How Do You Serve Meals?...Advice Pls

[DCMom]

I serve family style; I go around the table with firsts then I put the bowls/platters on the table and the kids serve themselves seconds. I use Corelle 7" salad plates and the 4oz plastic juice tumblers from one of the supply catalogs. Regular sized forks and spoons. 30 of each, so enough for the day then run the dishwasher while I am making dinner.

I will occasionally use paper cups and plates, usually on Fridays.

I have two Shihtzu's, so keeping the floor clean isn't a problem ::

[DCMom]

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.

Interesting. I have used my set of Corelle for over 20 years and have never had a dish break like that.

[bice99]

My kids do use "real" utensils once they are old enough. Plastic ones just don't work well for much.

[MarinaVanessa]

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 spot mop everyday and then mop well once a week. I have a swiffer also but I don't waste my money on the refills. I buy white terry cloths (can get them from any home improvement store) and use that instead of buying the refills. Then I fill a spray bottle with floor cleaner/water solution, spray the floor then spot mop it with the swiffer/terry cloth mop. At the end of the week I do the same thing but do the whole floor at once and use a scrub brush for the stuff that sticks real good to the floor (if needed, but usually it's not).

PS: I notices your name. I'm frugal too, another money saving tip that I like to use for the dishwasher is using white vinigar instead of a drying agent. It works just as well and cost much MUCH less $$$. It also cleans food and water deposits from your dishwasher. Our old dishwasher was almost 10 years and the inside still looked brand new. We were able to sell it for $200 and when we bought a new $one when we redid our kitchen because the old one was in such good condition.

[frugalmama4]

I spot mop everyday and then mop well once a week. I have a swiffer also but I don't waste my money on the refills. I buy white terry cloths (can get them from any home improvement store) and use that instead of buying the refills. Then I fill a spray bottle with floor cleaner/water solution, spray the floor then spot mop it with the swiffer/terry cloth mop. At the end of the week I do the same thing but do the whole floor at once and use a scrub brush for the stuff that sticks real good to the floor (if needed, but usually it's not).

PS: I notices your name. I'm frugal too, another money saving tip that I like to use for the dishwasher is using white vinigar instead of a drying agent. It works just as well and cost much MUCH less $$$. It also cleans food and water deposits from your dishwasher. Our old dishwasher was almost 10 years and the inside still looked brand new. We were able to sell it for $200 and when we bought a new $one when we redid our kitchen because the old one was in such good condition.

Thanks for the tip "terry cloths" who-new will have to pick some up. Thx

[daycare]

Thanks for the tip "terry cloths" who-new will have to pick some up. Thx

I don't have a mop I have a scrub brush on a nice pole. I spray the floor with bleach, scrub it and then use old big towel to wipe up. The scrub brush cost $16.99 3 years ago at home depot!!!

[saved4always]

I spot mop everyday and then mop well once a week. I have a swiffer also but I don't waste my money on the refills. I buy white terry cloths (can get them from any home improvement store) and use that instead of buying the refills. Then I fill a spray bottle with floor cleaner/water solution, spray the floor then spot mop it with the swiffer/terry cloth mop. At the end of the week I do the same thing but do the whole floor at once and use a scrub brush for the stuff that sticks real good to the floor (if needed, but usually it's not).

PS: I notices your name. I'm frugal too, another money saving tip that I like to use for the dishwasher is using white vinigar instead of a drying agent. It works just as well and cost much MUCH less $$$. It also cleans food and water deposits from your dishwasher. Our old dishwasher was almost 10 years and the inside still looked brand new. We were able to sell it for $200 and when we bought a new $one when we redid our kitchen because the old one was in such good condition.

Wow...I didn't know you could use vinegar instead of Jet Dry...that stuff is so pricey! I am going to have to try the vinegar! happyface

[Jewels]

I use plastic plates, real silverware, I have a dog, and that helps immensly with floor clean up, when my husband goes hunting and steals the dog, I can;t believe the floors, so thankful I have him to help me! I do however use paper plates/ bowls and paper cups for afternoon snack, I buy the huge bags at costco, and I get the little plates and bowls (foam is much cheaper, but foam is horrible for the environment so I wont use that) So after lunch time, everything goes in the dishwasher, and then for snack, it all tossable, its a little extra waste, but makes my life so much easier after lunch, so theres nothing else that needs washing, and it works well for training the little ones to drink from normal cups, I just have them filled with a little water, And its nice, I have them all within the kids reach, so the kids are all responsible everyday for making sure everyone has waters( the 13 month old still gets a sippy) for nap time, and then the kids can all throw everyhting away after.

[Jewels]

duplicate post

[christinaskids]

I have little plastic trays that i use for meals and for cups i use those squiggly straw cups. Each child has their own and uses it all day and the little ones have sippies they use all day. My dog helps a ton with the crumbs but i usually have to sweep after snack.

[jojosmommy]

I use paper plates, small paper cups from sams club and real silverware. It costs me less than 20 a year to do that. We have a water restriction where I live so if you use more than the standard allotment per household it costs mucho bucks. 1 dishwasher run per day already sets me past the allotment so there is no way I will do any more dishes than I already do.

For clean up, I use my dog first, a hand held small vac after every meal and mop with my swiffer as needed (about 1-2x a week).

[TBird]

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.

What stuff do you use from IKEA??? I just came from there and bought some forks & spoons and some bowls. I use their smocks, cubbies, & storage bins. What am I missing???

[KDC]

zoo pals silverware... re-usable

http://zoopals.pactiv.com/ZPFuntensils/

These zoo pal forks are about $3 for 24pk (mixed forks, spoons, knifes & spreaders) ... they can be put in the dishwasher and work really well for little hands =) I use the ikea bowls and plates.