New to daycare question!

myluckypig

So the kids just started daycare this week.  It was totally last minute.  They used to be watched by someone in our home, but she started having medical issues and could no longer watch them....so daycare it is! 

I am fairly happy with the center, but I had a few concerns that I didn't know if I should bring up...most of them are minor, but there is one that is really bugging me!   

I sent in each meal/snack in a ziploc bag.  For example, I sent a bag of hostess muffins (healthy, right?!) and put them inside a bag.  On the daily paper it says he ate 2.  Well, where did the other 3 go? That could have been another snack!  Then for his afternoon snack I sent a bag of 10 ritz crackers.  It says he ate 3...so there should have been 7 left in the bag.  I don't know if its worth bringing up or not.  

Also, this is a center where you have to provide all your own meals and snacks.  They will warm anything up, but it must fit in a lunch box.  So anything frozen doesn't work.  I am kind of at a loss as to what to pack for both kids!  Ideas?

aylafsu88

The food thing is normal.  I send food for my LO and what she does not eat they toss.  According to them it is a health issue so they don't keep the food or offer it at another meal.  I was really frustrated about this policy when it came to BM but with food I just let it go.  I do minimize the amount of food I send to try to reduce the waste/loss. 
Can you take the frozen food out and put it in your containers?  I do that sometimes because I combine a couple of things to make her lunch.  I send things like Quesidillas, pasta, black beans and rice, veggies, fruits, waffles, pancakes, eggs, grits, muffins, chicken nuggets etc for her meals.

myluckypig

Okay, I guess I will not say anything.  I am probably sending too much food, but I worry about them not having enough.  I never really made them follow a meal schedule.  They just ate when they were hungry, especially my older one.  Lesson learned there!

I didn't really think about leftovers or thawing out food then sending it.  D'oh! Thanks ladies.

sworms914

Are they able to store any food for you? For example, could you send a box of crackers, fruit cups, yogurt, etc? Then you don't have to worry about packing as much each day. I usually send leftovers to warm up. I just found these Purdue chicken nuggets (smart something) that taste very yummy. They are super easy to heat up in the morning and then you could send to school. I send him in with an English muffin with strawberry cream cheese that he has as a second breakfast. Keep in mind that they feed the kids several times a day so you can pack smaller meals instead of one large one.

StokedWifey

Do they have cubbies where you can keep shelf stable things?  We keep some Gerber ravioli trays, graham crackers, applesauce, raisins and Puffs in Bryson's and they just pull those out as needed.  That way you don't have to pack something every day and they can just get as much as they need.

APendola

I think if she touches the food but doesn't eat it, they probably toss it.  So maybe don't send large portions or put them into separate bags.  Maybe discuss with them what would work.  I would think if the snacks were muffins, LO could be given a couple and the others could be saved for the next day or given to him later if he is hungry.  It might be good to go over their food policies so that you understand each other better.

For frozen things...maybe you could have frozen food in your home and move defrost it in your fridge overnight so that it can fit into a smaller container?