Junk Food?? My feelings are pretty hurt.

[Sandbox Sally]

I post my daycare menu in the entryway of my home. Mom of dcb told me this morning, "I don't mind once in a while, but could we try to keep it healthier? We don't normally eat junk food at home".

I take pride in following the Canada Food Guide, and striving to provide healthy, from scratch, meals and snacks to the daycare kids. I am seriously hurt over this. :blink:She was referring to homemade meatloaf that I was serving today for lunch. She asked me what was in it.

bread crumbs
bbq sauce
oatmeal
extra lean ground beef
cheddar

Do you guys think this is junk?? I served it with roasted potatoes and green beans. I sincerely don't know what is expected of me any more. This is the same woman who made a big deal about the swim diaper a couple of weeks back.

I can't afford to let them go right now. What the hell do I say to her??

[cfred]

Ah, the fussy parent....gotta love 'em...not! Advertise and try to replace her as quickly as is humanly possible. I think your meatloaf sounds fine and actually covers a few food groups, so I'm not sure what her problem is. Did she still think it was junk food after you told her what was in it and that it was made from scratch? And this begs the question - What the hell do they eat at home if THAT'S considered junk food?

I'm willing to bet that none of the other parents have an issue with the food? What sort of other meals do you serve? Is she concerned about variety? To satisfy her, maybe throw in some meals of poached fish, veggie options, omelets....don't know really. One meal here that is a big staple is a homemade muffin, fresh fruit, cheese and yogourt. The kids adore these meals and the parents have always seemed happy with it.

Like I said, get rid of her as soon as you can. Chances are she won't be happy at the next place either. I know from working in large daycare centres, the food preparation isn't nearly as conscientious as your efforts. I say, good for you and keep it up....I'd feed it to my own kids quite happily :)

[Lou]

Yeah, that's ridiculous and not junk at all! Did you ask her what she was referring to? I'd replace her as well!

[kidlove]

Know you can't let her go now but that being said....this chick is only gonna get worse. She is playing the "your not as good as me" card. Every once in a while I get a Mom that seems to be bent out of shape over ME getting her kid rather than HER. Kinda sounds like that here....she is going to point out to you that no matter how hard you try, you will NEVER match up to her greatness!!!! Just tell her that's what you feed the kids and IF she doesn't like it? she is more than welcome to pack a "healthier" meal for her child or go somewhere where they serve "healthier" food. What a b****! She only trying to knock you down a notch for some reason, just let her and then give it back by telling her she can provide his food from now on. :)

[kidlove]

Or FILL THE SPOT SOON!!!!!! Let her search high and low for someone who she can "boss". :)

[Sandbox Sally]

Yeah, I do NOT serve junk food. AND, if it's variety she wants, I made Sept and Oct's menus with zero repeats on them, so lots of variety.

Things such as:

Chicken and spinach salad
Homemade Beef Barley soup
Veggie Omelet
Tuna and havarti on wheat wrap
Hummus and pita with tomato and cukes
Cheese and broccoli quesadilla with rice

So, I think I'm pretty good. I do a starch, a fruit/veg and a protein at every snack as well. I seriously can't imagine how meatloaf is junk, but maybe it's the ground beef she's having the aversion to....maybe I should just ask.

[Judy Trickett]

There are some parents that you really just can't please. Honestly, I have to wonder if some mothers want so badly to find fault with us out of jealousy and guilt that they reach pretty far to do so. I am completely serious. I don't know how I would feel if I had to be away from my kid 50 hours a week and then top that off with the fact that the kid actually LIKES the dcprovider.

I wish more mothers who are nit-picky toward the person who cares for their CHILD would take 5 minutes and step back and examine their OWN emotions and feelings. One, most providers are good people who are honestly doing the best they can with regard to the kids in their care. Two, when you chose to work outside the home you also chose to lose some control over the 24/7 habits, foods and activities of your child.

Seriously....meatloa f. Give me a break. :rolleyes:

bread crumbs - does the kid not eat BREAD at home? :rolleyes:
bbq sauce - tomato based and full of lycopene. Sure, a bit of sugar but nothing major
oatmeal - again, does the kid not eat oatmeal at home? WHOLE GRAIN.
extra lean ground beef - very good source of protein.
cheddar - good source of calcium and dairy.

