Wow! Groceries Are Shocking Me This Summer!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

Of course groceries are a HUGE expense for daycare. Being on the food program should not increase a daycare's costs. Every daycare should be feeding the kids nutritionally balanced meals and snacks with variety whether there's extra cash in it for the provider or not!:confused: You gotta spend money to make money, and just be smart about how you do it.

I shop at Wal-Mart (Great Value brand is just that, a Great Value...we are not brand savvy around here). I price match on meats and produce. I stock up big time on awesome sale prices. I don't do coupons unless it's something decadent my kids have been begging for. Usually, the store brand is cheaper than an on-sale-and-a-coupon national brand, so why bother? We eat pretty healthy around here, while still enjoying food treats on a regular basis as well. One thing I learned is to use cheaper options as often as feels right/allowed by food program-applesauce, mashed potatoes, eggs, graham crackers, cakes/brownies baked from boxed mixes (those can be "healthied up" too!), cheap cuts of meat cooked in crockpot-just to name a few.

I've become quite the guru at eating for less!

[LoraJenkins]

I'm curious what an average day of your food might look like if you wouldn't mind sharing.

We spend about $100-$130 a week at the grocery store but then we buy most of our meat at a wholesale club and stop at another store for some of the fruit and veggies. Plus we eat out once in a while. There are 2 adults, no children of our own still at home (adult and live elsewhere), 3 daycare children (one who is an infant so parent provides food), no pets. Except for the daycare children we almost exclusively drink water (just a preference). We don't even drink coffee cause we just never liked it. Our cheap produce stand closed unfortunately.

I know I could plan better and waste less. So anyway, just wondering if you could share a sample menu for a day.

Thanks, Laurel

Just a 1day example that we ate this week:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast, bananas and milk
Snack #1: yogurt with peaches and water
Lunch: Baked chicken (left over from the night before), fried rice, green beans, water melon and milk
Snack # 2:HM hummus, crackers and Apple juice.

I purchased the peaches, green beans and chick peas from our local stand. The main protein for lunch is usually cooked the night before and repurposed.I do not serve a lot of processed foods.

[Play Care]

Double post.

[Play Care]

Of course groceries are a HUGE expense for daycare. Being on the food program should not increase a daycare's costs. Every daycare should be feeding the kids nutritionally balanced meals and snacks with variety whether there's extra cash in it for the provider or not!:confused: You gotta spend money to make money, and just be smart about how you do it.

Do your dc clients tend to feed their kids well? The ones I have now by and large do NOT. If I advertised "healthy, home cooked, organic meals" I might get some interest from parents who think it sounds good in theory...

I kid you not, the other day my one little boy told me in front of his mother "we had donuts for dinner!" And when I said "You had DONUTS for dinner?" Mom sheepishly admitted that they were driving by the donut place and the kids asked for donuts (who is she kidding, I know those kids - they demanded donuts and she, tired after a long day, caved...). Since they were only going to be having a bagel with cream cheese for dinner anyway, she relented and they had donuts instead. This is the same kid that called my baked chicken "dirty chicken" because it has some mild spices on it...

I'm not saying I don't agree that the kids should have variety and I believe I supply it as much as I am able. But I am DONE baking chicken, grilling fish, etc. just to have it tossed. The thing that KILLS me is that I often use the crock pot or will have food baking/simmering at pick up time and the house usually smells heavenly. This same parent will ask what smells good and when I say what the meal is, will ask if my kids will eat it. When I say of course, she always says "I wish my kids would eat REAL food." My kids eat the way they have been taught.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

It's true, the majority of my dc families have horrible feeding habits for their kids, especially on weeknights after long days at work. Many have commented to me how they don't worry about it because they eat so well at my house. But only 60% of their meals and snacks are with me. I want the kids to learn healthy choices and moderation of goodies from me, cause they aren't going to learn it at home!

I hardly ever have to throw any food away. How do I get them to eat it? Well, I try my darnedest to enroll my kids as young as possible (6 of my 8 I've had since birth), so they are used to my cooking from the time they even start solids.

Now, here's the best trick: anyone who finishes their meal gets dessert. I put the minimum amount CACFP requires on their plates, the older kids usually ask for seconds of one or two items, and then they get a few chocolate chips, or a Dum-Dum ****er. It's cheap, and it makes them SO HAPPY! And I'm happy with their full bellies and smiling faces (and their excited voices saying "I get zurt! I get zurt!').::

[Blackcat31]

It's true, the majority of my dc families have horrible feeding habits for their kids, especially on weeknights after long days at work. Many have commented to me how they don't worry about it because they eat so well at my house. But only 60% of their meals and snacks are with me. I want the kids to learn healthy choices and moderation of goodies from me, cause they aren't going to learn it at home!

I hardly ever have to throw any food away. How do I get them to eat it? Well, I try my darnedest to enroll my kids as young as possible (6 of my 8 I've had since birth), so they are used to my cooking from the time they
even start solids.

