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. 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.

bread crumbs - does the kid not eat BREAD at home?
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/headline...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.