Are you on the Food Program?

[MamaBearCanada]

There is no food program in Canada. Where I live, at tax time I can write off about 60% of my annual grocery bill - which is fairly accurate. My kiddos eat nutrituious, home-made food with the extremely occasional treat/junk food.

This. Except I write off less than 60%.

[MarinaVanessa]

I am on the food program.

Why?

Because the amount I get for reimbursement makes it 100% worth it.

Oh, and my food program coordinator is just as awesome as my licensor.

I am also on the food program and for the above reasons as well.

[SunnyDay]

You don't have to plan ahead? I thought you did have to in the food program. This would save me a lot of time.

I don't have to plan ahead, my rep does ask that I enter my meals into Minute Menu by the end of the day.

The food program definitely seems worth it to me, using MMK makes it really easy and both of the reps I have been very reasonable people

[Laurel]

Who is and isn't on the food program??? Why or why not??

I'm not on it although I did try it once years ago. You couldn't enter it online then and it seemed like a pain. I also don't like the idea of being 'inspected' although the lady was nice. I can't remember if she popped in randomly but I'm thinking she did. I definitely don't have anything to hide and feed the children nutritious meals but I like as little interference in my business as possible.

I guess I also don't understand how it saves you money but maybe someone could explain. You buy food and they reimburse you for the meals you serve and then don't you have to report that as income on your tax return? The way I do it is to take the IRS food allowances and it is more than I used to spend on food before we could do that. Then I'd also have less income to report (since I don't have any food program income to add to the total) so less income to be taxed on I'm thinking??? It seems like it would be a draw but I have never done the math because I figured the other hassles of it wouldn't be worth knowing anyway. I guess I should though.

Our local licensing actually has a form we have to have parents sign and they get the bottom half and we sign the top. It has their nutritious meal recommendations but we aren't obligated to follow them. They are 'suggestions'.

Laurel

[Sunshine74]

I wish we were, but unfortunately that is not my decision. I am trying to convince them to look into it more though. I think it would be worth it.

[Patches]

I am on it! For me it's so worth it! I supply all food and have to pay for it anyways and if you can claim online, it's so easy!

Exactly this! It isn't a hassle for me at all. The little bit of time it takes is totally worth it

[Patches]

I don't have to plan ahead, my rep does ask that I enter my meals into Minute Menu by the end of the day.

The food program definitely seems worth it to me, using MMK makes it really easy and both of the reps I have been very reasonable people

I have to have a 14 day cycle menu that we just use over and over

[nanglgrl]

I guess I also don't understand how it saves you money but maybe someone could explain. You buy food and they reimburse you for the meals you serve and then don't you have to report that as income on your tax return? The way I do it is to take the IRS food allowances and it is more than I used to spend on food before we could do that. Then I'd also have less income to report (since I don't have any food program income to add to the total) so less income to be taxed on I'm thinking??? It seems like it would be a draw but I have never done the math because I figured the other hassles of it wouldn't be worth knowing anyway. I guess I should Laurel

Example 1: You make $30,000 a year. You spend $12000 a year on food for your daycare. You deduct what you spend on food and are taxed on the remaining $18,000.

Example 2: You make $30,000 a year. You spend $12000 a year on food for your daycare. The food program reimburses you $8000. You earned $38,000 and have a $12,000 deduction for food and are taxed on the remaining $26,000.

Yes you will make more money and pay more taxes but you still deduct the expense of food on your taxes. In example 2 you take home an extra $8000 a year. You aren't going to be taxed $8000 because of that. If you fall in a 20% tax bracket you would owe $1600 more but you would be taking home $6600 more then in example 1.

You are already spending the money on food so the food program reimbursement is extra income. Of course it has its problems and isn't for everyone. I went off of it for years because it was a pain.

[Patches]

Definitely on it! Did my whole first year without it thinking it wouldn't be worth all the work and then kicked myself once I learned how easy it was .

I don't have to do any classes save for one annual "test" that's online and open book. Takes me just 20 minutes and it counts towards my annual licensing training I'd have to take anyway. I enter my meals and attendance on my phone daily (takes 2 minutes) and hit submit on my home computer at the end of each month. Two weeks later I am sent a check that wipes my daycare grocery expenses for the following month out. My rep is awesome and she always brings great activities for me to do with my group.

The less of my income I have to spend on things like daycare groceries the more of my income that goes directly into my pockets to spend on doing fun things with my family

I'm tier 2 so my checks do not cover my entire grocery bill. It covers MAYBE close to half. Wish I could be on tier 1 but I'll take what I can get

[nanglgrl]

You don't have to plan ahead? I thought you did have to in the food program. This would save me a lot of time.

No, thankfully we don't. We just put in what we serve every meal. If a rep comes they don't care if you haven't entered everything for that day but if they come on a Friday and nothing has been entered all week they won't reimburse for that week.
We used to have to plan ahead when we did everything on paper and I hated it!

[Play Care]

I am on the food program.

Why?

Because the amount I get for reimbursement makes it 100% worth it.

Oh, and my food program coordinator is just as awesome as my licensor.

I just got a call from my food program sponser and was told
because of my area I am now on Tier 1 reimbursement, which will be nice.

We don't even have online options, everything is pen and paper. But in my area: I don't have to plan menus ahead. They prefer we use fresh, seasonal veggies and fruits. Leftovers properly handled are good. I do have to attend an annual training but they always prepare or cook something quick and nutritious to show some providers it can be done (and they don't always have to serve chicken nuggets ) It's actually the one training I enjoy.

Several years ago I attended a training with Tom Copeland and he described the food program like this: If your husband was told he was getting a raise at work and it would require a little extra work and you would pay a bit more in taxes, would you tell him not to take it? By not being on the food program you are not giving yourself a raise.

[LaLa1923]

We don't have to enter it by the end of the day but we have to post what we will be serving that day. I write it on my dry erase board.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

You don't have to plan ahead? I thought you did have to in the food program. This would save me a lot of time.

I don't have to, either. It just has to be in the MMK system by the end of that day. I also have to post it where the parents can see it.

[DaisyMamma]

When I started out I asked everyone here is I should do it, they said yes. I'm happy I did.

I went to our yearly required workshop for my food program a couple weeks ago and the director made an announcement that providers who are income eligible can be on a higher reimbursement rate. I was ecstatic and I'm in the process of applying. If I get accepted my food program check will be 3x what it is now! And my family could really use it. happyface Please pray for our acceptance. We are income eligible, it just sounds too good to be true

[originalkat]

I am on the higher rate tier so I make between $700-$900 a month on the food program. It is definitely worth the paperwork I do. Plus I love my sponsor and food program lady happyface !