Parents Bringing Lunch

[Nellie]

You may have parents sending stuff that has to be made. Be prepared for a box of macaroni and cheese and a parent saying that's what Billy eats for lunch or wants for lunch.

LOL. If it didn't happen to me, I wouldn't ever think of any one doing it. I provide meals, but one time I had a parent on the child's first day send a box of Mac and Cheese, 1/2 a stick of butter, and 2 inches of milk in a gallon container.

[renodeb]

I tend to agree with others, I think it will be easier to provide lunch, just make sure your tuition covers it. I think there are to many pitfalls other wise. Most likely parents are going to pack what is quick/easy and it may not be within your guidlines.
Debbie

[kendallina]

Didn't they do a study not too long ago about how lunches reached unsafe temperatures in spite of cold packs being included? I think I'd get a cooler or something like that to place by the door so that they'd stay as cool as possible until lunch time.

Ok, maybe I should do more research about ice packs...I'll try to find that study.

[Blackcat31]

Ok, maybe I should do more research about ice packs...I'll try to find that study.

Here is some good info on that: http://blog.chron.com/momhouston/201...-temperatures/

[kendallina]

My dcks bring their lunches and I out what needs to be cold in a mini fridge and other things on a shelf. What I want to know is...how did you swing enough kids who want short "preschool" days to pay off?! I would love to do that! Then I wouldnt be looking for a job!

Oh that's a good idea. So do you have parents make sure they label each baggie/container with the child's name? That might work....

Most of my families have either a stay at home mom (or dad) or a grandma that provides the child care, so they come pick up when the program is done. It's just like a regular 3-hour a day preschool, if the parents want it enough for their kids they'll make it work. I'm fortunate to live in a pretty well-off community that has a lot of stay at home parents who really want preschool for their kiddos .

[kendallina]

LOL. If it didn't happen to me, I wouldn't ever think of any one doing it. I provide meals, but one time I had a parent on the child's first day send a box of Mac and Cheese, 1/2 a stick of butter, and 2 inches of milk in a gallon container.

Lol...that's crazy! What are these parents thinking??

[kendallina]

I tend to agree with others, I think it will be easier to provide lunch, just make sure your tuition covers it. I think there are to many pitfalls other wise. Most likely parents are going to pack what is quick/easy and it may not be within your guidlines.
Debbie

If I was doing full-day care, I would do this. But, my day with the kids is short I don't think parents would pay for me to cook while their kids hang out in my livingroom. And, I really don't like to cook... .

[kendallina]

Here is some good info on that: http://blog.chron.com/momhouston/201...-temperatures/

Thank you.

I'm not necessarily worried about the ice packs not keeping stuff cold 'enough', but I don't want it hanging over my head, either. Perhaps I will do as PP suggested and just take out the stuff that has to be cold and put it in a plastic box or something in my fridge.

This is all very helpful, thank you everyone!

[kendallina]

if a child forgets their lunch I would be prepared to offer, say, a PB&J, apple/orange/banana, and carrot sticks, at a cost of $2.

Yup, that sounds great, Silver. Thanks!

[Hunni Bee]

Will you have any guidelines about what should be in the lunch? I know that's probably not something to be interfering with, but it may affect how the kids behave if they will eat in the middle of the 5-hour day.

We provide 3 squares, but on the odd occasion we go on a long field trip and the kids need a packed lunch, we get quite a few parents who send crappy lunches (soda/koolaid, candy, a million junk snacks) and the kids get really hyper then they crash.

Maybe include that lunches should include a grain, a protein, a fruit/veggie and a non-junk snack (granola bar, fruit leather, etc.)?

[SunshineMama]

I really like Silver's suggestion of providing a forgotten lunch for $2.00. Make sure that youy put that in your contract somewhere, because it will happen at some point.

Just a thought-but what if each parent had their own day to bring lunches for the whole group? The responsibility will encourage better meal choices, and the parents only have to remember lunch for 1 day.

If you dont like that idea, mayne write them a letter explaining what they need to do:

Dear Parents,

I am so excited to be expanding our preschool program to include lunch! To make things easier on everyone, I have provided some general guidelines to follow:

Lunches need to be healthy and well rounded. A serving of a fruit and/or vegetable, a protein, and a carbohydrate make excellent choices.

Please be sure to pack a cold pack with your child's lunch if items need to be refrigerated, as I will not be able to accommodate everyone's lunchbox in my refrrigerator.

Please do not send foods that need to be reheated.

I have made a list of some common foods that kids enjoy:

PB&J
Hummus and Pita Bread Sandwiches
Cheese Sandwiches
Pretzels
Applesauce
String Cheese
Cut up fruit (Please remember to cut grapes, etc to prevent choking)
Baby Carrots
Yogurt (If you freeze a Gogurt squeeze it will stay fresh until lunchtime)

etc.... You could even go as far as to look up fun kids lunches on pinterest and compose a whole little booklet on fun healthy foods.

[Crazy8]

I have had my dck's bring their lunches for the last 11 years - never had an issue of anyone forgetting, or of kids wanting what others have, or of anyone bringing a BOX of mac n' cheese, etc. All these issues I always read about on here - I have never experienced a single one. Occassionally I'll get a parent who throws candy or something in the lunchbox and I just send it home in the lunch box.
I only have 5 kids - so they come in with lunchboxes and anything that needs to stay cold goes in the fridge, the rest goes in a basket on top of my microwave. I will heat up foods, but I do ask that foods come in "ready to eat" - like if you are sending leftover dinner or something it should be cut the way your child eats it. Anything not eaten gets sent home in the lunchbox. I do wash containers if I have time. I don't HAVE to, but if I can I will.

[dEHmom]

at school there is not fridge to store your lunch.

As long as the kids are eating their lunches at lunch time and not 4pm, there is no reason why you should worry about anything spoiling by sitting out.

My children's school doesn't have a microwave, so if I send something, it's room temperature for them by lunch time, and they eat it.

I have kids coming now that i have to heat their lunches. Some days one kid comes with a can of zoodles (often) and guess what? It goes in my cupboard, and I give her a good lunch. But mom is working 2 jobs, doesn't drive, and I realize she has NO time, and the rest of this kids lunch is good and healthy, so I don't say anything.

[dEHmom]

Thank you.

I'm not necessarily worried about the ice packs not keeping stuff cold 'enough', but I don't want it hanging over my head, either. Perhaps I will do as PP suggested and just take out the stuff that has to be cold and put it in a plastic box or something in my fridge.

This is all very helpful, thank you everyone!

are you licensed? or unlicensed?

There is a lot of rules at least where I am, regarding using your fridge for daycare. So check out those rules if you need to. It might be worth your while to get a small bar fridge just for their lunches

[kendallina]

are you licensed? or unlicensed?

There is a lot of rules at least where I am, regarding using your fridge for daycare. So check out those rules if you need to. It might be worth your while to get a small bar fridge just for their lunches

I'm unlicensed (legally), so I don't have to worry about what licensing would say, although I do tend to follow most of their regs anyways (except with the bleach...I just can't stand it!).