to provide. In some regions, payments are assigned instead of products.

You can usually find out if there is a dairy kitchen in the region and who is entitled to it, usually at the children's clinic or social security departments. I will tell you about how things are in several large regions.

Moscow region. Dairy cuisine has been canceled in the Moscow region. You can get money instead. The amount of the monthly cash payment in 2022:

1. Pregnant women - 400 R.
2. Nursing mothers - 1000 R.
3. Children from 0 to 1 years old on artificial or mixed feeding - 1000 to 9003 years old Children from
4. years old on artificial or mixed feeding - 600 R.

Decree of the Government of the Moscow Region dated November 26, 2019No. 868/41

If a woman has several children, she will receive payments for pregnant and lactating women in a single amount. If there are several children and they are formula fed, then a monthly cash payment is provided for each child.

Appointment of a monthly cash payment for food - the portal of public services of the Moscow region

St. Petersburg. In St. Petersburg there is neither a dairy kitchen nor compensation. But there is a "children's" card - it receives regional payments and benefits: for example, a one-time compensation payment for the birth of a child or a monthly allowance for a child up to one and a half years. You can only spend money on baby products in certain stores, including baby food.

Rules for using a "children's" card - St. Petersburg public services portal

You can order a card together with a one-time payment at the birth of a child. This is done online on the public services website or through the MFC. The card will be ready within three months, the service is free. You will need a passport to get it.

Nizhny Novgorod. Dairy products are distributed only to low-income families until the child is 2 years old. In order to receive food for children under one year old, the average per capita income of a family should not exceed two living wages, and if the child is from one to two years old, the average per capita income must be less than one living wage.

Regulations on the procedure for providing adequate nutrition for children under the age of 3 through special nutrition points (dairy kitchens) according to the opinion of doctors in the city district of Nizhny Novgorod

What products are distributed in Nizhny Novgorod

	What is	How much per month
Children under 5 months	Dry mix	3. 5 kg
Children 6-7 months	Dry milk porridge, dry mix, cottage cheese. By prescription, kefir	4.13 kg + 12 liters of kefir
Children 8-12 months, depending on doctor's prescription	Dry milk porridge, dry mix, cottage cheese	6 kg + 12 l kefir
Children 1-2 years old	Dry milk porridge, cottage cheese	2 kg + 13.2 l kefir
Children 2-3 years old	Dry milk porridge, cottage cheese	1.9 kg + 13.2 l kefir

children up to 5 months

What

Dry mixture

volume per month

3.5 kg

children 6-7 months

LUCK MARE MARE, dry mixture, cottage cheese . Kefir is dispensed by doctor's prescription

Volume per month

4.13 kg + 12 liters of kefir

Children 8-12 months old, depending on the doctor's prescription

What

Dry milk porridge, dry mix, cottage cheese

volume for a month

6 kg+ 12 l kefira

children 1-2 years old

that

dry milk porridge, cottage cheese

volume for month

2 kg+ 13. 2 l kefira

children 2-3 years old

What

Dry milk porridge, cottage cheese

volume

1.9 kg+ 13.2 l kefira

920 Kaluga region. Children of the first year of life on artificial and mixed feeding receive free meals. For children from 2 to 3 years old, the poor are paid compensation - up to 500 R.

Explanations on the provision of adequate nutrition for children of the first year of life who are artificially and mixed-fed - the official portal of the authorities of the Kaluga region you can apply if the income per family member does not exceed the regional subsistence minimum by more than 1,000 rubles.

What products are distributed in the Kaluga region

Children under 6 months

What

Dry mixture

volume per month

It is not known exactly, at the rate of 900 r per month per child

children 6-12 months

What are

Dry mix, dry porridge

volume

, at the rate of 900 R per month per child

In Bashkiria. Products are provided to orphans, as well as children, lactating and pregnant women from low-income families. You can get a dairy kitchen if the family income per person does not exceed 10,015 R.

Dairy cuisine of the Republic of Bashkiria

Provision of specialized food for pregnant women and nursing mothers - Republican Center for Social Support of the Population

What products are distributed in Bashkiria

	What is	How much per month
Pregnant	Dry formula for pregnant women	2 kg
Lactating	Dry formula for nursing	1 kg
Children under 6 months	Powdered formula or specialty formula for medical indications	0.75 kg
Children 6-8 months	Dry or specialized mix for medical indications, dry porridge, cottage cheese	2 kg
Children 8-12 months	Dry or specialized mixture for medical indications, dry porridge, milk, kefir, cottage cheese	2 kg + 6. 5 l milk and kefir
Children 1-2 years old	Dry porridge, cottage cheese, milk, kefir	2 kg + 16.4 l milk and kefir
Children 2-3 years old	Curd, milk, kefir	1.1 kg + 16.6 liters of milk and kefir

Pregnant

What

Pregnancy powder

Monthly volume

2 kg

Nursing

What

Dry mixture for feeders

volume for a month

1 kg

Children up to 6 months

What are

Dry mix or specialized mixture for medical readings

volume

0.75 kg

Children 6-8 months

What

Dry or specialized formula for medical indications, dry porridge, cottage cheese

Monthly volume

2 kg

Children 8-12 months

What

Dry or specialized mixture for medical reasons, Sukhaya, milk, kefir porridge, cottage cheese

volume

2 kg+ 6. 5 l of milk and kefir

What is

Sukhaya, cottage cheese, milk, kefir

volume for a month

2 kg+ 16.4 l milk and kefir

children 2-3 years old

Comens that

, milk, kefir

Monthly volume

1.1 kg + 16.6 liters of milk and kefir

Remember

1. Provision of food for pregnant and lactating women on the conclusion of a doctor, as well as children under 3 years old - a state guarantee. But the specific conditions of the program depend on the region.
2. Moscow provides food packages: pregnant and lactating women - juices and milk, infants under six months on artificial or mixed feeding - milk formulas, and older children - cereals, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, kefir and juices.
3. To get food, you need to go to the antenatal clinic or children's clinic for a prescription. To do this, you will need to bring documents: a child's birth certificate, a parent's passport, confirmation of Moscow registration and a compulsory medical insurance policy.
4. after 3 years old, children from large families can receive children's food-up to 7 years old, children with some chronic

Questions-answer-the answer is

3 The first three years of life with dairy foods in the Republic of Tatarstan in matters and ANSWERS.