Organic Food? Sort of Vent

[Persephone]

In that case, it's not their choice unfortunately, it is something they have to deal with. Like if they needed an antibiotic while in my care, I wouldn't pay for half of it because they needed it while in care. Mom's don't choose to feed formula, but it has to be done and it's costly, a cost the parents need to accrue.

My reason for allergies is not so much the cost. For me it is a safety precaution. For instance, peanut allergy. There are so many crackers etc that have the oil for some reason. They have a dozen different names for the oil and I don't want to accidently give one to the child and have an episode. If it were reversed and I was the parent, I would supply my own meals to reduce the risk. I've never had a parent have an issue with this or decide to go elsewhere due to this.

I understand the precaution, this is one of the main reasons why I don't send my child somewhere. I'm worried to death about preschool next fall with snacks.

But on the same hand, if you are feeding the other children at snack time an item with peanuts, that allergic child could have a reaction anyways. He can touch the area where the food sat, he can touch the sink after the child watches her hands to get the peanut off. Anything.

So to me, isn't it safer to just provide the safe food anyways?

(At the center I worked at for years, when I started (would have been about 18 years ago now) we had a child with peanut allergies. We had a snack mix that we feed the children that had peanuts in it. We were told by older staff that all we needed to do was to pick out the peanuts out of the mix and give it to the child. And that's what we did. We were young and didn't know. I thank God now, that, that child never had a reaction.)

[momma2girls]

It is just like if someone wants Whole milk, and the other wants skim, and the other wants Vitamin D milk, or certain juice only. There is no way I could buy 3 different gallons of milk each week, different juices each week, etc.... What I serve is what I serve, if they want or need anything else they have to supply it.

[TGT09]

I already buy 2 different kinds of milk as it is! I can't imagine a parent wanting something else besides! In my handbook, it does say if your child has a food allergy then that is the only time where I will serve something different to that child. As for the organic mom, she e-mailed me (after I e-mailed all the foods I serve on a regular basis for approval) and apologized for how the texts came across. She sent their lunch and snack today.

[momma2girls]

I understand the precaution, this is one of the main reasons why I don't send my child somewhere. I'm worried to death about preschool next fall with snacks.

But on the same hand, if you are feeding the other children at snack time an item with peanuts, that allergic child could have a reaction anyways. He can touch the area where the food sat, he can touch the sink after the child watches her hands to get the peanut off. Anything.

So to me, isn't it safer to just provide the safe food anyways?

(At the center I worked at for years, when I started (would have been about 18 years ago now) we had a child with peanut allergies. We had a snack mix that we feed the children that had peanuts in it. We were told by older staff that all we needed to do was to pick out the peanuts out of the mix and give it to the child. And that's what we did. We were young and didn't know. I thank God now, that, that child never had a reaction.)

If your child has a peanut allergy- it's another story!! Many many labels have on them, processed with peanut lines- I had a parent that offered right away to bring snacks with him everyday, because it really is hard to find something that doesn't say that on the label!! There are many children that have peanut allergies and some can be very lethal to the child.
You should always send a snack for preschools and schools for peanut allergies. You can't be to safe when it comes to this!!!!

[GretasLittleFriends]

Could you imagine the cost if we supplied formula??

You don't have to offer formula? With the food program (at least here in Minnesota), in order to get paid for the infants, I have to offer formula, then when they're old enough I have to offer iron fortified infant cereal. I do not, however, have to offer baby food. I can make my own peas in the food processor or whatever.

So, when I first got on the food program, I went to Walmart and found the cheapest (iron fortified) baby formula. It happened to be Parent's Choice brand. I only have to offer it. The mothers of the two kids I had that drank/or still drink formula have chosen to use their own. I can still claim those meals with the food program because I offered something, yet they chose their own.