Now, here's the best trick: anyone who finishes their meal gets dessert. I put the minimum amount CACFP requires on their plates, the older kids usually ask for seconds of one or two items, and then they get a few chocolate chips, or a Dum-Dum ****er. It's cheap, and it makes them SO HAPPY! And I'm happy with their full bellies and smiling faces (and their excited voices saying "I get zurt! I get zurt!').::

How do you handle the kids who don't get dessert or the treat?
Especially when the other kids are eating in front of them...

I would imagine that there are a few kids who rarely get that treat and a few who get it every day...

What do the parents say/feel about it?

I can only imagine the number of parents who feel their kid is being "punished", left out and/or singled out for not eating so the parent goes out and makes it up to the child by getting them a treat after daycare every day if they didn't get dessert at your house..... kwim?

I kind of think "rewarding" the kids for eating is similar to the "clean plate" mentality and kind forcing/encouraging the kids to eat, even if they really aren't hungry...

....or that it simply encourages them to eat just to get that treat, which I kind of feel is the wrong message to send to kids about food and eating healthy.

[NeedaVaca]

WAY JEALOUS.

I spent almost $400 this week on food alone. I feed 12 kids breakfast, lunch & 1 snack/day and my own family of 6 dinner.

I don't coupon as most of the food items are processed. No coupons for produce.

Daycare and my family eat all fresh, locally grown, organic food, with a few minimally processed things, usually organic (I am an Annie's white cheddar shells and cheese ADDICT) .

I don't buy ANY junk food.

I get a lot of produce coupons, and even Annie's coupons! There are also coupons for organic products, milk, pork, chicken etc you just need to know where to look for them

[NeedaVaca]

Of course groceries are a HUGE expense for daycare. Being on the food program should not increase a daycare's costs. Every daycare should be feeding the kids nutritionally balanced meals and snacks with variety whether there's extra cash in it for the provider or not!:confused: You gotta spend money to make money, and just be smart about how you do it.

I shop at Wal-Mart (Great Value brand is just that, a Great Value...we are not brand savvy around here). I price match on meats and produce. I stock up big time on awesome sale prices. I don't do coupons unless it's something decadent my kids have been begging for. Usually, the store brand is cheaper than an on-sale-and-a-coupon national brand, so why bother? We eat pretty healthy around here, while still enjoying food treats on a regular basis as well. One thing I learned is to use cheaper options as often as feels right/allowed by food program-applesauce, mashed potatoes, eggs, graham crackers, cakes/brownies baked from boxed mixes (those can be "healthied up" too!), cheap cuts of meat cooked in crockpot-just to name a few.

I've become quite the guru at eating for less!

Everything I buy with coupons is for name brand items and they are always significantly cheaper than the store brands.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I don't buy into the "clean plate" theory as a leader of obesity. Just wait a few more years, and the "experts" will announce that perhaps encouraging and even rewarding children to eat the balanced, nutritional meals that their growing bodies NEED wasn't such a bad idea after all. I just read in the paper two weeks ago that, after a big study, said "experts" now say that eating the six mini meals (which has been a popular diet strategy) is actually worse than the standard 3. So everything comes full cycle, I guess, and you believe what you want to believe. That's just my opinion.

Sure, a kid is disappointed if they don't get dessert. What's wrong with that? I've never had a parent question this method, and have had a few very happy ones where I've turned a picky eater around. They are just glad to know the kids will eat the spinach leaves (or just about any other good-for-you food) here, so they feel they don't have to pretend to enjoy them at home to get their kid to eat it! For the most part, I guess I've been lucky to have had mostly parents that respect my ideas and experience. Mostly.

[daycarediva]

I get a lot of produce coupons, and even Annie's coupons! There are also coupons for organic products, milk, pork, chicken etc you just need to know where to look for them

Seriously? WHERE!?! I have seen Annies coupons before, but NEVER a produce coupon.

For instance, I buy a LOT of milk. It's 6.99/gallon for organic skim here. I bought 10 gallons this week. $70 on milk a WEEK. Dh always says "The cow would be cheaper."

I don't serve a crazy fancy menu, I do shop at Aldi for the clean 15 and cheap sides (they also carry a lot of organic) I farmers market, go to a farm for meat and produce, have a LOT of produce from my own garden, etc. I also price match, use reusable items to save (no paper towels or plates, that kind of thing)

Pears were 1.99/lb this week, and I needed 8. Around $10/one snack!

I am on the food program, but have the lowest reimbursement rate. I get around $150-200/m from them, and spend that on daycare in one week easily.

[blandino]

Seriously? WHERE!?! I have seen Annies coupons before, but NEVER a produce coupon.

For instance, I buy a LOT of milk. It's 6.99/gallon for organic skim here. I bought 10 gallons this week. $70 on milk a WEEK. Dh always says "The cow would be cheaper."

I don't serve a crazy fancy menu, I do shop at Aldi for the clean 15 and cheap sides (they also carry a lot of organic) I farmers market, go to a farm for meat and produce, have a LOT of produce from my own garden, etc. I also price match, use reusable items to save (no paper towels or plates, that kind of thing)

Pears were 1.99/lb this week, and I needed 8. Around $10/one snack!

