Originally Posted by
bright sparks
I think there are pros and cons to the whole lunch situation. I've done daycare for 9 years and have always provided food. I cook from scratch and nothing processed and while I love it, it is an incredible amount of work. I could see a lot of parents preferring meals to be included because if that parent is leaving the house at 7 and not getting in until 5 or 6, making that extra meal is extra work for them. It's just a case of being organized and making sure there are leftovers from evening meals and doing weekend meal and snack prep, but some parents are not good at being organized. We all have strengths and weakness' right!
I also think it is another thing similar to paid vacation where it depends on your market and the norm for your area. In areas that are saturated with providers and the norm is to have meals included, if a provider were to request meals from parents, there is a greater chance of losing potential clients to the other providers who provide meals. Inclusive meals is a major convenience for parents. If there is no option at large for included meals, then parents will accept it as a norm and not question it.
I would really like to not have to cook for anyone but my family, perhaps I would eat better as a result because I wouldn't give my everything to all the kids in my care and my own children and then resort to take out and drive thru because I can't bear the thought of cooking again. In reality though, not providing meals would be a deal breaker for most families.