Oh, and my husband and I had this discussion when my son was born about the cost of formula. Each 25.75oz can (Enfamil Lipil or Similac Advance) costs around $25. Doing the math you can get somewhere between 18 and 22 bottles (8oz) so we'll say 20. Double that for a younger infant. Cost per 8oz bottle is somewhere around $1.20 per meal (bottle). If the infant is young and you're only feeding 4oz at a time, that's $0.60 per meal. I wish it only cost that much for the rest of the kids to feed them snacks/meals!!

[Persephone]

If your child has a peanut allergy- it's another story!! Many many labels have on them, processed with peanut lines- I had a parent that offered right away to bring snacks with him everyday, because it really is hard to find something that doesn't say that on the label!! There are many children that have peanut allergies and some can be very lethal to the child.
You should always send a snack for preschools and schools for peanut allergies. You can't be to safe when it comes to this!!!!

This is very un-true. Peanut allergy is not that hard to deal with. Everyone seems to think it is. My son also has an egg allergy, that is much harder. Peanut is pretty easy to avoid.

I'm more worried about at preschool on days that I send something different for my child, while the rest of the class is eating something that has peanut or egg that it could get to my son.

I drill it into my son why he can't eat foods because of allergies and he already at age 2 knew to ask if he could eat foods and if it had egg or peanut in it.

[originalkat]

I would not provide the special organic food for the children. I would say that you do serve some organic foods and provide well balanced meals, but if they want their children on a strictly organic diet they need to provide their own lunches.

[booroo]

I would not give them a break if I had to prep the food due to the extra time that it took. But if the food was ready and their was no major prep might would knock of a about 5-10 Dollars.

preping food for children with food allergies takes no more time than making regular food. Also, the only hard part is reading labels.
I have a child with food allergies, its not that hard to take the milk out and use soy/rice/Almond/Hemp milk in its place its not that hard, just learning the ratio is. When I make stuff that needs dairy, use her milk instead as the substitute. Really this makes me made that children with food allergies are left out on tons of things. Its not that hard to keep stuff that they can eat. I do alot of non dairy snack around here and food. I also provide the snacks for all the classroom parties and the after school church program(50 child and adults). I take a big hit in my budget because other people refuse to make foods that she can eat, and she is left out.
Also the food programs reimburses you for alot of the expense that you put into meals.

I would never ask a parent to bring in there own food if they had a food allergy, no if your vegan or stirckly organic, yes, that is different. But I still think that the organic can be reimbursed through the food program, or some of it anyway.

[Persephone]

preping food for children with food allergies takes no more time than making regular food. Also, the only hard part is reading labels.
I have a child with food allergies, its not that hard to take the milk out and use soy/rice/Almond/Hemp milk in its place its not that hard, just learning the ratio is. When I make stuff that needs dairy, use her milk instead as the substitute. Really this makes me made that children with food allergies are left out on tons of things. Its not that hard to keep stuff that they can eat. I do alot of non dairy snack around here and food. I also provide the snacks for all the classroom parties and the after school church program(50 child and adults). I take a big hit in my budget because other people refuse to make foods that she can eat, and she is left out.
Also the food programs reimburses you for alot of the expense that you put into meals.

I would never ask a parent to bring in there own food if they had a food allergy, no if your vegan or stirckly organic, yes, that is different. But I still think that the organic can be reimbursed through the food program, or some of it anyway.

Thank you for your post. I'm glad someone else sees that it's not that much harder. Yes, reading can be a pain at first but once you figure it out it goes pretty fast at the store. Just like someone who might be watching calories or carbs, you learn to read the labels.

The preschool that we will be using this fall is very willing to work with us on his diet needs. I do plan on bringing a lot of special treats, since DS can't have cupcakes from the store or anything like that.

[booroo]

Thank you for your post. I'm glad someone else sees that it's not that much harder. Yes, reading can be a pain at first but once you figure it out it goes pretty fast at the store. Just like someone who might be watching calories or carbs, you learn to read the labels.

