When Your On The Food Program

[KidGrind]

Would it be okay to charge someone more because they don't want their child to eat grains or drink cows milk? The way she wants her child to eat will not meet the requirements for the food program and Dcm has been hinting she might want to supply dcgs food. I haven't talked about it with her because I've been thinking about it. I don't really want to have just one bring different food because it causes too many problems. I am tier one and its around $85.00 a month that I get per child.

I have a similar situation. I would check your state’s laws on raw goat milk. In the state I reside, raw goat milk for human consumption is illegal unless the person’s consuming it owns the goat. Whether DCP provides provides food or not I would charge a service fee. It is extra work. A concern is if the child is getting all the nutritional needs from the lack of cow’s milk. The formula two of my DCFs use includes flax seed & molasses. I allow a goat milk formula made by the parents from powder form.

I would also have the parent sign a form acknowledging she provided the goat milk and takes responsibility for any health issues resulting from it.

GOOD LUCK!

[itlw8]

They have to fill out the enrollment forms for the food program but they can opt out ..... fill out form you get no money. You stil have to mark when they are there so they no you are not over ratios

Raw goats milk not sure about other states but licensing her requires pasturized milk.

no grains... hmmm even our state regs require a grain

I would need a drs orders even if not on the food program.

[Angelsj]

First, at less than 1 yr it's really not essential a child has grains. Rice cereal and oatmeal are simply filler. They have no nutritional value in infants. After 1yr I wouldn't really think they're necessary either. Many people eat a gluten free and/or Paleo diet which doesn't eat grains or legumes. Paleo doesn't do dairy either. They drink coconut or almond milk. There has to be some type of substituting but it's with meat, veggies, nuts, etc.

As far as food program, you just need to call and ask your rep. I know parents can refuse to participate in the program but if they provide their own food, which would probably be best with an alternate diet, I don't think you can charge extra. I know there's been something mentioned about offering this for free so you can't charge for participating but can you charge for not participating? I really don't know for sure.

Personally I would just have mom supply the food. If you find the child's diet to be insufficient than I would tell her so. If she has enough food to keep her satisfied and she's happy and healthy, I don't know what the problem is?

Precisely!
And older children can get the required carbs for energy as well as the micronutrients needed for growth without grains if that is the parent's wish.

[Blackcat31]

I have a child who cannot have diary and some grains. I AM enrolled in the food program but this child is NOT. In my area, families are NOT required to participate in the food program just because the provider has signed on.

At first we just did a special diet statement and had the doctor fill out things that needed to be substituted for the things the child couldn't have.

After a bit the mom became unhappy with the foods the doctor was suggesting as replacements so she opted out of the food program all together and started bringing the child's foods.

It was no problem at first.

Then mom started forgetting or brining really sub-par meals because she ran out of xx or whatever so the kid would get a banana and a few green beans for lunch. I finally told mom enough and started buying the food myself.

I raised their rate to accommodate the food I had to buy.

I had mom see her nutritionist and write up a healthy well balanced diet that was suitable to the diet mom wanted for her child. I think she brought me 4 weeks of menus. I just rotated them.

In that scenario today I would not allow a parent to bring in foods. (You never know what is in them and what has or hasn't been added..kiwm?)

Too big of a liability all around. I also wanted to make sure the diet/foods the parent was supplying met the nutritional needs of the child so I required the diet-menu from the doctor or nutritionist.

OP if I were you, I would call your rep and see if the family can opt out.

If they can opt out, charge them more to make up for the food that YOU need to buy.

Do not allow the family to bring their own foods. Too risky

Have their doctor or a certified nutritionist write up a well balanced acceptable diet/menu for the child for atleast a 2-3 week period. Rotate the menus.

That should satisfy everyone.

[CraftyMom]

I have a child who cannot have diary and some grains. I AM enrolled in the food program but this child is NOT. In my area, families are NOT required to participate in the food program just because the provider has signed on.

At first we just did a special diet statement and had the doctor fill out things that needed to be substituted for the things the child couldn't have.

After a bit the mom became unhappy with the foods the doctor was suggesting as replacements so she opted out of the food program all together and started bringing the child's foods.

It was no problem at first.

Then mom started forgetting or brining really sub-par meals because she ran out of xx or whatever so the kid would get a banana and a few green beans for lunch. I finally told mom enough and started buying the food myself.

I raised their rate to accommodate the food I had to buy.

I had mom see her nutritionist and write up a healthy well balanced diet that was suitable to the diet mom wanted for her child. I think she brought me 4 weeks of menus. I just rotated them.

In that scenario today I would not allow a parent to bring in foods. (You never know what is in them and what has or hasn't been added..kiwm?)

Too big of a liability all around. I also wanted to make sure the diet/foods the parent was supplying met the nutritional needs of the child so I required the diet-menu from the doctor or nutritionist.

OP if I were you, I would call your rep and see if the family can opt out.

If they can opt out, charge them more to make up for the food that YOU need to buy.

