Food Program Inspection Cost Me

[daycare]

I've talked to some providers in my area and we wish they would let us do the old paper version. It actually seemed to take less time and just seemed overall easier!

no way Jose, it takes me about 5 min to enter all of my meals for the whole day...I sit and do it as they are eating breakfast...If I need to make any changes, I do it at the last meal of the day

[Country Kids]

What I hate is all the paperwork that we have to print off at the end of the month. Even trying to double check it all is hard. It so jumbled and hard to follow! I hate the end of the month because of that-

[daycare]

What I hate is all the paperwork that we have to print off at the end of the month. Even trying to double check it all is hard. It so jumbled and hard to follow! I hate the end of the month because of that-

guess we are lucky there....we used to have to do that, but last year they stopped all of the mail in paper work each month. Now the only thing that we have to mail in is when we enroll a new child.

[itlw8]

I am glad Missouri is online It is so much faster and saves me tons of money on stamps. I thought it was a fed requirement that everything had to be posted before midnight.


Yes a few times I forgot to put it in but I never get caught a week behind... and yes that hurts been there done that.

[Blackcat31]

What I hate is all the paperwork that we have to print off at the end of the month. Even trying to double check it all is hard. It so jumbled and hard to follow! I hate the end of the month because of that-

We can choose either route. We can do the computer version or paper version. The choice is up to us.

What do you have to print off each month?

I do all my record keeping online and submit everthing electronically so I print nothing out at the end of the month. I can even check on my claim and payments online.

[Country Kids]

Its the whole menu part that shows what you served and who you served it to. We don't have to print it off but........it has helped several providers in our area when there was a issue between food program and provider.

[Heidi]

That was why I quit the food program.

I had a monitor (my kids called her Stupid S******) that always showed up the minute I put the baby to sleep, yes my paperwork was kept in my bedroom. She showed up one time just after my dh fell asleep after being up all night with the flu. I would lose the whole month's payment because I couldn't go into my room to get the paperwork without waking someone up. (Yes, it was my fault for refusing to go into my room.) She would ask each of the kids their names several times. I guess she wanted to make sure the 9 yo knew who he was. She would ask the kids what they had for breakfast, lunch, and snacks the day before along with what they ate that day. I mean she even asked while the kids were at the table eating and she could see what they had on their plates. It always seemed like she was trying to catch me lying. I asked for a new monitor and they said she was the only one that served my area. OK, cancel me.

My first food program was WONDERFUL. They were out of Fallbrook, Rainbow Bridge, I think. The ladies were soooooo informative. One time they even brought out the monthly calendar from Red Leaf and showed me how to use to it my advantage. They always had info of some sort, articles written by Tom, catalogs for Red Leaf, etc. They had recipes to try out with the kids.

IF I could find someone like that again, I MIGHT consider rejoining.

We get that calendar every year from our food program-have been since the beginning of time. I love it!

[Lucy]

I'd love the extra money, but that food program irked me. She would show up and if I didn't have something written, I didn't get paid for the whole day that it occurred on. This was back when it was all hand written and mailed in to them. I **** at paper work, so I would write it every few days when I remembered. Well, she came on, let's say, the 10th of the month, and I hadn't written ANYTHING yet. Therefore, I don't get paid for the 1st through the 10th. Ouch. But that wasn't the worst.... I watched my sister's kids, and I liked to keep a copy for myself, so one time, on the last weekday of the month, I pre-wrote that day's meals in, and sent it with sis to make a photocopy at work. Well, wouldn't you know... the lady showed up that day. I felt so stupid saying I sent the sheet with sis to work. I'm sure she thought I was lying. I offered to let her call my sister and have her fax it in, but she said no, the rules are I have to have it HOME and filled out ready to look at with no notice. Needless to say, I did not get paid for that WHOLE month!! I hated the paperwork anyway, and I had gotten "caught" at least those two times that I remember, so I just quit. Thinking about starting it up again. Is it easier now? You can submit it online? Do they still do the random visits? What is the training like? I remember she just came out and showed me stuff for 30 min or so. No classes or anything. This was 15 yrs ago or so when I was on it! Sorry for the run-on paragraph!! LOL

[WImom]

Ok...do you want the silver lining?

In our state, they could claim you are committing fraud (your attendance records don't match your food program claim), kick you out of the food program, and then, because you've been kicked out of the FP, you will loose your license....and no, I am NOT exaggerating!

Count your blessings....and smack yourself up side the head...::::

The one thing that is good about knowing just how strict my state can be is that I never let myself forget. No more playing catch up at the end of the week like I used to.

Was just thinking about signing up for the food program but was on the fence. Was signed up about 5 years ago but didn't like filling out all the forms by hand. Now I see they are electronic so was considering. That helped me with my answer. I don't want to deal with that.

[MyAngels]

I'd love the extra money, but that food program irked me. She would show up and if I didn't have something written, I didn't get paid for the whole day that it occurred on. This was back when it was all hand written and mailed in to them. I **** at paper work, so I would write it every few days when I remembered. Well, she came on, let's say, the 10th of the month, and I hadn't written ANYTHING yet. Therefore, I don't get paid for the 1st through the 10th. Ouch. But that wasn't the worst.... I watched my sister's kids, and I liked to keep a copy for myself, so one time, on the last weekday of the month, I pre-wrote that day's meals in, and sent it with sis to make a photocopy at work. Well, wouldn't you know... the lady showed up that day. I felt so stupid saying I sent the sheet with sis to work. I'm sure she thought I was lying. I offered to let her call my sister and have her fax it in, but she said no, the rules are I have to have it HOME and filled out ready to look at with no notice. Needless to say, I did not get paid for that WHOLE month!! I hated the paperwork anyway, and I had gotten "caught" at least those two times that I remember, so I just quit. Thinking about starting it up again. Is it easier now? You can submit it online? Do they still do the random visits? What is the training like? I remember she just came out and showed me stuff for 30 min or so. No classes or anything. This was 15 yrs ago or so when I was on it! Sorry for the run-on paragraph!! LOL

Are you in Illinois? If so, you should try the Association for Child Development as a sponsor. That's who I've always used and they are easy to get along with. They still do unannounced visits a couple of times a year, but I always have a pretty good idea of when they're coming based on their last visit. I do all my planning and recordkeeping online, and you do have to keep up with it, but it's not hard at all. I pre-plan the days meals and then just enter attendance after the last snack of the day for all meals that day.

[Lucy]

Are you in Illinois?

No, I'm not. Thanks for the info though. I may check into it again. The money is nice, but I hate all the paperwork and visits.