Meal Delivery?

[daycarediva]

Does anyone use a service or know of someone that does? Is it even possible for home child care?

I would need only lunches and only 6 per day, but if I was able to get it delivered and then just reheat it would save me SOOOOO much time!

[Country Kids]

I have never heard of anything like this. I bet though it would cost alot to have food delivered every single day!

Are you getting burnt out on making lunches/snacks?

[daycarediva]

It is the behavior of the kids during that time that makes it almost impossible. I precook EVERYTHING and just have to put it on plates, but that alone took me 30 minutes today. Yesterday was worse.


I spend a small fortune (twice my mortgage payment) on food per month, I do all organic, whole grain, etc. And I'm not even sure why as most of my parents don't care and most of the food goes in the trash.

[frugalmama4]

Yea that would make life great!

What I do...well what da hubyy does...

He cooks for the entire week on Sundays (sometimes Saturdays) everything goes into storage containers (freeze if needed). All I have to do is re-heat and add fruit and bread to the dish. DONE!

Some meals would be-
Chicken and corn casserole (main dish and veggie's in one)
Tuna and carrot casserole
spaghetti (the noddles are frozen in a zip-lock bag) I just re-heat the meat & sauce...and a salad (per-made from our families dinner the night before) DONE!
Rice and meatballs w/gravy (rice frozen in a zip-lock bag)

Hope this helps,

oh we also prep snacks...Chex-mix in a large cereal container, cheese bites and pretzels in bags.

[itlw8]

I doubt it would be organic If on the food program the answer is no. And your food budget would triple. If you want to go that route have everyone pack a lunch ready to eat and you serve the milk to go with it.

Why does it take 30 minutes to get a precooked meal on the table ? What are you fixing?

give the kids jobs to do. one put the plates out, one the forks, one the cups, rotate the jobs. Put older kids in charge of helping a little when they both go to wash. Then a designated place like a rug to go sit when they are done. They quiet child gets to pick a seat first.

If everything is cooked we have the table set, everyone washed and ready to sit in under 5 minutes.
as far as the cooking most things do that on their own I just stick it in the oven or microwave.

[littlemissmuffet]

It is the behavior of the kids during that time that makes it almost impossible. I precook EVERYTHING and just have to put it on plates, but that alone took me 30 minutes today. Yesterday was worse.


I spend a small fortune (twice my mortgage payment) on food per month, I do all organic, whole grain, etc. And I'm not even sure why as most of my parents don't care and most of the food goes in the trash.

How is it taking 30 minutes just to reheat and plate 6 lunches??

We do all whole grains, fresh fruits/veggies, mostly organic as well and I find it doesn't cost much more than other foods. I guess it depends on your area and demand though.

[frugalmama4]

It is the behavior of the kids during that time that makes it almost impossible. I precook EVERYTHING and just have to put it on plates, but that alone took me 30 minutes today. Yesterday was worse.


I spend a small fortune (twice my mortgage payment) on food per month, I do all organic, whole grain, etc. And I'm not even sure why as most of my parents don't care and most of the food goes in the trash.

Oh, I think I replied as you where... I love the whole organic menu...but at the end of the day if the kids are getting junk at home...WHY???drive your self crazy?

You can still provide a healthy meal without it being all organic. Maybe find them a DVd "educational" to watch while you prepare meals.

Good Luck!

[daycarediva]

I do give them jobs. I put plates, cups, napkins and silverware on the table. They throw it, scream, run around the table, go absolutely bonkers.

They are really a great group of kids...until I am out of sight. I cannot see my playroom/table from the kitchen.

I made chicken salad pitas (made it last night) tomato & cucumber salad (made last night) and mango. (just had to dice that)

Today went something like this...
put plates on table, get oldest and my ds to start setting the table. walk to kitchen, get out food. Hear clattering, then crying. walk (ok, run)back to room. ds was shoved down while in a fight over a plate. Sort that out, cuddle ds for a minute. give everyone jobs to GET THEIR OWN STUFF (all organized by color and they all KNOW their colors) walk back to kitchen, stuff pitas (got three done, THREE!) then crying. dcg dropped her fork. HYSTERICAL over this. Walk to kitchen, wash and dry fork, return to dcg. Then dcb pees, IN HIS UNDERWEAR AT THE TABLE. Lunch on hold. Get that cleaned up. rinse and repeat.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Would it be possible for them to sit in the kitchen on the floor with books while you plate their lunches?

When I had a small group that wouldn't listen I would have them sit at the lunch table with books while I plated it. Now, my husband works here so he does that while I do Circle Time.
But, when he isn't here I have them either do puzzles while I plate their lunches or read books at Circle Time or at the tables.

