Help With The Rising Cost Of Food...

[Soccermom]

first off, THERE IS NO FOOD PROGRAM HERE IN CANADA. Sorry for the caps but it seems that people don't understand no matter how many times its mentioned.
Now, seriously, are you saying that snacks are costing you so much money that you can't afford it. What are you serving the children. A bag of of carrots cost about a dollar, add sum ranch dressing and you can easily feed children for less than 25 cents a snack. I would like to also know then, "what are the parents pay for" when they have to supply food. Sorry, but I find it odd that feeding children is costing people so much money. If its costing you so much, then you need to look at what you buy and where you shop.

A bag of carrots here costs about 2.50$ and a bottle of ranch dressing about
3$. Plus the juice to go with it. Another 2$. That is 7.50$ for one snack. Not to mention lunch and morning snack. You asked if the parents aren't paying for food then what are they paying for well I believe that even if the parents are supplying the food, they are still paying for me to care for their child for 10 hours a day. Not to mention the cost to run the daycare, replacing toys, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, soap, toilet paper.....It is expensive to care for children in your home and it is hard work. I like to know that at the end of the day that I made a reasonable profit. As much as I love the kids I don't want to care for them for free.

[countrymom]

I think you need to shop somewhere else. Because you can get bags of carrots cheap, and ranch dressing is under 2 dollars (buy no name or on sale) and there is no way children would go thru a whole bottle, 1 tblsp. per child is plenty for dipping and you I would give them water for snack. A bottle of juice should easily last you 2 days, unless you are letting them drink to their hearts content and filling their cups all the way to the top. Yesterday I fed 5 kids and for snack they had veggie crackers and waters (they are on a veggie craker kick lately and all they want to do is eat those crackers) 1 box cost me 1.49 from walmart, that was for snack in the morning and at night, and I had school ager come later and even he had enough for after none snack.

[Soccermom]

I think you need to shop somewhere else. Because you can get bags of carrots cheap, and ranch dressing is under 2 dollars (buy no name or on sale) and there is no way children would go thru a whole bottle, 1 tblsp. per child is plenty for dipping and you I would give them water for snack. A bottle of juice should easily last you 2 days, unless you are letting them drink to their hearts content and filling their cups all the way to the top. Yesterday I fed 5 kids and for snack they had veggie crackers and waters (they are on a veggie craker kick lately and all they want to do is eat those crackers) 1 box cost me 1.49 from walmart, that was for snack in the morning and at night, and I had school ager come later and even he had enough for after none snack.

I probably feed them too much. I try to get in a couple of food groups per snack. I guess I do it more for my own kids and then I have to give everyone the same. I will do crackers but I will give them cheese too and some apple juice. I will do apples but add PB for dipping and milk to drink. If there isn't one already we should start a cheap and healthy snack idea thread

[countrymom]

the way I make my own kids eat is that they have to go to their rooms and eat it. this is where I bend the rules, its not fair that my kids don't get to eat what they want when the dck's are here, so if they want something they have to eat it in their rooms. Or I run into where I don't have enough for all the kids, so my kids then go upstairs and eat. Since they have to share everything, I let them eat what they want.

[jojosmommy]

A bag of carrots here costs about 2.50$ and a bottle of ranch dressing about
3$. Plus the juice to go with it. Another 2$. That is 7.50$ for one snack. Not to mention lunch and morning snack. You asked if the parents aren't paying for food then what are they paying for well I believe that even if the parents are supplying the food, they are still paying for me to care for their child for 10 hours a day. Not to mention the cost to run the daycare, replacing toys, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, soap, toilet paper.....It is expensive to care for children in your home and it is hard work. I like to know that at the end of the day that I made a reasonable profit. As much as I love the kids I don't want to care for them for free.

Carrots at my store are .99 and no way would my 7 dck eat a whole bag :confused:, even if it was their "last meal". Buy ranch powder and mix as you use it otherwise the liquid kind is also .99 at my store and the kids hardly use any. Juice? too expensive- don't buy it. I NEVER serve juice here. Most kids are supposed to only get 4-6 oz a day anyway and I would bet my paycheck they get more than that at home daily. Just because they would eat it doesn't mean they need to eat that much.

I would hate it if my dcm asked me to bring snacks. I would never ask my parents to do that. I have food worked into my budget, just raised rates $10 per week to cover rising costs of food, paper supplies, basic cost of living raise.

[littlemissmuffet]

first off, THERE IS NO FOOD PROGRAM HERE IN CANADA. Sorry for the caps but it seems that people don't understand no matter how many times its mentioned.
Now, seriously, are you saying that snacks are costing you so much money that you can't afford it. What are you serving the children. A bag of of carrots cost about a dollar, add sum ranch dressing and you can easily feed children for less than 25 cents a snack. I would like to also know then, "what are the parents pay for" when they have to supply food. Sorry, but I find it odd that feeding children is costing people so much money. If its costing you so much, then you need to look at what you buy and where you shop.

I coupon, buy almost everything on sale and will shop at 10 diffrent stores to get the best deal - and it's still very expensive feeding my kids healhty and nutritious meals... but then again, I knew coming into this business that food would be the bulk of my costs.

I would, however, like to tell you that I think your "what are the parents paying for?" comment was pretty annoying. My parents pay for my TIME... which by the way, ends up only being a few bucks an hour - not nearly enough, but it is what it is. LOL, food is just a bonus for them, not to mention all the extras I pay for out of my own pocket. ::