Food "Police".....of Course Today!!!!

[BumbleBee]

That never happens here, TwinKristi. They are here unannounced three times per year. We have to submit any closed days to them - it's hard to get used to "calling in to work" when you are your own boss. Also have to let them know in advance of any meals we plan to serve away from home, or we will not be credited if they show up here.
And they randomize when in the rotation they show up. I might have two visits within a month and a half, and then none for months. But it's always within their trimester.

Mine is similar to this. Especially days we're closed. Heaven help you if they show up on a day you're closed and didn't tell them. I received a "red check mark" on my folder for that one.

[SignMeUp]

I called PCI a couple times and asked some questions about claiming and found out later that every.single.time I asked about something, most my families got letters asking to verify their attendance and the times they were here.

I also felt as though PCI was sooooo picky about claiming certain foods (especially for kids with special diets) that it just became MORE work than it was worth being on the food program.

Hmm. Interesting. I have argued with them a couple of times (whether my apple pie could possibly have a creditable amount of apple in it, stuff like that) but I always have talked them into it. Because I am right

Parents have never told me that they got letters, but then supposedly letters are sent by the county every year too, and only one parent has ever told me they got one ::

I like that we don't have to do a special diet statement now for some alternatives to milk. I have had a bunch of kids on special diets, but only two recently and theirs weren't that difficult. Maybe it's changed. I did have one that was so tricky that the parents ended up refusing the food program. It turned out fine for me, because then I felt I could ask parents to supply some of the alternative items.

I wonder if they are really following federal regulations and other sponsors are more lax, or if they are just blaming things on regulations when it really isn't that.

[Leanna]

Let's see...there are no choices here as far as which program administers CACFP but I am ok with that because all of my reps have been good.

We get unannounced visits 4 times per year. Mine have always been pretty evenly spaced, one visit every three months.

We have a two-hour yearly mandatory training.

Our rep has a one page checklist she goes down every visit. It has things like "hot and cold running water are available" and general cleanliness stuff. She notes which kids are here, what we are serving, and then checks my paperwork.

We have to report to our rep when we will be closed or not home for a meal or they disallow all of the meals for that day.

I've never had them come early...usually they arrive as the kids are eating but my old rep came a few times after we were done & cleaning up. Then she just asked what we ate and I showed her the food left in the bowls, etc.

[TwinKristi]

Don't forget to submit those claims ladies! May was a long month!! Should be a pretty hefty payment for me since I had 2 new FT kids!

[dionmartin216]

I'm here every morning, whether I open up or not. My mom is always at the other daycare either opening, or by 8:30am at the latest. Today we had a meeting at a DC center that's closing at 7:30am to meet with their director. Go freaking figure that at 7:45am I get a text from one of my workers that the Food "Police" (our food inspector) was there waiting for us to do breakfast at both buildings! We normally serve breakfast at 8:30 so not sure why she was that early, but it completely screwed up my morning! At least we won't have to see her again for another 3 months!

Boy, I know the feeling. She/he shows up on the most caotic day!