I think it might be cheaper if you had someone deliver traditional food (with nothing organic) daily for lunch. I can't imagine my food bill being even CLOSE to what my mortgage payment is, yet alone doubled and we have 12 children here, myself, my husband, and a teenager!!!

[littlemissmuffet]

I do give them jobs. I put plates, cups, napkins and silverware on the table. They throw it, scream, run around the table, go absolutely bonkers.

They are really a great group of kids...until I am out of sight. I cannot see my playroom/table from the kitchen.

I made chicken salad pitas (made it last night) tomato & cucumber salad (made last night) and mango. (just had to dice that)

Today went something like this...
put plates on table, get oldest and my ds to start setting the table. walk to kitchen, get out food. Hear clattering, then crying. walk (ok, run)back to room. ds was shoved down while in a fight over a plate. Sort that out, cuddle ds for a minute. give everyone jobs to GET THEIR OWN STUFF (all organized by color and they all KNOW their colors) walk back to kitchen, stuff pitas (got three done, THREE!) then crying. dcg dropped her fork. HYSTERICAL over this. Walk to kitchen, wash and dry fork, return to dcg. Then dcb pees, IN HIS UNDERWEAR AT THE TABLE. Lunch on hold. Get that cleaned up. rinse and repeat.

Ugh! That sounds terrible! I am SO lucky that all my kiddos behvae really great when I am prepping meals - then again, they think there is a camera in the playroom that I can see them on even when I'm not right there watching them ::

I think I would stop having them help out. Instead, I would sit them all at the table - each one of them with their own puzzle, book or coloring page to keep them busy for a few minutes while I plated food and see if this helped.

[daycarediva]

I have tried special busy bags, (my group is VERY non-coloring and I am afraid of book ripping if I left the room) puzzles on the floor in the sun room (off of the kitchen/can see them the whole time) to o avail, then they are running back and forth, throwing busy bag pieces or puzzles, etc. I am a no TV daycare but today I was SO CLOSE to popping in a video.

Once or twice a week I can get them dancing with me in the kitchen/sunroom and playing nice, the other days are hellish.

[itlw8]

ok try this get 2 trays put the dishes on one along with the milk'
on the other tray goes the food. take the pitas out unassembled.


everyone washes one at a time then comes and sits on the floor

You ask them one at a time to come get their plates and put them on the table.

While they are doing that you are putting together the pitas.
Then you dish the rest of the food ( the plates are on the table)
call the children one by one to come sit at the table.
Start with the one that is being the best and make a point of saying you are first because you were sitting quietly.

transitions are hard maybe add a song or two. make a routine of it.

[ABCDaycareMN]

ok try this get 2 trays put the dishes on one along with the milk'
on the other tray goes the food. take the pitas out unassembled.


everyone washes one at a time then comes and sits on the floor

You ask them one at a time to come get their plates and put them on the table.

While they are doing that you are putting together the pitas.
Then you dish the rest of the food ( the plates are on the table)
call the children one by one to come sit at the table.
Start with the one that is being the best and make a point of saying you are first because you were sitting quietly.

transitions are hard maybe add a song or two. make a routine of it.

I really like this idea. Also you could try daily helpers. I child helps set up. Directs to wash hands. Tells others where to sit...

Also would help with leadership skills.

[littlemissmuffet]

I have tried special busy bags, (my group is VERY non-coloring and I am afraid of book ripping if I left the room) puzzles on the floor in the sun room (off of the kitchen/can see them the whole time) to o avail, then they are running back and forth, throwing busy bag pieces or puzzles, etc. I am a no TV daycare but today I was SO CLOSE to popping in a video.

Once or twice a week I can get them dancing with me in the kitchen/sunroom and playing nice, the other days are hellish.

I am also a no tv daycare, but in your case (I need meal times to be as stress-free as possible) I would turn it on for the 10-15 minutes it takes to warm/plate food!

[littlemissmuffet]

I have tried special busy bags, (my group is VERY non-coloring and I am afraid of book ripping if I left the room) puzzles on the floor in the sun room (off of the kitchen/can see them the whole time) to o avail, then they are running back and forth, throwing busy bag pieces or puzzles, etc. I am a no TV daycare but today I was SO CLOSE to popping in a video.

Once or twice a week I can get them dancing with me in the kitchen/sunroom and playing nice, the other days are hellish.

I am also a no tv daycare, but in your case (I need meal times to be as stress-free as possible) I would turn it on for the 10-15 minutes it takes to warm/plate food!