How Do You Serve Meals?...Advice Pls

[frugalmama4]

Happy Valentine's Day...much love lovethis

I need help making my life easier "so sick of dish washing/sweeping" I currently serve the kids on plastic re-usable plates w/plastic spoons and cups w/lids. I have three who eat w/no help and three infants starting to hand feed themselves.

I've been thinking about doing all paper " just can't bring myself to throw out $$$" I mean we use paper plates for our own family and the hubby washes them ::::

And them the floors I seem to spend more time sweeping then teaching lately...thinking of getting a cheap plastic table cover (from dollar store) and place under the infants high chair, and just dust it off over the trash (maybe). But still have the older kids (whom makes a big miss then the infants)

Help me pls, what do you do/use? Thanks

[lil angels]

I don't ever put away my dyson I clean the floors when done eating and I use plastic reusable stuff to and everything goes right into the dishwasher it gets ran once a day sometimes twice. It is never ending but I don't think there is anyway around it.

Good luck::

[bice99]

I throw a cloth tablecloth (meant for a card table) on the floor under my high chair. I have 2 so I can wash them every other day with my normal laundry. I do all washable plastic stuff (IKEA). We use paper plates every so often (for our own family), but I cannot stand watching them go in the trash. Reduce, reuse, recycle. But I also have a small crew, so I only have to run my dishwasher twice a day total.

[daycare]

I use all the stuff from Ikea too. The only issue I have is that some of the kids bite on the forks breaking the prongs off.

I have all carpet in my house, so I can relate. I bought a cheap Bamboo mat that goes under the eating table. I have a nice hand vac/sweeper and I use it after every meal.

I try to let the LO feed themselves, but also try to reduce the amount of food waste as well. It seems like sometimes they have more on them than got into their little mouths.

I give them just a little bit, enough for a few bites to feed themselves. Then I feed them. This way there is not a lot of waste, I know that they got plenty to eat and I don't have a giant mess to clean up..

Small small portions....

[saved4always]

I only have 3 kids right now so my mess is not too bad. I use reusable plastic plates and utensils that I throw in the dishwasher. Two of the 3 bring thier own filled cup(s) in the morning so they get used for the day and then I wipe food off the outsides and stick them back in the diaper bags. If I have time, I will hand wash the cups but, I think the dads must close them because sometimes I cannot muscle the lids off....or else I am just a wimp. :: When they all finish lunch, I have them stay seated while I quickly put thier dishes in the dishwasher, then I wipe them and they can go play while I wipe the trays of thier seats off. They are all pretty young, so they sit in booster seats on the floor that have trays. So, I don't have to worry about food under the seats getting on the kitchen chairs...that would be one more thing to clean. They love that they can run to "their" seat for snack and lunch and just sit down. Saves me a lot of lifting, too. happyface

When they were younger, I did use a plastic mat under the high chair but it honestly made more work for me than just wiping the floor. It was too big to successfully dump anything into the garbage can and I just ended up wiping it with wipes or paper towels the same as I would the floor. And then I had to fold it up and put it somewhere out of the way. So, it is just sitting in the basement.

[melskids]

I use plastic dishes, and hand wash the old fashion way. I dont have a dishwasher.

As far as the floor goes, the dog usually beats me to sweeping, but I wet swiffer everyday after she's done.

[renodeb]

I use plastic reusable stuff, I bought enough to not have to run the dw every day. Usually I run it 3 times a week. I try not to waste either. I usually clean up the dishes and stuff right after lunch and then mop while/sweep at nap time. I have a tile kitchen so I have to keep up on the mopping. I have 4 that feed them selves and 2 that need help. They dont all eat at the same time so thats why I mop at nap time. I have debated the paper plat ething to but its just to much waste IMO! I think having enough plates and stuff so you can do a few meals with out having to wash helps.
Debbie

[saved4always]

I use plastic reusable stuff, I bought enough to not have to run the dw every day. Usually I run it 3 times a week. I try not to waste either. I usually clean up the dishes and stuff right after lunch and then mop while/sweep at nap time. I have a tile kitchen so I have to keep up on the mopping. I have 4 that feed them selves and 2 that need help. They dont all eat at the same time so thats why I mop at nap time. I have debated the paper plat ething to but its just to much waste IMO! I think having enough plates and stuff so you can do a few meals with out having to wash helps.
Debbie

I have enough plastic wear for at least 2 days, too. I usually have to run the dishwasher by then because I also have my family's dishes that have filled it. Of course, I only have the 3 children and only 1 of them is here everyday so it is easy for me. With more kids, the dishwasher would fill much more quickly.

