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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to complain about this lunch?

35 replies

twosmallbuttons · 02/10/2014 18:09

DS (2.4) goes to a childminder 2.5 days a week. He has lunch there each day plus dinner on one day.

Yesterday the CM said he ate:
cheese, ham lunchables with crackers, mini sausages, an apple.

I think this was a pretty poor choice of food - the salt content first of all...
CM said that she let him choose his lunch, but I'm annoyed that she didn't offer healthy options for him to choose from. He loves fruit & veg so no problem there.

Today DS has been constipated. He is normally pretty reliable going to the toilet after meals (sorry tmi).

For other background, CM bakes cakes or biscuits with him almost every time he's there. Great fun for him but hardly supporting a healthy diet

WIBU to ask her to make his meals more balanced/healthy in future?

OP posts:

breakfastnotattiffanys · 02/10/2014 19:33

In my area it would be unusual for a childminder to provide meals the odd snack maybe packed lunches and or teas are the norm. twosmallbuttons - if you don't mind me asking do you pay an hourly rate for your child with an extra payment for food or is it "all inclusive" (and what is the hourly rate?) (nosey)

Bigoldsupermoon · 02/10/2014 21:09

I think people are being a bit harsh on the OP - maybe because of the goady, food-related threads from this morning. She's not exactly suggesting that the CM offers a selection of organic crudités and roast quinoa salad - she's objecting to Lunchables, which are ( prepares to be flamed ) just plasticky crap. Come on, they just are. Add to that sausages, which are often just the scrag ends of the animal with a load of additives, and you've basically got a bit of a rubbish lunch.

Her DS is eating three meals a week there, plus having cakes every time, plus he came home constipated, which is apparently unusual for him. So no, it's not the crime of the century on the CM's part, but it's not exactly ideal, is it?

OP: YANBU. You can either suggest alternatives for the CM to serve up, or - probably a better idea - just pop DS along with a little packed dinner for when he's there.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/10/2014 21:24

I would have thought you'd discuss food in advance - especially with it being so important?

momb · 02/10/2014 21:39

If a child is at a childcare provider for 1 meal a day I would expect them to get at least 1, preferably 2 of their 5 a day. If for two main meals then at least 3 of their 5 a day: when my DCs were at nursery for breakfast lunch and dinner I expected a fully balanced diet which I only topped up with milk.
I agree the lunch was too salty but if only one meal of the day then you can rectify overall. If this was a day where your DC ate two meals at the CM I'd be saying something stern.

Balaboosta · 02/10/2014 21:42

Lunchables is ham crackers and cheese. Not much wrong with that really.

cogitosum · 02/10/2014 21:43

Do they still make lunchables! Haven't had one in years and fancy one now!

Seriously I wouldn't be happy if it was regularly but ok as a one off. Again cakes my cm makes every few weeks (which I like as ds brings some home!) but not every week.

Original poster

twosmallbuttons · 02/10/2014 22:14

Thanks for the opinions. The CM's meals are usually ok. I just wish she'd put some more fresh stuff in his lunch instead of all being salty processed food.
I'm hoping it's a one off.

OP posts:

Spindarella · 02/10/2014 22:19

A one off, fine.
Every day I'd be raising eyebrows.

Pico2 · 02/10/2014 22:25

There are alternatives to making cakes and biscuits too. The do baking at DD's nursery, but sometimes it is bread. The children also help prepare their snack, so chop up fruit.

InaPuckle · 02/10/2014 22:35

I have come to realise that the Governments Healthy Eating guidelines aren't really meant to be taken seriously by anyone and it's OK to say 'it was a one off' or 'special occasion' as many times as you like while still claiming to serve healthy meals. CMs do it, some nurseries do it (we found one that never served processed crap) and as for schools...

Sorry but I'm an old hand at being disappointed by the regular serving of poor quality processed meals and constant cakes to my DC. I have been so fed up with DC having toilet issues or hyper active behaviour which appear to be connected to poor diet when in the care of others.

You are paying for a service and deserve a better deal. I'm afraid in reality she's most likely to sneer behind your back about your request and constantly slip in other equally unhealthy substitutes.

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