DCPs Providing Food?

**sahm1225** · 03-14-2013, 06:49 PM

I have one family that sends food for dcb. He has allergies and (according to parents) a picky eater. I serve him his food and usually supplement with our food. I think the parents enjoy making his meals and they send me tons of food for him (all healthy) so I don't mind.

**mamac** · 03-14-2013, 06:50 PM

Originally posted by sahm1225

I have one family that sends food for dcb. He has allergies and (according to parents) a picky eater. I serve him his food and usually supplement with our food. I think the parents enjoy making his meals and they send me tons of food for him (all healthy) so I don't mind.

I was adding info when you posted- Does that mean if you supplement you can still claim the meal?

**Francine** · 03-14-2013, 06:54 PM

Personally with the group that I have right now I would love it if ALL of the parents would bring lunch. I don't care about breakfast and snacks but lunch I might just as well make most days and then just throw it in the trash unless it is chicken nuggets or PB&J. Right now I have my parents bring me snacks every week, I have been thinking seriously about changing my policy to say that I will provide all snacks and require them to bring lunch. I am tired of throwing away food!

**mema** · 03-14-2013, 06:55 PM

You can't claim it if they bring it unless it is a baby and breastmilk. I don't have any that bring their own. I think the only way I would allow it was if there was an allergy that I couldn't accommadate. Not sure what that would be tho. If you do, I would make sure you set some boundaries. Like it needs to be cooked and ready for you to just reheat if you are willing. I wouldn't want them to bring in a box of noodles and say, here, cook this.

**butterfly** · 03-14-2013, 06:57 PM

I've never allowed parents to bring their own food. I think it would cause too many issues with other children wanting what they have, whining, etc. It's easier for me to supply it all and try to meet special diet requests for allergies, etc. I'm on the food program too.

**MissAnn** · 03-14-2013, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by mamac

Has anyone dealt with a dcp that wants to provide their child's food for the dck? I am currently licensed but not ready to open but I got my first call yesterday from someone looking for child care. After telling her that I was enrolled with the food program she asked if she could provide the food for her child. I didn't ask, but she didn't mention any allergy issues.

Does anyone allow that? Does it become an inconvenience or an issue? I was so unprepared for this phone call!

Also- I'm assuming that if they provide the food, I can't claim them on the food program, correct?

I have a child with gluten and dairy intolerances in my program. According to the food program I must supply her food. If the mom supplies the food I would have her give me receipts and I would have to reimburse her for that amount. Or I could just not have her child enrolled in the program and the mom would supply all the food.

**MissAnn** · 03-14-2013, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by mamac

Has anyone dealt with a dcp that wants to provide their child's food for the dck? I am currently licensed but not ready to open but I got my first call yesterday from someone looking for child care. After telling her that I was enrolled with the food program she asked if she could provide the food for her child. I didn't ask, but she didn't mention any allergy issues.

Does anyone allow that? Does it become an inconvenience or an issue? I was so unprepared for this phone call!

Also- I'm assuming that if they provide the food, I can't claim them on the food program, correct?

I have a child with gluten and dairy intolerances in my program. According to the food program I must supply her food. If the mom supplies the food I would have her give me receipts and I would have to reimburse her for that amount. Or I could just not have her child enrolled in the program and the mom would supply all the food.

**Starburst** · 03-14-2013, 07:18 PM

I would just let her know the foods you offer and let her know that if you did let her bring food you don't allow nuts/peanutbutter (some kids are allergic to just the smell of it) or junk food like candy, cookies, macdonalds(or else other kids in your program will start making a big deal about it)

**frgsonmysox** · 03-14-2013, 07:26 PM

One of my parents supplies their own, but also pays me for feeding their child. He said his daughter eats so much that he'd rather help me out,

. It's not a huge deal. She basically eats the lunch her dad provides and I feed her everything else.

**Texasjeepgirl** · 03-14-2013, 07:40 PM

I actually had this happen.. summer before last..
Mom was single..
She requested to provide daycare boy's food..
She preferred him to eat.. from scratch.. no gluten.. low or no sugar...
organic...
I allowed.. and yes.. it was a slight distraction for the other kids.. they would always ask what he was having.. But.. as time went on..
I asked a ton of questions.. and I supplemented with her permission.....
I saw the types of things that she brought for him...and I purchased similar items.. if not the same..
it wasn't that much of a stretch most of the time...
if it was.. I wouldn't have done it..
and...
it really expanded the items I served..
I would wait till he arrived (she was a school teacher)...
then I'd check his bag.. see what he had for the day.. and try to serve same.. or similar items... it worked fine.. and.. I gained several new recipes from the experience...

**MNMum** · 03-14-2013, 07:52 PM

I had a vegetarian family that interviewed. They said they would provide the child's food if necessary.

**Sugar Magnolia** · 03-15-2013, 03:28 AM

My parents provide their child's lunch, 100 percent! Easy easy easy as pie. Love it!

**NeedaVaca** · 03-15-2013, 04:50 AM

I think I would consider it for allergies but otherwise it would cause problems for me. I get everything ready for meals quickly with an almost assembly line approach! Doing different for all my kids would take a lot longer. I would be concerned about bringing "junk" and the other DCK's wanting it...

I would ask the mom why! Maybe she just thinks he's a picky eater. If that's the case I can't count the number of times parents say that but my kids eat everything I serve and LOVE it

**itlw8** · 03-15-2013, 05:34 AM

depends on the reason allergies then yes I have a friend that is a Celiac any gluten can cause problems.

If that is a problem you also need to be aware playdough and many art materieals have gluten in them.

Picky eater and sending junk... nope

my kids learn fast when child has an allergy so I think if they were told why they would not whine about what someone else has.

I had severe milk allergies as a child. Mother would send my snack to preschool. I remember her bringing my special icecream to a party in a fancy dish

DCPs Providing Food?

DCPs Providing Food?

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