Food Program/Milk/Outings

[MarinaVanessa]

Maybe check into this a little more. I can't claim sack lunches that I pack and send with a kid, but if I'm present when the child eats it I can claim it. (as on a daycare field trip) I have to notify the food program of where we are going so if they wanted to, they could find us and do a "visit" to make sure I'm still serving all my components of the meal. Even a note on my door as to where they can find me/us is acceptable here.

I usually try to be home for breakfast, lunch and dinner but would occasionally be away for a snack with the group. I would do juice or water and another claimable item. Milk was too much of a hassle for me.

I wasn't told anything about not claiming food when we go out. I told my rep that we went on a lot of outings during the summer and she didn't say anything. I called the program on Monday and asked about the policy of calling when we go out and she didn't say anything about not claiming the meals.

I know that like licensing regulations each division/rep can have their own interpretation of the food program regulations. Mine says it won't fly. We go out on ALOT of outtings, pretty much every day and my food rep wants me to call (not leave a note) every time that I go out but said meals eaten away from my home won't count. I just schedule outings between meal and snack times now. Not a big deal. I still claim the meals on my taxes so I'm not too upset. There are other providers that I know that have the same problem but in the next county over they are allowed to claim meals served when they are away from the daycare. It is what it is.

[Crystal]

Marina....call and double check. They didn't allow it here until last year. Now we just have to let our rep know where we will be.