How Do You Handle Kids That Don't Eat?

[Jack Sprat]

My policy is if you don't like what is being served then you say " I don't prefer ______ today." and pass it to the next person. If they don't eat, they don't eat. I serve healthy, pretty (), yummy food. I had my run of chicken nuggets and chips kids this summer. I got over them not eating real fast. It was frustrating though. As far as the parents I made it clear that I am not a short order cook and would not plan my menus around Little _____ eating habits. Sometimes dcb and his sis wouldn't eat all day.

The food programs can be a lot of work but, once you get the hang of it, it goes fast. I love getting my food program checks!

[Brooksie]

I thought you lived with a boyfriend/were engaged?

I was a single mom of two, going through a divorce, took on the lions share of debt from our relationship in the process and supporting the three of us with zero assistance from family, him, or the state.....which is exactly why I DID join the food program.

It was a "raise" for me that I didn't have to pass onto parents. And as others have pointed out the additional book keeping took hardly a minute or two. It gave me MORE money that I could use to feed my own children better with. Since the three of us needed to eat regardless it didn't take any additional trips to the store or anything.

My prep time the kids in my care spend engaging in independent/unstructured play time, which is super important to their development so really it worked out well across the board!

My boyfriend JUST moved in but was unable to take on enough of the bills (a completely different and frustrating story). Before that my dad was helping out with some of my bills. Now my dad is not helping me and I'm paying more bills per month than I was before he moved in. I also just lost one of my families that had 2 of my dcks.

[Willow]

My boyfriend JUST moved in but was unable to take on enough of the bills (a completely different and frustrating story). Before that my dad was helping out with some of my bills. Now my dad is not helping me and I'm paying more bills per month than I was before he moved in. I also just lost one of my families that had 2 of my dcks.

I remember living in those shoes.....they're not fun to wear at all.

Fingers crossed and prayers said that you're back on your feet before you know it. I really do think the program could help you if you'd consider it. If you're lower income they'll even reimburse you for your daughters meals when daycare kids are present.

It's really the only way I was able to afford the groceries I got otherwise my own kids would have been stuck eating ramen and jello every day.....no joke.

Never hurts to call and set up a consult with a rep. to see what you'd be looking at reimbursement wise.

To cut down on the amount of work I'll make, say, extra chicken breast when I cook for my family. Freeze or refrigerate and then all you have to do is heat and serve with a slice of bread, carrot sticks and half an apple. BAM....you just made $10 while only spending $5 to make that lunch.....multiply that by 2 meals a day, 20 days out of the month and throw reimbursed snacks in there too.....can you see how it adds up quick?

[Familycare71]

I highly recommend the food program. If you go on the food program and she wants to bring her lunch great but I would still serve her and ask the parent to enroll so you are reimbursed.

I don't have picky kids, but have in the past. I always offer small tiny portions to kids that are not going to eat something and then they can have more. I find that if I serve everything at once the issue of not eating something become null and void. I use divided plates and plate them, then if they want more of something they may have it. I don't serve cookies and sweets except for a birthday or special occasion. Fruits and vegetables I serve. If I know a child is going to eat up all the fruit and then want more, I nicely ask them to eat the other stuff first and then they can have more. I don't push it when kids don't like something but I don't waste food by giving them a full serving. I always offer more if they like it and want more. I don't let kids get down when they are done unless everyone or almost everyone is finished. If I did that then everyone would stop eating and want to play. Meal times are down time to talk together and eat. I ask that they try something but if they don't they don't. I find this takes away the power struggles of food and kids eat until they are full not to make a clean plate club. We love meal times. My challenge is to find different meals because sometimes it seems like I am writing down the same old thing for meals- but this is for both home and daycare. We try to keep it fresh and variety. My daycare kiddo's get excited for meals- I feel because I take a lot of the stress out of it and make it a non struggle time and I serve a variety of foods.
Good luck this is how I roll-

.
I will NOT have a struggle about food with a dck- which is what your doing. She eats she eats.
I do occasionally talk about how "dc-x is going to be growing so much because of all the healthy food they are eating and may throw in a dc-y you better watch out they are going to pass you". But very light heartily-

[LK5kids]

Also your own child can be on the food program and you will get reimbursed for her meals & snacks. Unless that isn't offered in each state. I loved it when my own kids were on the food program. That would help you out.

I just joined the food program this week. I will be getting $500.00-$600.00 a month. You can't beat that!!!