Food asnd drinks for the kids, What do you do childminders?

[MUM2BLESS]

Most of my parents provide snacks/lunch from home for their chidlren.

I will however provide lunch if the children come to me during inset or closure of school for whatever reason. Most of the time I will get permission to do this and charge extra.

Do most childminders provide children with food etc or do you ask them to bring it from home. Are you happy with what you have decided?

What happens if a child forget to bring their snacks? I have had this, I now provide a fruit and yogert and drink. I sometimes find that the children may not want what I am offering? If they ofrget I will not them go without, on the other hand I do not want to keep providing free of charge. Any suggestions please.

Asking parents to provide food avoid me dealing with fussy eaters, saves time and we have different taste buds.

Sorry it so long

Another thing.

What do you charge for providing sancks and lunch etc if not included in your fees already?

THANKS

I provide breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack & dinner. I used to charge £1.50 for an evening meal but no longer charge for anything and just put down as expenses on my tax return.

I would love to have parents provide (I hate dinnertime with a passion!) but I feel that I should provide this as part of my service. And I have to cook for my own kids anyway.

Lots of children eat things with me they wouldn't eat at home because of the peer pressure so that's one good thing.

What price would you charge snacks at? fgor afterschool children? Is 50 reasonable or too cheap?

I must in the asking question mode today.

Please could you give me some examples of what you perhaps provde mon to fri (light snacks ie sandwiches) and what you charge.

Appreciate you taking time out for this.

I'm afraid I don't know anyone who has charged for snacks so can't help. Only costs I've come across is for meals. I see this as all part of the business expenses tbh.

Here is a link to my website page regarding meals. This isn't up to date as I've now meal planned like the school do but it gives you a rough idea.

I dont want to provide food, so to deter I
charge £2 per meal and £1 for snacks.

Doesnt work tho and 1 set of parent pay for tea & snacks!

When I was a CM in London I used to charge 50p extra an hour to provide all snacks/meals/nappies etc. After a couple of people complained, I increased my hourly rate for all new mindees (was still a lot cheaper than the average cm in the area) and this rate included snacks/meals but families were to supply nappies and wipes.

I now CM far away from London and include meals/snacks in my hourly rate (no discount if children bring their own).

WRT fussy eaters - you'd get used to what your mindees like and don't like and it's good for them to see other children eating things they normally wouldn't as it encourages them to try new things too.

In my welcome info I state that I'm happy to provide food or for mindees to bring their own but it has to be something that is ready to eat or just needs re-heating. I once had a child come with food that needed preparing/cooking and I just don't have time to do that for one mindee then prepare something different for the rest of them.

Like you mogs0 it's time and also the type of food I cook for my kids is a lot different to what some of the children eat. I do not really like bland food, seasoned in moderation!!

I think I will put a menu together for snacks and also one for lunch.

What do you think if its snacks and lunch perhaps £1.50 if snack alone 50p if lunch alone maybe £1.00. Any comments.

It may earn be bownie points for this when Ofsted come

I found invoicing for lunches, forgotten lunches, children wanting other childrens lunches, etc such a pain, I raised my rate and made it fully inclusive of food, drink, nappies, outings, etc.

I did the same as HSMM - in fact I COPIED her and it's so much easier just having 1 supply of nappies, a stock of standard snacks and then stuff for the meals. I'd just love to copy her thing about dinners too - I don't mind the rest, I really don't but I HATE doing dinners!!!

I'm all inclusive too - found it much easier. However I do charge a fee for funded children if their hours involve a mealtime. i charge them £2.50 which allows a bit extra to cover snack too. lunches vary so sometimes soup, sandwiches, beans or egg on toast, or more hearty such as pasta & sauce - usually with a salad or veg selection so they have some choice.
I'm very lucky that at the moment i don't have to cook dinners most nights (except for my own) - all my littlies usually leave by 5 and I only have 1 as twice a week who's here till 7. only chn staying after 5.30 till at least 6 get a hot dinner.

I am inclusive with regards to fees, as feel it is easier.

I provide breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. I make all my lunches from scratch and it is always a hot meal,unless it is a picnic which we do sometimes during the summer.

I take on board if any children have particular dislikes, but in general it is kind of tough. I provide a meal and if they don't eat it then i don't make anything else for them. I don't have time to make 6 differnet lunches or snacks!! This is not a problem as the children really do eat what they are given, if it was something that happened often with a particular child and the parent was unhappy then i would prbably suggest they bring their own meals.