We have the same kind of problems in home daycare but unlike a centre can let an overbearing parent go just because we dont' want to deal with their issues anymore. I am lucky in that I have a reception area at the front of my house and then a door that goes into the rest of the house which I have a gate on. Parents don't get past that gate unless I let them. In my home, parents ring the bell and I open the door - they don't just walk in. Love what kids will eat or do at daycare but act helpless for the parents.

Might be time to send home a new list of what is acceptable and what is not and to a certain extent find that line between what is and isn't. A rice krispie square or a granola bar is better than oreo cookies. If it is going to be an issue than lunches need to be checked at the door and unacceptable items removed. You might want to institute a fee for providing so if a granola bar is removed and the bag has no fruit the parents pays a quarter for an apple from the bowl.

Could you switch to a part provided lunch where parents send just the sandwich a piece of fruit and you provide the veggie tray and offer a milk program. That way you know kids are getting what the parents don't think they eat.

You also have to be careful of our definitions of junk food too given what is and what is not acceptable for the public schools. I had issues with my son when he was in grade one because he hated sandwiches so I used to make him muffins. If I put butter on it he was allowed to eat it but if I put jam or nutella (back before the nut ban days) he was not till I called the principal and complained. That teaspoon of jam did not take away from the nutritional value of that bran muffin and assured the entire thing was eaten. Homemade oatmeal raisin cookies were painted with the same stripes as the icing filled oreo cookies. If your lunches are to be very specific then time to remind parents what can go in the bag - one sandwich, one fruit, one vegetable and one dairy and nothing else. Then have a dumping grounds for unacceptable foods and a purchase option for proper foods.

Back to the parent in this case the lunch is onlhy a minor part of the issues. She has decided that she is above the rules and regulations - likely has a high profile career where she is the boss and is having a hard time being bossed so to speak. Instead of just asking her not to something next time which she obviously can't remember stop her in her tracks at that moment saying escuse me but parents don't come past this point. Then if you stand in her way she is less likely to push past you which if she does means she would be better finding her own nanny to boss around and not having her child in the centre.