Do not allow the family to bring their own foods. Too risky

Have their doctor or a certified nutritionist write up a well balanced acceptable diet/menu for the child for atleast a 2-3 week period. Rotate the menus.

That should satisfy everyone.

[morgan24]

I have a child who cannot have diary and some grains. I AM enrolled in the food program but this child is NOT. In my area, families are NOT required to participate in the food program just because the provider has signed on.

At first we just did a special diet statement and had the doctor fill out things that needed to be substituted for the things the child couldn't have.

After a bit the mom became unhappy with the foods the doctor was suggesting as replacements so she opted out of the food program all together and started bringing the child's foods.

It was no problem at first.

Then mom started forgetting or brining really sub-par meals because she ran out of xx or whatever so the kid would get a banana and a few green beans for lunch. I finally told mom enough and started buying the food myself.

I raised their rate to accommodate the food I had to buy.

I had mom see her nutritionist and write up a healthy well balanced diet that was suitable to the diet mom wanted for her child. I think she brought me 4 weeks of menus. I just rotated them.

In that scenario today I would not allow a parent to bring in foods. (You never know what is in them and what has or hasn't been added..kiwm?)

Too big of a liability all around. I also wanted to make sure the diet/foods the parent was supplying met the nutritional needs of the child so I required the diet-menu from the doctor or nutritionist.

OP if I were you, I would call your rep and see if the family can opt out.

If they can opt out, charge them more to make up for the food that YOU need to buy.

Do not allow the family to bring their own foods. Too risky

Have their doctor or a certified nutritionist write up a well balanced acceptable diet/menu for the child for atleast a 2-3 week period. Rotate the menus.

That should satisfy everyone.

These are a lot of the issues I want to avoid. My FP rep said goats milk can be used as long as it's fortified.Dcm only wants to supply raw goats milk and wants me to feed dcg everything else but grains. If I don't feed her the grain and use the goats milk that makes the meal non creditable on the FP. That's why I want to charge her what I would get from the FP, it's her choice to make it so I can't claim it.

[CraftyMom]

These are a lot of the issues I want to avoid. My FP rep said goats milk can be used as long as it's fortified.Dcm only wants to supply raw goats milk and wants me to feed dcg everything else but grains. If I don't feed her the grain and use the goats milk that makes the meal non creditable on the FP. That's why I want to charge her what I would get from the FP, it's her choice to make it so I can't claim it.

Just wondering, has this child already started in your care? It would be easier to tell her before she starts of course.

If she has already started you could tell her "Now that dkg has been in my care for x amount of time I see that I will have to begin charging you for her food since you choose not to have your child eat what I am serving through the fp. I do not allow outside food to be brought in. I will supply healthy meals for dkg based on your desires, but it will be an extra $x to cover the cost of these meals. If at anytime I see that this arrangement is not working it may be necessary to find other arrangements for child care"

An example of not working is the other dck's wanting what she is eating

Also as someone else mentioned have her sign a waiver

[morgan24]

Just wondering, has this child already started in your care? It would be easier to tell her before she starts of course.

If she has already started you could tell her "Now that dkg has been in my care for x amount of time I see that I will have to begin charging you for her food since you choose not to have your child eat what I am serving through the fp. I do not allow outside food to be brought in. I will supply healthy meals for dkg based on your desires, but it will be an extra $x to cover the cost of these meals. If at anytime I see that this arrangement is not working it may be necessary to find other arrangements for child care"

An example of not working is the other dck's wanting what she is eating

Also as someone else mentioned have her sign a waiver

I have had her for 7 months. She did just breast milk until 8 months. Then adding oatmeal baby cereal, along with veggies and fruit. Dcm has been researching grains and has decided that she doesn't want to feed them to dcg. She's been talking about not doing the oatmeal either and if she decides to do that I won't be able to claim her anymore. When that happens I will feed her however dcm wants but I want her to pay more for what I'm losing in order to do it how she wants. Dcg is part time right now and will be going full time March 1, I'm getting a full time contract ready and want to include the food program issue in it.

[TwinKristi]

I have had her for 7 months. She did just breast milk until 8 months. Then adding oatmeal baby cereal, along with veggies and fruit. Dcm has been researching grains and has decided that she doesn't want to feed them to dcg. She's been talking about not doing the oatmeal either and if she decides to do that I won't be able to claim her anymore. When that happens I will feed her however dcm wants but I want her to pay more for what I'm losing in order to do it how she wants. Dcg is part time right now and will be going full time March 1, I'm getting a full time contract ready and want to include the food program issue in it.

Wait... She gives oatmeal but doesn't want grains? Does she realize oatmeal IS a grain?? Is she talking about eliminating grains now? Does she have a reason why? Is she not tolerating grains well?

