Do You Think I Did Something Wrong...My Husband Thinks So

[daycare]

okay I said that today they only sent one treat.....

but then at the end of the day I saw a giant box of candy in her diaper bag. The kind you get at the movie theater. They know that candy will NOT be given here. Maybe they just use it to bribe her during the car ride to and from but still, that was a huge box of candy!

ugh.........I hate candy..............Really I do.....

[Crystal]

I think you are well within your rights to enforce your policy. I am a little taken aback by the responses here regarding you being wrong in dictating what is and is not acceptable lunch foods.

To those of you who say she should not dictate what is in the lunch.....if the child brought an ice cream, would you let her eat it in front of the other kids ( especially YOUR kid)? If the situation was another child in care having a food allergy, to say, peanuts and the parents continuously sent in peanuts in this child's lunch....going against policy and putting another child at risk, would you say the provider has no right to dictate what is brought in the meal? Would THAT be okay for the parent to disregard? If the child brought in nothing BUT junk food, would you say the provider should still feed it to her and not attempt to enforce her policy?

Bottom line here is the parents are not following policy. I highly doubt ONE SINGLE PROVIDER here would appreciate a parent not following any policy you have, so why should it be any different for this provider?

Keep doing what you're doing. Although I would confront the issue. I would tell them I do not appreciate them disregarding a policy we have covered on more than one occassion and to NOT let it happen again.

[saved4always]

okay I said that today they only sent one treat.....

but then at the end of the day I saw a giant box of candy in her diaper bag. The kind you get at the movie theater. They know that candy will NOT be given here. Maybe they just use it to bribe her during the car ride to and from but still, that was a huge box of candy!

I would just assume that the candy is just left over from the weekend when they went to the movies. Some of the children I have watched have had things in their diaper bags that were probably not meant for me because they used the bag themselves when it was not at my house.

[daycare]

lovethis



SORRY THIS WAS IN REGARDS TO CRYSTALS POST!!!!!!

[LittleD]

IMO I think your are in the right!

Little Debbies is not a snack, it's a treat!

No chocolate/candy garbage!

If you (the parents) want your kids to have treats, feed it to them yourself at home!

I wouldn't allow it either, if they had to bring lunches!

[Candyland]

http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/Th...960659&k=xSuiV Maybe show them a link like this, and they will see some new ideas.

happyface Ooooohhh - these look great! Anyone use these??

[cheerfuldom]

I think you are well within your rights to enforce your policy. I am a little taken aback by the responses here regarding you being wrong in dictating what is and is not acceptable lunch foods.

To those of you who say she should not dictate what is in the lunch.....if the child brought an ice cream, would you let her eat it in front of the other kids ( especially YOUR kid)? If the situation was another child in care having a food allergy, to say, peanuts and the parents continuously sent in peanuts in this child's lunch....going against policy and putting another child at risk, would you say the provider has no right to dictate what is brought in the meal? Would THAT be okay for the parent to disregard? If the child brought in nothing BUT junk food, would you say the provider should still feed it to her and not attempt to enforce her policy?

Bottom line here is the parents are not following policy. I highly doubt ONE SINGLE PROVIDER here would appreciate a parent not following any policy you have, so why should it be any different for this provider?

Keep doing what you're doing. Although I would confront the issue. I would tell them I do not appreciate them disregarding a policy we have covered on more than one occassion and to NOT let it happen again.

Thank you!

I was surprised at some of the responses too but its okay if we disagree. This post has not changed my mind or made me feel that I was in the wrong, even if other providers thought I was.

I am NOT dictating what the parents should feed their child. I AM setting boundaries for what I will and will not serve when the child is in my care. I think that is the big difference that a lot of posters are missing.

[3swirls]

If you are able to afford to offer them better choices, how about you just supply the lunch and have the parents bring in an afternoon snack for the child. That way all the kids can eat the same foods and you can see to it they get the healthiest option?the they can have the junk food later on after nap!

[Kaddidle Care]

http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914291&k=YxmUd

happyface Ooooohhh - these look great! Anyone use these??

Never saw them before but they look similar to one I found and added to our website. I'm going to add that one too.

[CheekyChick]

In my opinion, the only way you can assure a child will eat healthy is to provide lunch. If you require the parents to pack a lunch, you WILL get junk food and juices - regardless of what you've asked of them.