Honestly, she needs to put more effort into berating you and at least come up with something valid.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup that sounds like a mircomanager to me ... someone who is not happy unless they are criticizing others :(

I also consider my menu to be healthy and to EXCEED the Canada's Food Guide ... and that said I love meatloaf it is a comfort food and when made from scratch is perfectly 'healthy' option .... I do make sure to use lean ground beef or turkey and make sure to get it from the butcher where it is ground right there on sight where customers can SEE the process so I know it is REAL meat and not that pink slime filler crap that they sell in the tubed meat or supermarket meat that comes 'packaged' from outside the store cause Jamie Oliver did a story on that kind of ground meat and well I could never eat that stuff now :(

If she watched that show that could be what is making her consider 'meatloaf' as not a healthy choice as she might be assuming that ALL ground meat is made this way ... cause the chemicals they use to create that pink slime filler in cheap ground meat .... EWWW and definitely not healthy!

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/is-pink-slime-in-the-beef-at-your-grocery-store/

[kidlove]

I don't think she is bothered by your menu at all!!!! think it's a cover for something deeper. Like you said...first it was the "pull-up" now this. NEXT WHAT? Something very trivial I'm sure....she is just finding faults in you to make herself feel better. Play her game or let her go!

[mimi]

Your menu is amazing. Do not bend over backwards to please these woman or she will soon be in control of your business not you. Her ignorance and disrespect towards you is ridiculous. I would let her know her remarks and behaviour will not be tolerated as soon as you find a replacement. Let us know when this happy day arrives.

[kidlove]

can you give me your meatloaf recipe? that sounds delish, all of a sudden have a hankering for meatloaf tonight!!!!! :)

[Sandbox Sally]

haha thanks kidlove...

Seriously - the ingredients I listed are the ingredients I use! Oh whoops - and an egg and some worchestershire. :) happy unhealthy eating ;)

[Inspired by Reggio]

Also does anyone find that the persons who tend to be the pickiest about what YOU serve are the ones whose kids come in talking about where they ate out for supper everyday?

I have a current client who is obsessed with healthy food options and chose me and pays more for my care than she would in her own community because of my menu and approach to nutrition ... but the 15 month old can say McDs but cannot say MY NAME and the oldest who is verbal talks about every fast food restaurant out there when you drive by them 'my mom took me there for lunch' 'my dad picks us up XYZ from there' .... they want them eating healthy at daycare so that they do not feel bad feeling them CRAP at home :rolleyes:

[michellesmunchkins]

Your menu is fine, she's just looking for a reason to bitch (pardon my language). I have one like that too and agree with Judy that the parent feels guilty about leaving their child and wants to look better than you. I have one like this too, she complains about EVERYTHING yet brings her kid here every single day. Don't let it get to you. I'm like you in that I keep her because I like her child, not her and I really can't afford to let her go. Advertise though, and replace her when you can. Until then, just know that this is her problem not yours. :)

[Other Mummy]

Judy, kidlove and Reggio nailed it. DCM is jealous, micromanaging, and guilt ridden mommy. Oh boy. Good luck with this one. Advertise and pray for a quick replacement. I know it's not easy being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I too have a DCM I would terminate tomorrow but she's got two kids with me and I still have to fill one spot.

[dodge__driver11]

Seriously??

Then I must be feeding my kids like crap too because WE LOVE MEATLOAF HERE, and I make it the same way you do alpha. Not to worry. Micromanager for sure!

[Judy Trickett]

Also does anyone find that the persons who tend to be the pickiest about what YOU serve are the ones whose kids come in talking about where they ate out for supper everyday?

I have a current client who is obsessed with healthy food options and chose me and pays more for my care than she would in her own community because of my menu and approach to nutrition ... but the 15 month old can say McDs but cannot say MY NAME and the oldest who is verbal talks about every fast food restaurant out there when you drive by them 'my mom took me there for lunch' 'my dad picks us up XYZ from there' .... they want them eating healthy at daycare so that they do not feel bad feeling them CRAP at home :rolleyes:

I run an exclusively organic daycare. The parents come here because of it and tell me that they chose this daycare because of the food.

BUT.......EVERY week I WILL find fast food french fries and Timbit remnants in my drive way. My guess is they fall off the seats when they are putting their kids in and out of the car. I also have kids who show up with McD toys in the pockets of their coats.

I also remember once taking my MOST "organic and natural" family, ever, into Walmart on and odd day where I only had that one kid. That kid was 3 at the time. She knew EVERY brand name junk item by NAME and asked for them. Sorry, but if your kid ONLY eats those "perfectly balanced, nutritional foods" then how does she, at 3 yrs old, know all the brand names of the junk foods?

I am a bit of a food Nazi. But, that being said, there MUST be moderation. I have been known to have a few potato chips here and there. Chocolate is my best friend. :o It's all in moderation. If you are eating the "good stuff" 90% of the time then it's okay to splurge on a treat. But what bothers me are those people who LIE and claim to NEVER eat anything that isn't 100% nutritionally sound. We are people and life is far too short to never splurge on a treat. Just be honest about it. You know?

