This Week FOOD Is Really Wearing Me Down

[crazydaycarelady]

I know we all deal with this but it is so monotonous!

Breakfast.....and just about the time you get that cleaned up its....

LUNCH!

I have a school-ager that complains every single meal about something she doesn't like. We had one snack this week and I was getting no complaints from her, I knew it was coming though and finally she whined "the cheese wrapper is too hard to get off.

I finally get them all fed, changed and down for nap, get lunch cleaned up, and it's

SNACK!

I feel like a vending machine, just churning out food and drink all day long!

And I throw away so much food that I have to offer but they don't eat!

[SilverSabre25]

Yes I feel similar. It's a touch worse for me because we are fast shifting to an early enough breakfast that I am adding in a simple morning snack. I have to to keep reminding myself that the parents never look at the menu or ask what they ate and don't care in the slightest if the kids have graham crackers once a week or twice. And to get over it.

[tehck_1013]

I feel you - but I give you ladies HUGE kudos for all that you do because I'm sure you have it way worse than me. I am only taking care of two children currently and even that ****S . They eat SOOOO slow, plus they hardly eat much of anything I prepare. Sometimes I give up and give them something lame and unhealthy and they sit and complain about it.... :confused: What kid doesn't like spagetti-o's??? Are you kidding me? . My son slurps that stuff down because he knows it's like a treat. And when I put so much time and effort into the good stuff, nothing. Everything is so gross to them. Ugh.

[Josiegirl]

One of my dcgs refuses to eat cereal that doesn't have marshmallows in it.
Yeh, I've got a few picky kids. They won't even try things they 'know' they won't like. We usually have sandwich day once a week. I have some who won't touch anything except pb and j. Only food they seem to agree on is pizza.

[TwinKristi]

I had planned a more elaborate lunch today (pasta, chicken sausage, pasta sauce and shredded carrots) but was just NOT feeling it today so we reverted to PB&J, orange segments and grapes quarters since I knew the kids would actually eat it!

I have 4-5 babies/toddlers and my own 2-3 big kids to feed.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I hear ya. I wish I was organized enough to do a rotating food schedule like some providers do. I normally don't decide what to serve until I open the pantry or fridge and see what's there.

Because of this, we are filled to the gills with groceries around here. My SA sons like to show their friends our pantry when they visit, like it's some kind of gold mine!::

[LysesKids]

I'm thinking about dropping the food program again ( I haven't been on it long) just because my babies needs do change and I like to ocassionally flip flop nap & lunch if it's needed (all my kids are under 2). Worrying about a pop inspection and putting out the food I know they will eat, VS what is required kills me some days. I also prefer to fly by the seat of my pants for planning sometimes; of course this week was totally screwed because of the nationwide fruit recall - all my menus changed last minute

[daycarediva]

This is why I make a monthly menu and stick to it. I rotate the kids favorites. "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Is repeated often. By me and the kids.

We eat breakfast @ 8. Lunch at 11:30. Snack at 3. The dishwasher runs 3x/day!!!

The kids all eat really well though. I've been weeding out the "bad eaters" on interview. It's cute to ask the kiddo what their favorite dinner is and go from there.

[GKJNIGMN]

My enrollment is down this summer by choice and my own kids are at various camps so I do the same snack every snack for the first half of the month and a different one the second half of the month.......and I serve 5 lunches that are the same on the same day every week. I also only rotate back and forth between 2 breakfasts

None of mine are old enough to complain and I have never actually had a parent ask what food I serve. I don't worry about whether they eat. If they are hungry they will.

My food program inspection people must be the easiest ever. In all honesty, they have never even watched me serve a meal. They show up, see my attendance and meal records, write it down and leave.

[Play Care]

This is why I make a monthly menu and stick to it. I rotate the kids favorites. "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Is repeated often. By me and the kids.

We eat breakfast @ 8. Lunch at 11:30. Snack at 3. The dishwasher runs 3x/day!!!

The kids all eat really well though. I've been weeding out the "bad eaters" on interview. It's cute to ask the kiddo what their favorite dinner is and go from there.

Although I narrowed mine down to a two week menu I do still sometimes feel like I never leave the kitchen though. I am so glad I did away with morning snack - that was just over the top!

[Heidi]

ok...for the schoolagers, can you offer the snack in a more family-style way?

You only have to OFFER the components, right? So, put out a pitcher of milk, a pile of apples, and let them help themselves and sit down. Any "I don't LIKE that get's met with, "well, I guess you're not eating snack, then. Go play". *benign face*

[crazydaycarelady]

That's a good idea Heidi! I gave everybody plums today at lunch and ended up throwing away 95% of them!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Well I am down to 3 kids and 2 of those are 3 days a week and my 17 yo is at the Olympic Training Center for these 2 weeks.
So, my menus have been a little simpler. I have been trying to post pictures again on my fb page to motivate me.
I feel like I use cheese a lot as my protein but they all eat those meals and I can adjust easily for 1 kid or 3.
I want to try and make out the next couple of months because I know my world will pick up!

[DaveA]

I hear you- I've had one kid for 5 years that has probably only eaten 6 different things. We went to the farmer's market yesterday and he BEGGED for blueberries. We get home & I used them for snacks. He took one look and said "I don't like blueberries" GRRRRRRRR

[melilley]

I hear ya. I wish I was organized enough to do a rotating food schedule like some providers do. I normally don't decide what to serve until I open the pantry or fridge and see what's there.

Because of this, we are filled to the gills with groceries around here. My SA sons like to show their friends our pantry when they visit, like it's some kind of gold mine!::

Lol. My baby dcg's older sister saw the inside of my pantry one day and said "mom, she has a food closet"! She talks about it all the time. Lol