To be pissed 3YO had beans on toast for lunch

[Zachary143]

Annoyed that I pay £2.50 for lunch for LO.

I initially wanted LO to have packed lunch when starting nursery full time however was told that this was not an option and that children had to have nursery lunch however I was reassured that it would all be fresh, wholesome and home cooked.

In the past LO has been given thing like packet noodles and sweetcorn. Pudding is usually angel delight or fruit. Also when it's a child birthday the cake is given as pudding so their not really having pudding that was part of the paid for meal.

The cheap lunches are pissing me off, I can provide him with better quality packed lunches and it'll cost me less.

[supermoonrising]

Yeah trouble is no added sugar baked beans taste crap. But people just need to aware of how much sugar they’re consuming - the food industry pours heaps into everything which is why we’re addicted to it and one of the fattest nations on Earth. Huge amounts of sugar packed processed food consumption.

[Helenluvsrob]

I assume this funding supports the frankly inadequate funding of the 30hrs. Look at the total cost and value.
Even if he’s getting a lunch that’s not ideal the rest of his meals at home are no doubt veg packed perfection so it will not be an issue.

Otherwise happy ? Keep him there are regard this as a minor annoyance. Not happy ? Give notice

[3Britnee]

@Sjdmcfeet

I wouldn't be happy with this at all , DD today at nursery had breakfast , wetabix , lunch roast chicken , fresh veg and mash and she has pasta bolognese for her tea
She has fish , cottage pie , cous cous , I pay 50 quid per day for nursery so wouldn't be happy with beans on toasts

Assuming this child went 5 days a week, along with all the other kids, how the fuck does it cost 250pw per child to keep a child there??? Nursery wages are a pittance.

At these prices food should be included. Nursery is one of the biggest scams/knocks going.

Someone needs to set up a not-for-profit chain.

[Jellybabiesforbreakfast]

Even if he’s getting a lunch that’s not ideal the rest of his meals at home are no doubt veg packed perfection so it will not be an issue.

In theory, you're right. But this would not be acceptable to me! I'm tired after work and just want to sling some baked beans and fish fingers in the oven, so definitely wouldn't want nursery using up my "crap meals" quota for the week .

[LadyWithLapdog]

Sounds ok to me as both cost and menu re BOT. Instant noodles a bit crap but BOT, birthday cake for pudding are fine.

[Tumbleweed101]

Its unusual not to have a home cooked meal provided for lunch. Is this a recent thing? I'm wondering if their nursery cook has been shielding or if the nursery has taken a massive financial hit and is struggling financially. Have you spoken to the manager regarding your concerns?

[Nodancingshoes]

In Somerset we (childcare) are not allowed to refuse parents bringing in packed lunches if they want to. There should be an option for totally 'free' sessions. However it is better for the children to all eat together and no one actually brings a packed lunch at our nursery for this reason. Beans on toast is ok for tea , we sometimes serve it, but not as the main meal. Should be something more balanced. I would challenge this

[EasterEggBelly]

Change settings. Our nursery has a staff member who does mornings as a chef. He prepares the breakfast, snacks, hot lunch and cold dinner. He does it all from scratch and we get a weekly menu in advance with allergens broken down. One parent even requests a breakdown at macronutrient level so they can see how much protein they child consumes.
My child eats better there then they do at home. They get the 15 hours free so we do pay additional fees but there is no additional cost for food.

[Jellybabiesforbreakfast]

how the fuck does it cost 250pw per child to keep a child there

I thought this was good value. I pay (significantly) more than £50 per day for my DS (expensive, urban area) .

[Floweree]

@supermoonrising

Yeah trouble is no added sugar baked beans taste crap. But people just need to aware of how much sugar they’re consuming - the food industry pours heaps into everything which is why we’re addicted to it and one of the fattest nations on Earth. Huge amounts of sugar packed processed food consumption.

Children have different palettes though, they usually haven't had them wrecked by sugar so the low sugar and salt ones are likely fine.

