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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be slightly irritated by nursery changing meals?

23 replies

pleasethanks · 05/10/2012 19:54

DD's nursery price includes breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. She has breakfast at home, that is fine, that is our choice. Parents can provide dinner and nursery will heat it up etc. All fine. DD is picked up about 430, so has dinner at home

Now they have started providing dinner and have reduced what is offered at afternoon snack (they still get one, but less of it). This is not leading to an increase in price. However, DD still won't be having her dinner there, as I like to give her dinner at home.

But, I am slightly annoyed that afternoon snack will be slightly smaller and we are certainly not paying any less. And there is an additional meal now being offered that DD won't be getting. Okay, it is not leading to an increase in fees at the moment, but the cost has to come from somewhere!

AIBU? Should I say something?

OP posts:

tjah04 · 05/10/2012 19:58

They have to go with the majority. If most kids are there 7am - 6pm, their thinking is probably that they will get one hot cooked meal a day rather than heated food.

Original poster

pleasethanks · 05/10/2012 20:00

tj Lunch is a hot cooked 2 course meal!

OP posts:

RedHelenB · 05/10/2012 20:02

I think YABU because if she has her dinner at home she will only need a light snack in the afternoon/

TheSurgeonsMate · 05/10/2012 20:03

I think YABU, really. You pick up early, and that's why you're not getting the same "value for money" as people who pick up later. It's not really because of what the nursery decides to include in the price. It wouldn't occur to me to worry about the size of a snack unless I was finding it hard to keep the child satisfied over the course of the day or nourished over the course of the week.

PickledFanjoCat · 05/10/2012 20:03

If she is getting a hot cooked lunch and snack and dinner albeit at home that is enough?

It's the package you pay for, fees haven't gone up. I haven't heard of one where you can turn meals down and pay less. I can't see really what there is to complain about unless your worried her snack isn't big enough?

Salamanger · 05/10/2012 20:05

The cost of food is quite a tiny proportion of the total cost of running a nursery (staffing, insurance, utilities, consumables, etc.).

Do they have ways to provide feedback? I don't think its worth complaining about- the children probably won't notice and just eat more later.

Sokmonsta · 05/10/2012 20:10

You are not bu unreasonable to feel cheated. But do you not send your dd in time for those meals or choose not to take them up? Eg we used to drop dc off at 0730, breakfast was 0730 until 0830 but we chose for our children not to have breakfast (we paid an hourly rate with meals extra). Nursery are unlikely to give you a discount as ime, they don't even like taking off the included meal cost when, due to dietary requirements that they are unable unwilling to cater for, food is provided.

Yama · 05/10/2012 20:11

I know why you are annoyed - your dd is getting less but you are paying the same amount.

Try to ignore what you are paying for and concentrate on what is actually best for your dd. I find that a light afternoon snack means that ds (and dd before him) eats more of his evening meal. I make sure his evening meal is healthy so am pleased by a light afternoon snack.

As a parent we end up paying for ££££ of provisions that we do not actually use. I find that I am happier if I can find a way to be a a bit Zen about it.

MyDogEatsPoop · 05/10/2012 20:12

Could she have something from the breakfast with her snack in the afternoon?

Original poster

pleasethanks · 05/10/2012 20:15

I can see all points, thanks. But you yama have hit the nail on the head. I feel like my DD will be getting less than the others, but we are paying the same. But I suppose that is my choice, I chose to have her home with me for dinner and that is more important to me than getting all the value I can out of nursery! But it still grates a little....

OP posts:

Born2bemild · 05/10/2012 20:20

Tbh the advantage of your dd doing a shorter day is way more valuable than a few mouthfuls of food. Think of yourself as the lucky ones!

sookiesookie · 05/10/2012 20:28

How much do you really think a smaller afternoon snack would save you if you passed the saving on.
Its just one of this things.

Ds goes to nursery 9-3.30. We have to pay full day and he is in both am and pm sessions. He doesn't get breakfast or dinner. But it was our choice to send him there and our choice to not send him for the full day. I could drop him off at 8 and pick up at 6 and get better 'value' for money. But I would rather have him with me and have tea with me, dh and dd.

JugsMcGee · 05/10/2012 20:43

Yes, technically she is getting less, but she's still getting a snack, it's just smaller. Probably about 50p in the grand scheme of things. If you want to get more value out of nursery then send her for the full day plus meals.

PickledFanjoCat · 05/10/2012 20:49

Ds loves having brekkie in the nursery he has dinner home with me.

Can you take her in for breakfast? I find it makes mornings so much easier, ds takes 1/2 an hour to an hour to eat and clean on its own. He likes to festoon his head with cereal.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 05/10/2012 20:52

Can't imagine anything worse than trying to get the dc breakfasted and out! But I prefer them to eat with us on the evening

BlackholesAndRevelations · 05/10/2012 23:15

YABU as you are paying for the package and it's YOIR CHOICE not to take it. I agree with whoever said you should consider yourselves lucky that you're able to pick up at 4.30 and have her home for dinner.

MerylStrop · 05/10/2012 23:20

YABU, they are responding to their customers' needs. In fact they are improving their offer, but you are choosing not to take them up on it (because you can). I think you just have to put up with this one.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/10/2012 23:30

What do you actually mean when you say she will be getting less?

What and how much was the afternoon snack before the change, and what is it going to be now?

santaisNOTathreat · 05/10/2012 23:34

in work at a hospital, we change meals depending on wastage.

perhap there is a reason

HolyAutumnGoldBatman · 06/10/2012 00:01

YABU because it is entirely your choice to pick her up early.

If you want to get your money's worth drop her off in time for breakfast and pick up after they have their tea.

If you're worried about her being hungry, then ask them to give her a little bit extra at snack time as she won't be having tea until much later. I'm sure they'll be able to just give her an extra bit of whatever they're having without too much trouble.

ErikNorseman · 06/10/2012 07:51

How much smaller is the snack? 1/2 and apple smaller? 1 sandwich instead of 2? Seriously, you are complaining about being 'cheated' out of about 25p a day worth of food. It's probably not a bad thing anyway, my DS nursery does afternoon snack too and it's so substantial that he only ever wants a bit of fruit or toast when he gets back.

insancerre · 06/10/2012 08:05

YABU
If you are that concerned that your daughter is going to lose out then ask the nursery if she can have a bit extra at afternoon snack as she won't be there at tea time.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 06/10/2012 08:09

What are the afternoon snacks? Its hard to serve less of a banana or apple or half a pot of yoghurt....which I would consider a snack.

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