I would put a reminder in the lunch box and leave it at that. If they are going to pack a lunch, they should be able to send what they please.

[Blackcat31]

Thank you!

I was surprised at some of the responses too but its okay if we disagree. This post has not changed my mind or made me feel that I was in the wrong, even if other providers thought I was.

I am NOT dictating what the parents should feed their child. I AM setting boundaries for what I will and will not serve when the child is in my care. I think that is the big difference that a lot of posters are missing.

Cheer, can I ask you what exactly is said to parents that are interviewing in regards to lunches and what types of foods are sent?

What is the wording you use? Are you actually giving a specific list of things they cannot send or are you simply saying "no junk food"?

I really think this may be where the confusion lies. If you want to set boundaries for what types of food is allowed and not allowed, I almost think it needs to literally be spelled out as I have several families who I know think Little Debbies are ok as a bread/grain component.....or that fruit snacks made from 100% juice concentrate is part of the fruit/veggie group....kwim?

I don't think providers are mis-understanding what the situation is but more that you parents might be mis-interpreting what is and isn't ok to send. I may be wrong but I was just curious as to what the wording is you use or have in print that outlines your lunch rules.

[familyschoolcare]

OP I am confussed so you do not even supply watter?

[daycare]

Cheer, can I ask you what exactly is said to parents that are interviewing in regards to lunches and what types of foods are sent?

What is the wording you use? Are you actually giving a specific list of things they cannot send or are you simply saying "no junk food"?

I really think this may be where the confusion lies. If you want to set boundaries for what types of food is allowed and not allowed, I almost think it needs to literally be spelled out as I have several families who I know think Little Debbies are ok as a bread/grain component.....or that fruit snacks made from 100% juice concentrate is part of the fruit/veggie group....kwim?

I don't think providers are mis-understanding what the situation is but more that you parents might be mis-interpreting what is and isn't ok to send. I may be wrong but I was just curious as to what the wording is you use or have in print that outlines your lunch rules.

BC this is a very good point....
I have families that think that if you just get the apples instead of the fries in a happy meal that it is ok to eat at MC Donalds every day.

OP- Maybe you can create a list of items they can or CAN NOT send their child. Years ago when I did not have the food program, I used to have a list of items that they could bring. Most of the parents did follow it, some did not.

NOt that you want to do it, but I think that unless you provide your own food, you are always going to get someone NOT following the food request. Which could be for many reasons. Money being one of them.

When I was coaching sports, I made a list of items that I wanted families to take turns bringing for snack at the games. Often I family would bring these fruit drink boxes that contained 42 grams of sugar. WOW!! So I asked the family why would you buy those? They said, well we always buy whatever is cheapest. I just grinned and realized that maybe they could not afford the healthier options........

[SilverSabre25]

To cut down on at least part of the problem, how about you have the parents send just the food and you supply the drinks--cups of water, all around! That eliminates the drink problem.

Could you give a sample formula for the lunches, such as, "Your child's packed lunch should contain healthful options such as fresh fruit, fresh veggies, a sandwich on whole grain bread, a meat/cheese/yogurt/other protein. Any high-sugar items/treats are highly discouraged and will only be given after all other components are finished." You could add that, "This recommendation is based on the federal food program guidelines for children's meals." If you don't want to offer water with the meal, then include a line about them needing to include a bottle/thermos of water or milk."

You could also say, "Children's lunches should be healthy and well-rounded, including at minimum, two servings of fruit/veggies, one of a grain product (such as whole grain bread, crackers, pretzels, etc) , and one of a protein product (such as meat, cheese, yogurt, nuts, beans, etc)."

You could always have the ingredients for a healthy lunch on hand (peanut butter, jelly, whole grain bread, string cheese, apples, carrots) and if the lunch they send is not acceptable then you provide the lunch for $5 a pop and send the uneaten lunch home.

[cheerfuldom]

If you are able to afford to offer them better choices, how about you just supply the lunch and have the parents bring in an afternoon snack for the child. That way all the kids can eat the same foods and you can see to it they get the healthiest option?the they can have the junk food later on after nap!

I cant afford to provide lunch. I have open spots right now and it is very hard to find replacements. Down the road, I will be able to provide lunch with the help of the food program!