[small_steps]

I use paper plates and the kids know to toss their plates in the trash and put their spoons/forks, and cups in the sink. At walmart I get 150 of the foam plates for $3.50 and it takes less than two of those for one month. Of course I end up using them for my family too on the weekends and after hours sometimes. I do use the ziploc cups with lids and straws. The kids bite on the straws so I buy a pack of 100 from walmart for .98 and use those and throw the straws away every day. 1 straw per day and usually 1 paper plate per day depending on what we have for breakfast (usually I will serve breakfast and snack on a napkin). I know it costs a little extra but its easier for me and I think its worth it. I only have to wash their cups and eating utensils daily and that cuts back a little. Sweeping...no way around that I don't think. I have never swept more in my life than since I've opened my home daycare. I must sweep 5 times a day!

[frugalmama4]

Thanks you guys give great tips!

I think I will try the table cover under the high chairs (not sure about the big kids table yet). Yea, I will also need to buy more re-usable plates currently have one set per-kid, it would be a lot more helpful to have a set per-meal then I can load them in the dish washer. Also thinking of getting extra cups w/lids that way I can per-fill them in the morning "it's usually milk or oj for breakfast, then juice for lunch and water for snacks and in between" so anything to stay out the kitchen sink at this point

now the sweeping, I have the swifter wet jet and dry brush but the refills are so much $$$ (will need to get my coupon binder out..asap)!

Do you guys mop every day? I hate to mop? I guess I will need to beg da hubby with Thanks so much...you guys ROCK!

[AmyLeigh]

Thanks you guys give great tips!

now the sweeping, I have the swifter wet jet and dry brush but the refills are so much $$$ (will need to get my coupon binder out..asap)!

Do you guys mop every day? I hate to mop? I guess I will need to beg da hubby with Thanks so much...you guys ROCK!

I think it is Libman that makes a mop similar to the wet jet, but with a container you can fill with your own cleaning solution and a machine washable micro fiber cloth.
I sweep several times a day, but wet jet 2x a week and mop 1x a week (actually, hubs does that on Saturdays happyface).

[Heidi]

I am just transitioning from plastic plates to stoneware for everyone, and open cups (little espresso mugs).

After reading that article about french children, I was really motivated to step it up a notch. We already eat at the table together, but now we are working on using utensils properly, using "real" plates, and serving themselves.

One of my twins (18months) was really being a "big boy" at lunch today. I helped him serve himself 2nds of vegies, then turned away to help someone, leaving the bowl in his reach accidently. When I turned back, he'd eaten all his, and was helping himself to another scoop. So cute! I got lucky, though...

Because I just went to breakable plates, I put an older but large area rug under my dinning table. If someone drops something, it won't shatter then. After my shih tzu does his cleanup routine, there's not really even anything to vacuum! Of course, I do, anyway. I'll probably have to buy a rug shampooer, though...

[Meeko]

I think it is Libman that makes a mop similar to the wet jet, but with a container you can fill with your own cleaning solution and a machine washable micro fiber cloth.
I sweep several times a day, but wet jet 2x a week and mop 1x a week (actually, hubs does that on Saturdays happyface).

I have one of these too! Love it!

[mac60]

I use kids plastic ware from IKEA, plates, bowls, cups, plastic silverware. It is the preschoolers who make the mess here. Usually looks like I just slopped the hogs when they are done. Those in highchairs that throw their food, they get a bite or two at a time, and only food that keeps the mess at bay. Once they learn to eat without throwing, they can get applesauce, corn, in servings vs spoonful.

Corelle, I don't know if any of you ever had a Corelle dish shatter on you, but that is probably one of the worst type of dishes to use for daycare. The other day a Corelle cereal bowl fell from counter and landed on the throw rug in front of the sink....it shattered into hundreds of pieces and they shattered over 8 feet away. I was thankful the dc kids were not here at the time, or that my dogs were not in the kitchen at the time. They are deadly, just like shrapnel.

[Heidi]

I use kids plastic ware from IKEA, plates, bowls, cups, plastic silverware. It is the preschoolers who make the mess here. Usually looks like I just slopped the hogs when they are done. Those in highchairs that throw their food, they get a bite or two at a time, and only food that keeps the mess at bay. Once they learn to eat without throwing, they can get applesauce, corn, in servings vs spoonful.

Corelle, I don't know if any of you ever had a Corelle dish shatter on you, but that is probably one of the worst type of dishes to use for daycare. The other day a Corelle cereal bowl fell from counter and landed on the throw rug in front of the sink....it shattered into hundreds of pieces and they shattered over 8 feet away. I was thankful the dc kids were not here at the time, or that my dogs were not in the kitchen at the time. They are deadly, just like shrapnel.

Yes! My sister has Corelle, and it doesn't usually break, but when it does, it's freaky!