[Nodancingshoes]

@3Britnee With respect you have no idea what the costs of running a nursery are...it is not a massive money maker contrary to popular belief. It is also an awful lot of work and stress and not sure who the hell would do it for nothing....

[arethereanyleftatall]

@Jellybabiesforbreakfast
Possibly because they need to overcharge some to make up for the children only paying £2.50 per day plus government funding?

[BooomShakeTheRoom]

Yeah YANBU. This isn't good enough.

Should be a jacket potato with beans. And cucumber, tomatoes etc.

Angel delight?! That's not a good pudding. Fruit is good, maybe with yoghurt. Some low sugar cakes, pancakes etc.

I'd complain and if nothing changes then change nursery. It's not so much about the money as £12.50 a week isn't loads. But the quality of the meals is what id question. Toast is a cop out for lunch.

[TustedFormula]

Whenever you buy a meal "out", the price is greater than the cost of the food. Whether school meals or a fancy restaurant, the food is only a small part of the organisation's costs.

[3Britnee]

[quote Nodancingshoes]@3Britnee With respect you have no idea what the costs of running a nursery are...it is not a massive money maker contrary to popular belief. It is also an awful lot of work and stress and not sure who the hell would do it for nothing....[/quote]
So say they have 10 kids, they are raking in 2 and a half grand a week. And most have far more kids than 10. No-one can tell me there isn't crazy profit in there.

And then there are always these threads about the shit they feed the kids, at an extra charge on top.

Someone is getting rich somewhere 🤔

Imo nurseries should be run by the government as a national service, but that will never happen.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Oh, wrong person, I meant @3Britnee

[Lalliella]

YANBU

My DC’s nursery once served golden syrup sandwiches for tea. Once. I think all the parents complained.

[Cynderella]

My daughter paid £3 a day for 'lunch club' where she had to send in a packed lunch! The fee was to pay for staffing over the 45 minute break.

My granddaughter failed to get a place in reception, but as a summer baby, stayed in the nursery until a place became available. Last week, she started in reception and now gets a cooked meal and lunchtime supervision for nothing.

[Nodancingshoes]

@3Britnee There may be some making crazy money but certainly not us and certainly not the 100's of childcare settings closing down after Covid. Of course we make a profit, it is a private business. It isbt crazy money though

[worriedatthemoment]

Does it included snacks morning and afternoon as well ?

[Changeismyname]

There are overheads associated with making the lunch. It’s not simply a question of adding up the price of the individual ingredients. Admittedly a lot of the overheads are shared with the nursery setting generally but you do need to factor that in.

[3Britnee]

[quote Nodancingshoes]@3Britnee There may be some making crazy money but certainly not us and certainly not the 100's of childcare settings closing down after Covid. Of course we make a profit, it is a private business. It isbt crazy money though [/quote]
I agree with making some profit but the level these lot make? When people send them so they can work, it's a pisstake. Some charge, per child, more than the parents make in a day. It can't cost nigh on 100 per day per child when you are paying nwm and charging for the kids food, while feeding them the cheapest of the cheap.

[EmbarrassingMama]

I'd be more annoyed about packet noodles, sweetcorn and angel delight. Why on earth are they giving them angel delight!?

Beans on toast is a perfectly balanced lunch for a toddler, IMO, but I'd definitely be pissed off if that's what they were routinely being given.

[Crustybreadandbutter]

Beans on toast is fine. But paying £2.50 for it, especially when you would prefer to make a packed lunch is annoying. If it’s a blanket policy though I don’t know what you can do except ask again if you can opt out? Move seems extreme if otherwise happy.

[TheKeatingFive]

how the fuck does it cost 250pw per child to keep a child there??? Nursery wages are a pittance.

Insurance costs are enormous, then there’s training, rent, maintenance, materials, admin. It’s very difficult to make money running nursery’s, despite the high fees.

Someone needs to set up a not-for-profit chain.

Why would anyone do that?