The way I see it, if mom is concerned about grains and dairy I wouldn't be too worried about her bringing junk food, which are full of grains and dairy among other things, if she provided her meals. I understand the issue with parents providing food and it causing an issue with the other kids, that's why I joined the food program to begin with. But if you're providing the food and she declines the food program then yes, I can't see a problem with charging her for the food you provide. If you're not feeding her and mom provides the food it's not lost income because you're not buying her food. If you do provide the food for a fee, I would second BC's idea of seeing a nutritionist and developing some menus to rotate for you.
The mom I had who provided her own food didn't pack anything "better" than what I was providing, just different stuff. She didn't provide food program eligible meals either. After a few weeks he started eating more than she provided so I included him in snacks and such. It was all quite silly. Anyway, in my area you definitely have a say in participating, your own children don't have to participate, etc.

[TwinKristi]

Good points but just because you eat gluten free doesn't mean you can't eat grains..Not only that... It's not that he mom doesn't want her to have certain things it's that she also isn't substituting with anything else. That's my issue.

And I know some have had good experiences with parents supplying food, however, in my experience, I've had parents send food that was crap and junk and I won't feed that to kids in my care.

As far as the op post, my food program here will NOT allow parents to opt out of the program. They wouldn't even let me opt out my OWN children from he program. That and some other stupid inconsistencies is why I'm not and never will be on the food program.

Yeah but I don't see this as a gluten free issue, most GF grain substitutes like breads, pasta, etc. are only to make life easier for people who have become accustomed to grains in their daily diet, but most FP grains are not GF. Paleo doesn't have grains AT ALL! None. I have several friends who are Paleo and their children are as well. I don't really get what you mean by the idea of her substituting grains or not. Substituting with what? She's substituting with proteins, fruits/veggies & nuts. Carbs are in many foods that aren't grains.

[Leigh]

I could certainly be wrong, but I thought that the food program did not allow us to charge more for families that do not participate. You may want to run that past your sponsor, or just not mention the reason for the rate in your contract (simply raise the rate by $30/week or whatever).

I know that I am probably in the minority, but I just won't take kids when I don't agree with the parents' philosophies on feeding or discipline...it just doesn't work for me when I don't respect the parents.

[craftymissbeth]

I just enrolled in the food program this week. While the food program lady was here I specifically asked her if I could charge more to families who want to opt out. She straight out said no and that this sponsor technically doesn't allow families to opt out. They may provide their own foods or eat what I provide, which has to be claimable. She said if I encounter a family who wants to opt out I'm to inform them that the food program is part of MY program and you either participate or find a provider that isn't on it.

I see that not all sponsors are the same, though.

[KidGrind]

I just enrolled in the food program this week. While the food program lady was here I specifically asked her if I could charge more to families who want to opt out. She straight out said no and that this sponsor technically doesn't allow families to opt out. They may provide their own foods or eat what I provide, which has to be claimable. She said if I encounter a family who wants to opt out I'm to inform them that the food program is part of MY program and you either participate or find a provider that isn't on it.

I see that not all sponsors are the same, though.

I would look into their regulations. Some reps are dictators in training and spurt info based off of their wants & opinions instead of the actual regulations in place.

[NoMoreJuice!]

Governent Programs=Nazis

I swear, the government doesn't trust us to feed kids the right nutrition. Hello! People were WAY healthier BEFORE the government got involved!! The addition of wheat and corn subsidies led to a HUGE push for people eating tons of grains...which your body DOES NOT NEED to survive. There are two types of people who benefit from eating complex carbohydrates: athletes and children, who are basically small athletes spending tons of energy growing. But carbs do not have to come from grains! They are in every veggie and fruit, and some are power packed like sweet potatoes and bananas!

Anyway, I'm super proud of that mom for giving her child a great start in life free from the chains of false information that have been handed down for the last three or four generations. But in Kansas, our state regs (not food program) state that we can't let kids consume raw milk. I haven't read them, but I'm sure the food program regs would concur. I drink raw milk because it is AMAZING and people have been doing it for thousands of years, but all of a sudden the government started subsidizing dairy farms and BOOM--new regulations banning raw milk.

[Evansmom]

Yeah but I don't see this as a gluten free issue, most GF grain substitutes like breads, pasta, etc. are only to make life easier for people who have become accustomed to grains in their daily diet, but most FP grains are not GF. Paleo doesn't have grains AT ALL! None. I have several friends who are Paleo and their children are as well. I don't really get what you mean by the idea of her substituting grains or not. Substituting with what? She's substituting with proteins, fruits/veggies & nuts. Carbs are in many foods that aren't grains.

Yep, we are grain free and I can report my family is all alive and well and growing perfectly. There are plenty of carbs in dairy foods as well as tons in fruit and a good amount in veggies. Plus the preferred fuel for our bodies is fat, not carbs. Grains are not necessary to our diets, every single grain (even the ones labeled "whole grain) is a processed food. They are all processed in some way. Why do you think grains have to be fortified? If they were so healthy wouldn't they be fine the way the are? You don't see meat or veggies with labels saying "now fortified with..." Also grains actually have anti-nutrients that interfere with digestion. There is plenty of research out there on this.

OP, I think it's fair to let the mom opt out of the food program and pay you to provide food or to bring her own. A parent should be able to feed their child the way they think is best.