[jazmic]

Holy! Your menu is definitely healthier than mine! lol. I don't serve junk food either, but your menu sounds great! Wow.... she most definitely would not be happy with mine! lol.

[sunnydays]

Reggio and Judy...this is exactly what I think! I have actually had honest parents tell me that they are so glad I serve healthy food because they don't feel so bad giving the kids crap at home :blink: Alos, I have a new child and when they parents arrived for the interview, the mother apologized for the chocolate on the child's face as he's been eating it in the car...then goes one to say she doesn't like anything out of boxes such as granola bars etc (I don't serve those things either as I agree that they are full of sugar)....she mentioned that her child loves anything with ground beef, then a few days later said she never buys ground beef because of the risk of EColi etc...then arrives Monday saying dcb might poop extra as they had gone out for poutine the night before (with cheeseburger topping)! I don't know why parents feel they have to lie about the food they give their kids...it is their kids who lose out...not me!

[kidlove]

ha ha judy and reggio, totally there with you. I had a mom request I not put any butter on her sons spinach.....how many people even feed kids spinach? but my point is though...her as* was as big as the moon and she would brag her eating habits up all the time. Hubby would tell me she had a "soft spot" for oreos and ritz crackers!!!! hmmmm! but I wasn't allowed to melt a little real butter on her kids spinach. She too, was a freak about everything else under the sun as well. Jeolous till the day is long, pick pick pick, was never happy with me! Should have heard how mad she got when I baked a pie for HER and hubby, but gave it to hubby to bring home. calls me later and says "so you baked my husband a pie!"......uh no, I baked your family a pie! Controling.

[Crayola kiddies]

Can you bake me a pie kidlove ????? Cherry please ; )

[dodge__driver11]

MMMMMMMMMMM pie sorry to high jack the thread

[Inspired by Reggio]

....Should have heard how mad she got when I baked a pie for HER and hubby, but gave it to hubby to bring home. calls me later and says "so you baked my husband a pie!"......uh no, I baked your family a pie! Controling.

Seriously ... would have taken me all I had not to be sarcastic with an 'oh honestly baking him a pie is the least I could do after all the wonderful things he's done for me' and than just let her jealous ole controlling mind go to town with what that might mean.

[dodge__driver11]

HAHAHAHA reggio you are awesome!

[apples and bananas]

This is exactly why I don't post my menus. I don't want any parent nit picking at my choices. I don't want someone to see Mac and Cheese and judge me. When really, my mac and cheese is home made, real cheese, purree'd veggies and whole grain pasta. Kids aren't going to eat veggies and lean chicken breast all day every day. You have to take the favourites and make them healthy. I've always told my parents... I serve healthy alternatives. No processed, lots of dairy, lots of veggies and lots of fruit.

And when one of them asks at the end of the day what he ate I can explain what I fed him honestly, rather then having a posting up for them to interpret.

[bright sparks]

I have to say that while everyones comments are accurate and I agree that this woman is clearly a bit of a headcase trying to micro manage things and be a complete control freak, you did mention that you are not able to afford to let this child go right now. So, in the hopes of offering some productive advice to maybe get her to back off with her over the top ridiculous comments about things, I suggest you call her on it.

I would say to her at next pickup that you are puzzled at her comments about junk food and while you welcome her feedback on such things as the menu, you would prefer it if it was constructive and specific as otherwise it is easy to misinterpret, and leaves you questioning your abilities to cater healthy foods to the kids which isn't fair to you. Ask her outright what it is that mispleases her about your menu. Explain that while you may not agree with her, or change your menu as a result, you would like the opportunity to be made aware of her concerns and explain things to her.

As the parent she has the right to question a daycare provider, she should just do it in a manner that isn't offensive and rude toward the provider. It doesnt mean that they are right, or what they are asking isn't stupid, but I believe its better to address the issue rather than let it brew inside you and piss you off. Maybe this won't help the situation but it may help to bring some relief to you in the meantime while you advertise and try to fill the spot.

Parents don't have the right and shouldn't treat us childcare providers like crap, but I find its best to try and confront them on things, as sometimes, they dont mean to be awful, and other times its just a way to clear the air a bit until you are in a position to stick a boot in their arse and kick them to the curb. Then who's having the last laugh :)

Good Luck

[Play and Learn]

Yup, with A & B on this one. I don't post menus because I saw parents act out the way this mother did at centers that I used to work at. I also don't feed junk food - maybe the odd fruit cup when I ran out of fresh fruit or boxed KD because I need to really get groceries.

ADVERTISE as much as you can! You really NEED to be rid of this family!!!!

Good luck!