I am on the food program, but have the lowest reimbursement rate. I get around $150-200/m from them, and spend that on daycare in one week easily.

I haven't seen produce coupons, but a lot of my parents will use the Aldi's adds to price match produce at larger stores.

[blandino]

How do you handle the kids who don't get dessert or the treat?
Especially when the other kids are eating in front of them...

I would imagine that there are a few kids who rarely get that treat and a few who get it every day...

What do the parents say/feel about it?

I can only imagine the number of parents who feel their kid is being "punished", left out and/or singled out for not eating so the parent goes out and makes it up to the child by getting them a treat after daycare every day if they didn't get dessert at your house..... kwim?

I kind of think "rewarding" the kids for eating is similar to the "clean plate" mentality and kind forcing/encouraging the kids to eat, even if they really aren't hungry...

....or that it simply encourages them to eat just to get that treat, which I kind of feel is the wrong message to send to kids about food and eating healthy.

OCCASIONALLY I will offer dessert for the children, I don't require that they clear their plates to get it, but their fruit and vegetables need to be gone.

I try and relate it to them as a you have to eat the good foods before you can eat sugar.

I don't like the "clean plate" mentality, but I do want them to understand a balance between sweets and healthy foods. I wouldn't want to ask a child to finish a grilled cheese to get their dessert. KWIM ?

[Play Care]

I don't buy into the "clean plate" theory as a leader of obesity. Just wait a few more years, and the "experts" will announce that perhaps encouraging and even rewarding children to eat the balanced, nutritional meals that their growing bodies NEED wasn't such a bad idea after all. I just read in the paper two weeks ago that, after a big study, said "experts" now say that eating the six mini meals (which has been a popular diet strategy) is actually worse than the standard 3. So everything comes full cycle, I guess, and you believe what you want to believe. That's just my opinion.

Sure, a kid is disappointed if they don't get dessert. What's wrong with that? I've never had a parent question this method, and have had a few very happy ones where I've turned a picky eater around. They are just glad to know the kids will eat the spinach leaves (or just about any other good-for-you food) here, so they feel they don't have to pretend to enjoy them at home to get their kid to eat it! For the most part, I guess I've been lucky to have had mostly parents that respect my ideas and experience. Mostly.

I actually just cut out AM snack because I fully believe this constant snacking (even healthy options) is doing more harm then good when it comes to *most* kids.
I know there were many days that we were eating that snack because it was out of habit, and had nothing to do with actual hunger.

[NeedaVaca]

Seriously? WHERE!?! I have seen Annies coupons before, but NEVER a produce coupon.

For instance, I buy a LOT of milk. It's 6.99/gallon for organic skim here. I bought 10 gallons this week. $70 on milk a WEEK. Dh always says "The cow would be cheaper."

I don't serve a crazy fancy menu, I do shop at Aldi for the clean 15 and cheap sides (they also carry a lot of organic) I farmers market, go to a farm for meat and produce, have a LOT of produce from my own garden, etc. I also price match, use reusable items to save (no paper towels or plates, that kind of thing)

Pears were 1.99/lb this week, and I needed 8. Around $10/one snack!

I am on the food program, but have the lowest reimbursement rate. I get around $150-200/m from them, and spend that on daycare in one week easily.

Here are a few places to get you started. I signed up for Earthbound Farm and they email me coupons almost weekly good for any of their produce. I can get organic carrots for 13 cents a package at Walmart! I get Driscoll berries coupons all the time. In season I get a variety of produce coupons like vidalia onions. I have bought Healthy Balance milk for 49cents a carton often, there are egg coupons, I just printed off six $1 off any fresh pork a couple weeks ago, I can get Annie's mac-n-cheese for 30 cents each.

You won't find these coupons in the newspapers, they are almost always printables! You can also email companies that you buy a lot of product from and they will send you coupons! Here are a few links I found for you to look at

http://healthylifedeals.com/organic-printable-coupons-2

http://www.ebfarm.com/user/register/node/3775

http://www.organicdeals.com/

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/foodsavings/tp/Organic_Coupons.htm

[daycarediva]

Here are a few places to get you started. I signed up for Earthbound Farm and they email me coupons almost weekly good for any of their produce. I can get organic carrots for 13 cents a package at Walmart! I get Driscoll berries coupons all the time. In season I get a variety of produce coupons like vidalia onions. I have bought Healthy Balance milk for 49cents a carton often, there are egg coupons, I just printed off six $1 off any fresh pork a couple weeks ago, I can get Annie's mac-n-cheese for 30 cents each.

You won't find these coupons in the newspapers, they are almost always printables! You can also email companies that you buy a lot of product from and they will send you coupons! Here are a few links to get for you to look at

http://healthylifedeals.com/organic-printable-coupons-2

http://www.ebfarm.com/user/register/node/3775

http://www.organicdeals.com/

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/foo...ic_Coupons.htm

O M G! I am SPEECHLESS! This is INCREDIBLE! I am printing coupons like a mad woman as we speak! You are going to save me a ton of money! Thank you!!!!! happyface