Is There Anyone That Just Doesn't Do a Weekly/ Monthly Menu?

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  • Orange2001
    Daycare.com Member
    • Jun 2016
    • 23

    Is There Anyone That Just Doesn't Do a Weekly/ Monthly Menu?

    I just can't stick to it at all when I do take the time to plan it. I often use left over from the night before or just feel like making it easier then I had planned because of however the morning was or the kids moods. I do use brightwheep with most parents so they do know what they had just not ahead of time. Anyone have opinions or ideas to talk me into it. I'm not on the food program still working with licensing to set up home inspection. I'm in a really rural location and my inspector is about an hour and 15 mins away.
  • Unregistered

    #2
    I started off doing weekly menus but stopped because sometimes I needed to switch up the menu last minute because either I ran out of something or the morning was hectic. I also use bright wheel but before then I was giving each parent a daily sheet and wrote out what we ate that day. I felt like I was doing double the work and making myself stress out if I didn't make everything that was planned for the day so I cut out the menu. Parents still know what their kids are eating daily because of the app. I don't allow outside food so them knowing ahead of time what I planned to make a particular really didn't matter. It's not like they have the option to pack a lunch if they didnt like what I planned to make.

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    • grandmom
      Daycare.com Member
      • Mar 2010
      • 766

      #3
      I plan lunch - about an hour before its due to be on the table. Hmmm what's for lunch today? I can't imagine having a menu a month in advance.

      Comment

      • childcaremom
        Advanced Daycare.com Member
        • May 2013
        • 2955

        #4
        No plan. I just serve leftovers. Any planning is done the night before when I am making dinner and involves making sure I make enough for lunch the next day.

        Comment

        • MsHannah
          Daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2016
          • 22

          #5
          In Wisconsin, we are required to post a menu for the parents to see. We are also required to keep three months' worth of menus on file for licensing to look at.

          Comment

          • Josiegirl
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jun 2013
            • 10834

            #6
            I've tried. I really have. I found there were always so many alterations I had to make, that my menus ended up looking confusing. I tried posting them on our bulletin board, dcps never checked them out. I do send home a daily note and that tells the parents what their child ate during the day.

            Now I post my planned menu for the week, on my kitchen cupboard door. The FP representative sees that it's available and it makes her happy. All that usually stays the same(mostly) is the main course.

            Comment

            • Baby Beluga
              Daycare.com Member
              • Aug 2014
              • 3891

              #7
              I do a 5 week rotating menu, but it is used loosely. It helps greatly with planning snacks and breakfast. Lunch is often leftovers from dinner the night before.

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              • Lovisa
                Daycare.com Member
                • Mar 2015
                • 215

                #8
                No planning here. I just make sure to always have a variety of food in the house and I figure it out every day! No biggie

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                • MrsSteinel'sHouse
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Aug 2012
                  • 1509

                  #9
                  In Ohio you must have a dated posted menu. I try to do mine a month at a time because it is easier. Fruit may vary and some days get flipped but generally it is accurate.

                  Comment

                  • Blackcat31
                    • Oct 2010
                    • 36124

                    #10
                    Our meals and snacks consist of whatever I (or my DH) feels like making that day.

                    I am not required to post a menu for parents but the food program "suggests" that we do, however it still doesn't have to be pre-planned...so I just write "Today we had: ______" and fill in the blanks so parents can see at pick up what was served for the day.

                    Comment

                    • LysesKids
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • May 2014
                      • 2836

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Blackcat31
                      Our meals and snacks consist of whatever I (or my DH) feels like making that day.

                      I am not required to post a menu for parents but the food program "suggests" that we do, however it still doesn't have to be pre-planned...so I just write "Today we had: ______" and fill in the blanks so parents can see at pick up what was served for the day.
                      I understand that 100% ; My parents have no issue with it that way

                      Comment

                      • Blackcat31
                        • Oct 2010
                        • 36124

                        #12
                        Originally posted by LysesKids
                        I understand that 100% ; My parents have no issue with it that way
                        I used to plan things but then once you actually work in the daycare world, you slowly come to realize that the word "plan" is more like a suggestion or an opinion and not necessarily how things will actually go.

                        PLAN is an evil word.

                        Sometimes I have a hearty, healthy but favorite meal planned.

                        But then Johnny poos down his legs and up his back, while Sally figured out how to get into the stamp pads and is inking up a storm on Billy's arm. Janie, meanwhile is having a melt down because a blue car drove by and she's convinced that it is her mom's yellow mini van heading home and forgetting to pick her up. Xander is hollering from the bathroom that he thinks something "might" be wrong with the faucet since the water is pouring down the front of the sink and while he holds the door open to report this issue, Katie snuck in and thinks it's time for water/sensory play.


                        But WAIT!!!! I totally forgot to get the water started so I can boil noodles and I have no idea if I even remembered to buy cheese for the garlic bread......


                        What's that, Joey? You had "bahsketti" last night and again for breakfast this morning?

                        Ooookkkkkkaaaaayyyyy........

                        So yep..... PLANS don't always go according to plan.

                        But I try.

                        That ^^ (trying) really is what it's all about right?

                        (Unless the answer is the Hokey Pokey and in that case, I'm out. I had "bahsketti" for breakfast this morning and don't think I could shake it all about if I wanted to. ::

                        Comment

                        • Unregistered

                          #13
                          Originally posted by MrsSteinel'sHouse
                          In Ohio you must have a dated posted menu. I try to do mine a month at a time because it is easier. Fruit may vary and some days get flipped but generally it is accurate.
                          This is me too! Required to plan and post. I do love to plan meals & snacks. I post weekly but have about two dozen weeks of plans. I generally buy and prepare what is planned. Serving a lot of fresh fruit can cause an upset because sometimes it's not ripe till end of the week.

                          Comment

                          • Josiegirl
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Jun 2013
                            • 10834

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Blackcat31
                            I used to plan things but then once you actually work in the daycare world, you slowly come to realize that the word "plan" is more like a suggestion or an opinion and not necessarily how things will actually go.

                            PLAN is an evil word.

                            Sometimes I have a hearty, healthy but favorite meal planned.

                            But then Johnny poos down his legs and up his back, while Sally figured out how to get into the stamp pads and is inking up a storm on Billy's arm. Janie, meanwhile is having a melt down because a blue car drove by and she's convinced that it is her mom's yellow mini van heading home and forgetting to pick her up. Xander is hollering from the bathroom that he thinks something "might" be wrong with the faucet since the water is pouring down the front of the sink and while he holds the door open to report this issue, Katie snuck in and thinks it's time for water/sensory play.


                            But WAIT!!!! I totally forgot to get the water started so I can boil noodles and I have no idea if I even remembered to buy cheese for the garlic bread......


                            What's that, Joey? You had "bahsketti" last night and again for breakfast this morning?

                            Ooookkkkkkaaaaayyyyy........

                            So yep..... PLANS don't always go according to plan.

                            But I try.

                            That ^^ (trying) really is what it's all about right?

                            (Unless the answer is the Hokey Pokey and in that case, I'm out. I had "bahsketti" for breakfast this morning and don't think I could shake it all about if I wanted to. ::
                            Oh YEH now that'd be a plan all shot to he!!. Calgon take me away.

                            Comment

                            • lovemydaycare0912
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Oct 2015
                              • 756

                              #15
                              I usually plan Sunday for the week that way I know what I need to buy for the week etc. Sometimes it doesn't go as planned, but it helps me to not serve the same thing like snack everyday.

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