DCPs Providing Food?

[hope]

I don't allow parents to bring their own food. If they have allergies than I provide an allergy free meal. I am worried that if parents supply than they will bring in candy and chips. It is very hard to have all the kids to eat properly to begin with. Can't imagine what it would be like if lil Johnny was eating doritos while the rest were eating carrot sticks!

[BumbleBee]

I have a parent who supplies all food for her child. I simply did not enroll the child in the food program (I asked my sponser first).

[Willow]

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?

If you start stumbling around with your thoughts because a question throws you try to remember the phrase - "I'm not sure, can you tell me more about that?"

It's great for phone interviews, in person interviews and for day to day interactions with parents.


I probably wouldn't go for such a request. I am willing to feed children complete and healthy meals and snacks, if a child has a good reason for needing to be fed a special diet I would be more than willing to accommodate that and would hope a parent would trust I was competent enough to do so.

[e.j.]

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?

If they provide the food, you wouldn't be able to claim them on the food program. If a parent wanted to provide their child's food, it would be okay with me as long as the food met food program guidelines and it was ready-to-eat or just needed to be nuked. I wouldn't want to have to cook a second meal every day.

I'd ask why the parent is asking to provide the food. It could be due to allergies - which you'd want to be aware of anyway. It could be pickiness or it could be due to something like religious beliefs. I had never thought about it until recently but I read an article written by someone who had brought food to a sick friend only to find out later that the friend couldn't eat it because her religious beliefs required her to eat only food cooked in a kosher kitchen. Depending on the reason the parent gives, I'd either agree to let her bring food or try to encourage her to sign up with the food program. I don't think I'd let it be a deal breaker unless she wanted to bring junk food for a poor eater.

[melilley]

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.

Hi Miss Ann. I just saw your post and have a question for you if you don't mind. I too have a child with gluten and dairy intolerance and am on the food program. I do substitute foods as closely to the foods that the others eat, but I feel like some of the things are so repetitive for the child. What types of things do you make for the child that you have with the intolerance? I know there is a gluten free section at Meijer, but I really have to look to make sure there is no dairy. Any suggestions would be helpful! Thanks!

[melilley]

I do not let parents bring in food. I am on the food program and provide all foods. I have a child who is intolerant to gluten and dairy. The mom brought food for the first week, but I just talked to her and reassured her that I would buy the right food for him. I let her look it over to make sure I buy the right things because I am new to making/buying foods for a gluten free diet. But I suppose that if I absolutely couldn't substitute for a certain allergy, I would allow them to bring it and not claim them for the program, but in extenuating circumstances only.

[melilley]

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

Hi. I have a child who can't have dairy or gluten. I did think of the play doh thing. Do you know of any recipes for play doh that is gluten free?

[mamac]

If you start stumbling around with your thoughts because a question throws you try to remember the phrase - "I'm not sure, can you tell me more about that?"

Thanks! I'm definitely going to use that. I was so shocked to have gotten the phone call that it took me a minute to process what she was actually calling me for. I know when I start interviewing "for real" I'm still probably going to have that deer-in-the-headlights look, but at least they won't see me through the phone and this sentence will give me enough time to regroup.

[MissAnn]

Hi Miss Ann. I just saw your post and have a question for you if you don't mind. I too have a child with gluten and dairy intolerance and am on the food program. I do substitute foods as closely to the foods that the others eat, but I feel like some of the things are so repetitive for the child. What types of things do you make for the child that you have with the intolerance? I know there is a gluten free section at Meijer, but I really have to look to make sure there is no dairy. Any suggestions would be helpful! Thanks!

We use brown rice a lot. I used brown rice even before I had a child with a gluten intolerance. I also use rice cakes and corn tortillas instead of bread. I don't use gluten free breads because the ingredients scare me. For spaghetti I do use the gluten-free noodles. I made a two week menu and I rotate it so I don't have to have a huge variety of different meals that I serve. For breakfast I serve brown rice with maple syrup twice a week And gluten-free cereal three times a week. You can use oatmeal too.

