Wasted Food

[laundrymom]

I serve. They eat. Or don't. They will eventually. Or they'll be grumpy. And grumpy children must be tired since they didn't want to eat. Right?

So they get a nap.
Then a snack

Rinse and repeat.

How do you deal with/cope with/rationalize all of the food that is wasted on a typical day? It feels like no matter what we serve, half to 3/4 of it gets thrown away because it is mushed and mixed together. Even when we ask the kids what they want, they often refuse to eat it. The one that asks for just jelly starts to cry and says she doesn't like it. The others refuse for similar reasons. It doesn't matter what we say, what the consequences are, them being hungry later, etc., they simply won't eat it. I am seriously considering adding a meal charge onto my base rate to cover all the wasted food.

[Lil_Diddle]

I cringe every time I pour milk down the drain. I serve well balanced meals, and try to serve a variety. I always try and include fresh fruits and veggies. The grocery part of my budget is pretty substantial. I had a new dcm tell me her child was a picky eater and sent me a list of what he will eat. She came in this morning and was concerned about him eating, and asked if I offer alternatives. Of course I said no, I provide meals daily that include all the food groups. She then asked me if I got her (very limited list) I said yes (but of course I can't cater to her child alone. I come from the philosophy that if they are hungry enough they'll eat. When I had a boy that began a few months ago his mom was concerned about the same thing, now she comes in and said "he won't eat that at home I'm glad he tries that for you. The new dcm asked if she could bring in alternatives. I debated and then decided that ok that children can bring a cold lunch but it must include the major food groups and absolutely no sweets or treats. I still don't know if I'm completely on board with this decision just toddlers won't understand why kid "A" gets something different. The Dcm then asked if she brought alternatives and he didn't eat much of his lunch could I give him the other. I said I guess but now I'm thinking that, that is totally unfair to the other kids...two lunches. I think I need to make it like the schools. Hot lunch or cold lunch. I do post the weekly menu for all to see. Curious on how the rest of you would have handled that

[Lil_Diddle]

Absolutely love this philosophy

I serve. They eat. Or don't. They will eventually. Or they'll be grumpy. And grumpy children must be tired since they didn't want to eat. Right?

So they get a nap.
Then a snack

Rinse and repeat.

[Blackcat31]

I cringe every time I pour milk down the drain. I serve well balanced meals, and try to serve a variety. I always try and include fresh fruits and veggies. The grocery part of my budget is pretty substantial. I had a new dcm tell me her child was a picky eater and sent me a list of what he will eat. She came in this morning and was concerned about him eating, and asked if I offer alternatives. Of course I said no, I provide meals daily that include all the food groups. She then asked me if I got her (very limited list) I said yes (but of course I can't cater to her child alone. I come from the philosophy that if they are hungry enough they'll eat. When I had a boy that began a few months ago his mom was concerned about the same thing, now she comes in and said "he won't eat that at home I'm glad he tries that for you. The new dcm asked if she could bring in alternatives. I debated and then decided that ok that children can bring a cold lunch but it must include the major food groups and absolutely no sweets or treats. I still don't know if I'm completely on board with this decision just toddlers won't understand why kid "A" gets something different. The Dcm then asked if she brought alternatives and he didn't eat much of his lunch could I give him the other. I said I guess but now I'm thinking that, that is totally unfair to the other kids...two lunches. I think I need to make it like the schools. Hot lunch or cold lunch. I do post the weekly menu for all to see. Curious on how the rest of you would have handled that

Nope. I understand the idea but I think it's coddling and I think its unrealistic for group care.

I would never allow a parent to bring food in unless I required all parents to do so.

I am on the food program so all my children are offered the same meal (plenty of choices for even the pickiest eater) and that's that.

I think if you don't normally allow parents to bring food in, I would not allow this one to.

I know you already said you would do it but there is nothing wrong with saying you thought about it or tried it and decided it isn't going to work if you change your mind.

[Mike]

That gave me a good idea for when I start. If all parents want to do this, I'm thinking, as part of my weekly menu, 1 day each week or every other week, parents bring their kids lunch. That one day, they will each have their own meal made by mommy.

Does anyone do anything like that, or ever tried it?

[daycarediva]

Mike I think that's a great idea. My issue is AT LEAST one parent would forget.

We 'brown bag' lunches 1x/week in summer and eat outside. I put them in paper bags with the kids names on them and it's a huge treat to have a sandwich. :: I thought we could have parents provide them, but I would not want to deal with the various containers/bags/issues with Cohen getting chips and Sylas getting carrots, etc.

[daycarediva]

I serve what I serve my family, so I just make a little more. I have them serve SMALL amounts, we use a tablespoon as a scoop and they can't have seconds of anything unless they eat all of their firsts.

I have had really great eaters, so I don't throw away a lot, but I have the same thoughts as BC. Either way, I spent the money so why do I care?

[Lil_Diddle]

I think this a great idea, and would really help cut down on my costs

That gave me a good idea for when I start. If all parents want to do this, I'm thinking, as part of my weekly menu, 1 day each week or every other week, parents bring their kids lunch. That one day, they will each have their own meal made by mommy.

Does anyone do anything like that, or ever tried it?

[Lil_Diddle]

So I did tell DCm I gave it more thought and that it would be strictly a hot or cold, and told her that if he was hungry enough he would eat and may even be more motivated to try new things. Anyways, I also told her she could bring lunch but it had to include all the food groups. Im still not ththrilled about the idea of bringing in lunches, but I do understand her concern. She just looks over my menu so condescending. Like tomorrow is cheese quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla, black beans, corn and orange slices...she was just like he might eat the quesadilla. Black rand? Do kids eat black beans. My answer was yes that a few will.

Nope. I understand the idea but I think it's coddling and I think its unrealistic for group care.

I would never allow a parent to bring food in unless I required all parents to do so.

I am on the food program so all my children are offered the same meal (plenty of choices for even the pickiest eater) and that's that.

I think if you don't normally allow parents to bring food in, I would not allow this one to.

I know you already said you would do it but there is nothing wrong with saying you thought about it or tried it and decided it isn't going to work if you change your mind.

[Blackcat31]

So I did tell DCm I gave it more thought and that it would be strictly a hot or cold, and told her that if he was hungry enough he would eat and may even be more motivated to try new things. Anyways, I also told her she could bring lunch but it had to include all the food groups. Im still not ththrilled about the idea of bringing in lunches, but I do understand her concern. She just looks over my menu so condescending. Like tomorrow is cheese quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla, black beans, corn and orange slices...she was just like he might eat the quesadilla. Black rand? Do kids eat black beans. My answer was yes that a few will.

Experiencing new foods and seeing your peers take part in eating foods that may be foreign to a child is a positive experience.

Limiting him to only those things DCM knows he likes is sad and actually counterproductive. He will NEVER be motivated (in anyway) to want to try new things.

If you are going to allow mom to be responsible for his meals, I would not take ANY part in substituting or adding additions onto what mom sends. If she is going to be responsible for his food she needs to be responsible for ALL of it.

^^ That might even encourage DCB to WANT to try your food. If he sees the others kids enjoying what you served and happily gobbling it down, he may say he doesn't want his food..you can always tell him that is what mom sent so he needs to eat what mom sent...then I would encourage him to tell mom he no longer wants sack lunches.

Allowing him to choose between what was provided by his parent and what you are serving when HE decides is NOT something I would ever allow. That is way too much control for a child to have and I feel actually makes the pickiness worse. I could accept the sack lunch but it would have to be one or the other ALL the time and not just those things or days he wants your food.