Special diets

[5 Little Monkeys]

I feel different food requests for CHOICE is different than an allergy/sensitivity/diet reasons.

I didn't realize what I do to accommodate some families was rare. I may use that as a selling point when need be!!! LoL

[Lee-Bee]

It also has a lot to do with how you prepare your meals. If you tend to serve each food item separate. Meat, starch, veggie then it might be easier to not put the meat on one child's plate {thought they'd be lacking an important part of their diet (protein)}. But, if you tend to make a lot of casseroles, stews, soups, stir-fry's etc then it is really hard to just not serve the meat. You would have to make a separate dish for the vegetarian child.

The vast majority of our lunches are mixed dishes where I can't just remove the meat. Therefore I wouldn't want to be in the habit of having to cook every meal differently for one child. They would just be better off in a different daycare.

I am not much a fan of having different meals for different kids. I get that it is the reality in a lot of daycares and is later in school. But, I like that the kids are all served the same food and see their friends eating the same foods. I like that over time the peer pressure of seeing their friends eat those foods eventually has them branch out and try more. It took 1.5yrs for my DCG to finally eat pasta sauce...1.5 yrs of her watching my daughter bath herself in the sauce in glory lol. But she eats it...despite home not serving it to her because she never eats it.

I'd be hesitant on taking on a family that wants different meals (whether provided by them or not). They would have to be a rock solid match on all other fronts lol. That said, if my 2.5yr old were in daycare I would likely be sending her own food. She is the above kid that eats chickpeas and black beans and kidney beans for snack. It is a very rare occasion that she will eat any type of cracker. She has never had any interest. Same for bread. Since this is often the majority of snacks and a big part of meals for many others I could see having to send food for her. BUT...I would be doing this because in my opinion I would be sending BETTER foods in place of food served (not that there is anything wrong with bread and crackers). I would never send baby food in place of daycare meals (but, as mentioned it's their kid and you can only win so many battles)!

I down sized my daycare long ago but I had quickly learned that little things add up to become extra burdens and this job is tough enough...no need to make it more complicated on the caregivers behalf. I stick with families that are a good fit and that means little things like eating and sleeping the same as the group. I wouldn't open early or late...because over time it just gets annoying and you get resentful. I can't help but feel the food thing would be the same. Will you regret it months, or years from now?