Food Program Pros and Cons?

[CityGarden]

I am just starting out and would love to hear the pros and cons of participating in the meal program.

I am in a high cost of living area where the incomes are high so I doubt I would qualify for the highest tier but I think I would be crazy to not at least weigh the options.

If you participate in the program can you just do snacks and have the parents provide lunches or are you required to offer all meals?

[Josiegirl]

I probably won't be much help; I'm on Tier 1 so to me it's really worth it. Plus I love my sponsor that comes! She's amazing.
Pros
the reimbursement
food ideas
support

Cons
and yet another training you have to attend
quarterly visits
paper work

I would imagine you could just do snacks, if that's what you sign up for but you might find out it's not worth it. You may have to call your food program to check into it.

[MyAngels]

Pros: $ for something I would be doing anyway.

Cons: A little extra paperwork, though not much.

[lovemydaycare0912]

Pros you get a check and kids eat healthy.

I'm also on tier 1 with an amazing food rep lady.

Cons none.

I don't mind the minimal paperwork because I do it at point of service or at night. My visits last 10 mins.

[CityGarden]

How is it decided if you are Tier 1 or Tier 2?

[DaveA]

How is it decided if you are Tier 1 or Tier 2?

When I was on it you were based on if either the area's median income or your household income qualified for Tier 1. I was on it for about a year. I left it because the group doing it was frankly a PITA to deal with. If they need info it was NOW, but if you asked a question or email you might get a response eventually. The final straw was their system kept randomly dropping entries, so you would put in stuff daily then one day POOF! the last 2 weeks were gone and you had to reenter it all. After telling them for several months about their issues I got dinged because they said I entered a month's stuff all at once instead of daily like I should. When I tried to explain that their system had lost the stuff and I reentered it I got an "oh well" out of them. They got told where they could put their computer after that one.

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from it. Honestly if a different group covered this area I would probably reenroll. I just don't deal with idiots very well.

[midaycare]

When I was on it you were based on if either the area's median income or your household income qualified for Tier 1. I was on it for about a year. I left it because the group doing it was frankly a PITA to deal with. If they need info it was NOW, but if you asked a question or email you might get a response eventually. The final straw was their system kept randomly dropping entries, so you would put in stuff daily then one day POOF! the last 2 weeks were gone and you had to reenter it all. After telling them for several months about their issues I got dinged because they said I entered a month's stuff all at once instead of daily like I should. When I tried to explain that their system had lost the stuff and I reentered it I got an "oh well" out of them. They got told where they could put their computer after that one.

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from it. Honestly if a different group covered this area I would probably reenroll. I just don't deal with idiots very well.

I've had similar issues. I've been off and on it. Going on again soon. Mostly because I hate to leave money on the table. But I'm Tier 2 and the money is stinky.

[Snowmom]

When I started on the FP, I was Tier 2 and found it wasn't worth my time. Just as I was about to terminate it, they switched my area to Tier 1.
Tier 1 is worth it. Tier 2 is a joke.
For the amount of work they require, everyone should be Tier 1.
I mean, it's nice to have an extra log of who was here and when. But my sign in sheets should be enough if I'm ever questioned on ratios or need help figuring out tax info.

I have a MAC, so need Crossover in order to run Minute Menu. So, essentially two programs to run one- and it's sloooow.

My rep is nice, but isn't much help with any questions I've had. She's also visited and written down wrong info on what I served. So, I need to double check what she writes otherwise my claim will be denied and if that happens twice, termination or suspension is on the horizon.

I can't stand how precise the infant requirements are too. But, I rarely enroll infants.

But... hey, any extra income helps too!

[Alwaysgreener]

Pros -

• Money now instead of at tax time.
• Claim own child (tax free income, if qualified)
• Training that I do not have to pay for or search out, plus the a free online class and a conference equal to 5 hours (7 out of 10 hours taken care of yearly via FP at no cost)
• Free stuff when I get perfect menus

Con -

• Must report to the FP when ever you close, like calling into work to say you will not be in.
• Buying different milk for different age groups. (getting dh to understand which milk he needs to help use first - based on what I need for the week and the exp date)
• Buying formula which, I never bought before in my life.

As for only serving snacks, yes you can do that. I told my rep that I was going to only claim breakfast and snacks because the parent wanted to supply the lunch. She did not want to agree with me but I reminder her that I was allowed to claim any 3 meals, which 3 I claimed should not matter as long as the children were fed. She said she would put a note in my account stating that the parent was supplying the lunch.

Honestly, after that family left, I switched back to supplying all meals, my hand book states that children that arrive before 9 get breakfast and after 9 snack but both meals will be the same except for the portions.

[lovemydaycare0912]

Over here you can also get tier 1 if your local school qualifies or if the child's family qualifies for it.

[Second Home]

I have never been on the food program and don't plan to . It is better money wise to take the standard meal deductions at tax time than getting reimbursed from the food program .

[lovemydaycare0912]

I have never been on the food program and don't plan to . It is better money wise to take the standard meal deductions at tax time than getting reimbursed from the food program .

I was told you're allowed to do both.

[Controlled Chaos]

I am on tier 1, I think if we get bumped down to 2 I will quit- I absolutely hate entering all the info on the computer. It is only 10min of work but I hate it

[Play Care]

I was told you're allowed to do both.

You are. I get both the food program and take the deductions. I am on Tier 1, so it's very beneficial.

That said, there are annoyances. We have new monitors and I'm not as fond of them as I was the old ones. I've had meals taken away because the DATE on the intake paperwork wasn't the first day of the month they started, because a child had left early so when they came to observe the meal (almost an *hour* after the meal had ended )they didn't see her and I had completely forgot about her so when I sent in the menu with her on it they took both breakfast and lunch away, etc. That said, the checks are very nice at the end of the month. Since my licensing rules about food pretty much mirror the food program ones, I get paid to do what I have to do anyway.

[Alwaysgreener]

I was told you're allowed to do both.

You are, Tom has a post explaining the benefits and how you are farther ahead if you join then if you dont.