The food program will only accept certain types of milk substitute. I buy lactose-free milk for this child. The mom lets me give her ice cream, yogurt and cheese which makes no sense to me. I do have a doctors note to avoid dairy and gluten but I am not convinced that she really has a problem.

I have an app for my iPhone that will scan barcodes and let you know if that product is dairy or dairy free. The app is called shopwell.

[melilley]

We use brown rice a lot. I used brown rice even before I had a child with a gluten intolerance. I also use rice cakes and corn tortillas instead of bread. I don't use gluten free breads because the ingredients scare me. For spaghetti I do use the gluten-free noodles. I made a two week menu and I rotate it so I don't have to have a huge variety of different meals that I serve. For breakfast I serve brown rice with maple syrup twice a week And gluten-free cereal three times a week. You can use oatmeal too.

The food program will only accept certain types of milk substitute. I buy lactose-free milk for this child. The mom lets me give her ice cream, yogurt and cheese which makes no sense to me. I do have a doctors note to avoid dairy and gluten but I am not convinced that she really has a problem.

I have an app for my iPhone that will scan barcodes and let you know if that product is dairy or dairy free. The app is called shopwell.

Thanks!

[Blackcat31]

Hi. I have a child who can't have dairy or gluten. I did think of the play doh thing. Do you know of any recipes for play doh that is gluten free?

Here are a couple gluten free play-doh recipes

http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/gluten-free-play-dough-recipe/

http://www.food.com/recipe/gluten-free-play-dough-359023

http://nourishinghope.com/2012/03/gluten-free-playdough-recipe/

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

The remark about no milk but cheese, yogurt oh I so know the answer to this one. It is the lactose found in milk. I can not tolerate milk and have been tested. I do tolerate cheese, yogurt. It is not an allergy per se but an intolerance. It is a silly world we live in.
oh here is another one. I can eat almonds, drink almond milk but I am highly intolerant to almond oil and anything with it in it like lotion etc. I break out so bad!
My dd can not tolerate cow, beef, milk, cheese any of it. Ds can not tolerate additives, preservatives or food colorings

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

And the original question- I do not allow parents to bring food for their children unless it is for a specified time when trying to isolate allergens or triggers. I have had parents do elimination diets and then yes I do allow that. Or if they are in the middle of being treated for intolerances and they are "tweaking" what they can eat. I simply explain to the other kids that "Johnnie" is on a special diet for the next few weeks so we can figure out what makes his belly hurt and what doesn't and they are generally fine with that. Usually what they bring is so limited the others aren't that interested
Long term allergy I adjust and provide. One little one right now is on rice milk.

[MissAnn]

The remark about no milk but cheese, yogurt oh I so know the answer to this one. It is the lactose found in milk. I can not tolerate milk and have been tested. I do tolerate cheese, yogurt. It is not an allergy per se but an intolerance. It is a silly world we live in.
oh here is another one. I can eat almonds, drink almond milk but I am highly intolerant to almond oil and anything with it in it like lotion etc. I break out so bad!
My dd can not tolerate cow, beef, milk, cheese any of it. Ds can not tolerate additives, preservatives or food colorings

That's good to know. Oh, but I have seen this child on Facebook at a birthday party with a gluten cupcake in hand. I know the mom of birthday kid and confirmed it. Drives me nuts to realize I have to be so careful when they are the ones breaking their rules.

[Blackcat31]

That's good to know. Oh, but I have seen this child on Facebook at a birthday party with a gluten cupcake in hand. I know the mom of birthday kid and confirmed it. Drives me nuts to realize I have to be so careful when they are the ones breaking their rules.

In order to provide the child's food on the food program, you should have to have a special diet statement from the child's physician so that should confirm the child's dietary needs.

I can't say I would or wouldn't be surprised if mom was not being truthful about it but atleast you would have covered your bases with the Dr.s statement.

...and for what it's worth, if I saw what you did on FB and had doubts about what the parent was or wasn't doing, I would call them out on it. See what she says about it.