The preschool that we will be using this fall is very willing to work with us on his diet needs. I do plan on bringing a lot of special treats, since DS can't have cupcakes from the store or anything like that.

r

They town that we live in now, actually is peanut/tree nut free.....Meaning the schools/preschools are free from all nuts.

As i said it not that hard. I have several websites that I purchase from. They have all the 8 food allergies free food mixes and stuff like that. My daughter has never has a chocalote chip cookies until last year when I found these special chocolate chips.

Where we lived before, in preschool she was left out alot....I learned her first year how left out she felt. Thats when I decided to be the snack mom for all parties. We had dairy free pizza parties and different stuff like. It can be done.

[Unregistered]

Food programs reimburse per meal. They don't care how expensive the food you are purchasing is, they are paying you back at a set rate.
I have one lactose intolerant child that I buy separate soy milk, yogurt, and cheese for.
I had to turn in a medical exemption form in order to serve him these foods.
When I claim his meals, I receive the same amount for his meals as I do for the other children. It's not going to break the bank or anything, but I do pay more to feed this particular child and even make a special grocery trip to buy the cheese because my regular store does not sell it. I can't feed the other children these foods and claim the meals, because they don't count if they don't have a medical exemption.
If I was really watching out for my bottom line, it would make more sense for me to have his parents provide the food.
Organic food would be completely on the parents.

[Persephone]

r

They town that we live in now, actually is peanut/tree nut free.....Meaning the schools/preschools are free from all nuts.

As i said it not that hard. I have several websites that I purchase from. They have all the 8 food allergies free food mixes and stuff like that. My daughter has never has a chocalote chip cookies until last year when I found these special chocolate chips.

Where we lived before, in preschool she was left out alot....I learned her first year how left out she felt. Thats when I decided to be the snack mom for all parties. We had dairy free pizza parties and different stuff like. It can be done.

That's great that they are peanut free where you live! I would love that!

Please PM me the sites that you use that are 'free'. I always love checking out new things!

[tenderhearts]

I have a dcg that is now 4, she has been with me since she was an infant. Her family are vegetarians and eat all organic, they have always supplied her food/snack. Now it's more of a snack they provide which she will not eat at my house. They allow me to feed her anything (which is within USDA guidelines) as long as I don't give her any meat. The snack he brings every day for her she will not eat here. So if she has apples in hers and knows that I'm feeding my kids my apples she wants my apples not hers, her dad knows this, so since they have a long drive home from my house like an hour they just eat it on the way home. It makes it nice for me that they are not so strict at my house.

[momma2girls]

This is very un-true. Peanut allergy is not that hard to deal with. Everyone seems to think it is. My son also has an egg allergy, that is much harder. Peanut is pretty easy to avoid.

I'm more worried about at preschool on days that I send something different for my child, while the rest of the class is eating something that has peanut or egg that it could get to my son.

I drill it into my son why he can't eat foods because of allergies and he already at age 2 knew to ask if he could eat foods and if it had egg or peanut in it.

yes, egg is harder, but if a daycare provider doesn't know anything on egg and peanut allergies, or milk allergies, it can be very difficult for them!! Most people don't know to look at every single label of every food, to see if has eggs or made on peanut lines, etc....... Many would just think of a peanut allergy, no nuts!!!

[gbcc]

You don't have to offer formula? With the food program (at least here in Minnesota), in order to get paid for the infants, I have to offer formula, then when they're old enough I have to offer iron fortified infant cereal. I do not, however, have to offer baby food. I can make my own peas in the food processor or whatever

No, I don't have to offer it. In NY I only have to offer the cereal which is no more than $2 per box and it last forever. I can offer it if I want to, but if I choose not to then I will still get reimbursed the same rate because I offer cereal. I can have a 8 wk baby on formula or breast milk and as long as I offer to buy cereal when older I will get reimbursed. I would think it was universal since it's a national program. Maybe it is up to the sponsor though.