[playfelt]

I don't post menus either. I decide more on the spare of the moment and what is left in the fridge. It is a ton easier now though to have a better idea of what is available compared to when my son was at home and I would open the fridge and find all the leftovers gone - half to his lunchbag and half to his midnight snack.

[dodge__driver11]

I do not post menus eithier I have had parents decide to bring things for snack..but I welcome that :)

[Inspired by Reggio]

I stopped posting the menu as well and just have a list of 'typically served foods' and 'favorite meals and snack combinations' on my website .... that said I do still menu plan with the children each Friday for the upcoming week and record that on my computer in my daily log as a reference for ME cause I am one of those people who need to make a grocery list based on what I need for the planned meals and menu and so forth otherwise I end up not having something I need for a recipe.

I do admit that not having it 'posted' for parents gives me the freedom to serve it in whatever order I feel like each week so I might have the 'chicken stir fry' listed as Tuesday meal but might decide to serve it Friday instead and have Friday's soup and sandwiches and Tuesday or whatever... I do have some clients who ask daily 'what they ate' and well others who once they have been here a couple months just trust that their child comes home happy, healthy and thriving so they must be eating well ;)

[Momof4]

Oh Alpha, that Mom is a moron! Sounds like she is definitely a micromanager but doesn't she have common courtesy? It is true that you can't please all of the people all of the time, but that was just rude! I hope you let the comments roll off your back and you have forgotten about it by now. Don't lose any sleep over an ignorant comment.

I think your menu sounds nutritious and well balanced. All of my food is home cooked and I only have one Mom who asks me to email her daily to tell me what I feed her very picky daughter so she can give her different things in the evening and the rest don't care at all about my menu so I stopped making one years ago.

I also serve mostly organically grown fruits & veggies but I draw the line there because the cost of so many other things like meat are very expensive. But I know for a fact I'm serving all the daily nutrition that a few of the children in my care will eat because prepackaged food is served at home.

[momof2cuties]

I've learned there are just people in this world that no matter how good something is, they WILL find a problem. I think meatloaf is a great choice, plus you can sneak in lot's of veggies for those picky eaters. All the kids plus my own at our daycare love it so it's always nice to have that go to meal that all the kids like. If it was me and had such a picky parent but couldn't afford to term. I would advertise to find someone new to fill the spot. If that is not a option, I would remind the parent that all daycare meals are in accordance to the Canadian Food guide and if she has any issues with any of the meals she is more than welcome to pack a lunch ;)

[mustbenuts]

Yup that sounds like a mircomanager to me ... someone who is not happy unless they are criticizing others :(

I also consider my menu to be healthy and to EXCEED the Canada's Food Guide ... and that said I love meatloaf it is a comfort food and when made from scratch is perfectly 'healthy' option .... I do make sure to use lean ground beef or turkey and make sure to get it from the butcher where it is ground right there on sight where customers can SEE the process so I know it is REAL meat and not that pink slime filler crap that they sell in the tubed meat or supermarket meat that comes 'packaged' from outside the store cause Jamie Oliver did a story on that kind of ground meat and well I could never eat that stuff now :(

If she watched that show that could be what is making her consider 'meatloaf' as not a healthy choice as she might be assuming that ALL ground meat is made this way ... cause the chemicals they use to create that pink slime filler in cheap ground meat .... EWWW and definitely not healthy!

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/is-pink-slime-in-the-beef-at-your-grocery-store/
Canadian meat is not treated in the same way and ammonia is not used in the process.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Canadian meat is not treated in the same way and ammonia is not used in the process.

Admittedly I do not trust where a lot of our food comes from anymore ~ it is so hard to know what is truly 'made in Canada' and therefore truly up to the standards we are suppose to have here because the labeling laws for what that means are so very LAX and misleading ... I know this is suppose to be true that we do not allow the pink slime processing here or that our cows are not allowed to be given growth hormones and other things .... however a lot of our 'processed foods' that contain ground beef are not made in Canada but shipped here in frozen trucks from lord knows where and than they are packaged and labelled in Canada and therefore allowed to bare a label that says 'manufactured in Canada' as long as a certain % of the process takes place here :(

No Frills has pink 'tubes of ground beef' that are sold both here and in the States sister stores ... so which country 'produces them and which countries 'rules' are overseeing those who do ... kwim?

Just look at the recent Alberta beef scare .... that was meat that was produced in another province than I live it but it affected my meat source here in Ontario not to mention it affected meat from BOTH sides of the border into bordering US states ... just scary and I can see why some parents just start not wanting to 'take a chance' with their food sources!

[mustbenuts]

Oh I totally agree that sourcing your food as close to home as possible is ideal. The ecoli scare was the tip of the iceberg I think.