Should We Be Providing Meals?

[earlystart]

I only provide breakfast and PM snack, none of my parents have made any comments about wishing I served lunch. I guess I'm just too lazy to take the time to make lunch, and don't want the extra hassle. And since you don't get fully reimbursed for the meal, I figure I'm saving myself the extra expense. And less food to keep in the fridge/pantry. I'm totally happy with this setup, I am in CA too, and still on the food program for the breakfast/PM snacks I provide. I only get about $40-50/mo reimbursed for that. I've had some first time daycare parents ask what kinds of food they should pack, so I have to explain that, and that they should use an icepack, and I'll heat things up in the microwave.

[Crazy8]

I have always found it strange that 90% of the providers on here provide meals but I think a lot of it is regional. When I was getting started and they mentioned the food program but said "but no one provideds meals, so you don't need to worry about that". Daycare centers around here do not provide meals and I am just starting to see some home providers say they do.

For 13 years I have always had families provide meals and I have only had 2-3 in that time that provided super healthy/organic stuff.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I don't provide lunch, parents do. My clients prefer this, they can go vegan, gluten free, organic, etc. To say that "parents provide crap, junk food" is definitely not happening here, as I have guidelines parents must follow.

[AuntTami]

I don't provide lunch, parents do. My clients prefer this, they can go vegan, gluten free, organic, etc. To say that "parents provide crap, junk food" is definitely not happening here, as I have guidelines parents must follow.

How do you get around the "why is Susie eating grapes and I have carrots" arguments? Just curious :-)

[Sugar Magnolia]

How do you get around the "why is Susie eating grapes and I have carrots" arguments? Just curious :-)

Honestly, it rarely comes up! They have been taught "this is your food and that is his food" . I don't allow junk food, so everyone has equally unexciting lunches. Any complaints about lunch are handled with "talk to your mom about that". But seriously, very very few issues. happyface

[Indianadaycare]

Thanks! We live in Santa Ana, Orange County. We are aware of the food program it's just that my wife thought it would be easier on her if she didn't have to worry about preparing food for the kids, but after yesterday I think she's gonna have to if she wants to stand out.

Depending on how many kids she has (sounds like a small group) you can make a couple of "meals" on Sunday and freeze to serve later. I do this with most of mine. Healthy soups (kale/bean, lentil, etc) and casserole dishes. Sometimes I serve up what I made for dinner last night (fresh veggie with a protein that was grilled) and just put it in a mini mixer to grind up a bit. Older toddlers can eat bite size, but I have a very young toddler. Our accountant told us we get to deduct a certain $ amount per meal. Something like $2/per lunch, per child, which will really add up, so that's what I do.

[kendallina]

I don't provide meals (I do provide snacks). I haven't had any parents that seemed turned off by it yet. In my area, there are a lot of parents who have particular thoughts about what is healthy, and no one seems to agree on this definition. So, I think they like that they control what their child eats. But that's my area, yours might be totally different.

[kendallina]

Honestly, it rarely comes up! They have been taught "this is your food and that is his food" . I don't allow junk food, so everyone has equally unexciting lunches. Any complaints about lunch are handled with "talk to your mom about that". But seriously, very very few issues. happyface

Yes, this exactly. I never have issues with kids complaining about what their neighbor has, they all just accept it. I don't allow desserts.

Sugar Magnolia- how do you word your 'no junk food' rule? I say no desserts, but I have an occassional jello that sneaks in, which I don't say anything, but that's a dessert to me.

[bcshort]

Word it carefully

Our daycare does not provide lunch, we provide breakfast and a snack. I explain to parents that we use to be on the food program but the requirements from our rep were so strict that we were actually losing money.
To their benefit most of my parents would rather bring a lunch that they know will be eaten by their children than have them worry about whether they are eating what we cook or not.
I was not impressed with the food program (probably because of the rep) but it was not worth the problems to me.

[delferka]

In all the years that I've done this, all parents have expected snacks and food. Unless their child needed something special. Charge them accordingly

[Papa]

Meals

I have had a daycare for over 30 years. I started out with families bringing their own food. It was terrible! some didn't have time to fix things or forgot to bring it. the kids would look at what each other brought and would want their junk food instead of their good food. I have been on a food program ever since. the check I receive each month is about the same as taking on another child. the parents love not having to worry about feeding kids before they come in the morning also. It's a plus for your daycare to offer all foods.

[Unregistered]

To be honest, most providers around here do provide meals. It's a great marketing tool and the uniformity of everyone eating the same thing is much easier. If your wife does decide to provide meals make sure to factor the cost in to her rates. Daycare centers that don't provide meals do charge less. If her goal is to enroll more kids then meals would really help that.
Deb