childminder club-meals

[Isyhan]

Do all childminders generally cook an evening meal for kids at around 5ish. i was thinking of doing a cooked lunch but my hubby said most kids would want to eat with their parents in the evening. i think thats just because thats what we do though.

I cook a meal ready for the kids to eat 5.00pm every night, my husband and I then eat after the children have gone.
I have never cooked a dinner at lunch time because i have different children during day and evening and yes i think its nice for the parents to give thier child a hot dinner at night. unless of course they have a hot dinner both times.
We don't have our own children a the moment though. But when we do i think i'd want them to eat with me and DH.
Ask the parents see what they would prefer.

We do

What kinds of foods do you serve at lunchtime then diddle?

I do a cooked tea for children if the parents ask me too, but will only do it if they are being picked up after 5.15 as it usually isn't ready until between 4.30 & 4.45 by the time I have sorted out after school snacks, drinks etc & then cooked it.
I was only cooking for one 3 yr old who used to go home at 5.45 every day plus another 3 yr old who usually stays one night a week until 6 to 6.30. Now though I have an 18 month old & her 7.5 yr brother to cook for as well which makes it imo easier as you can do a decent meal without worrying about too much food left over. Btw my dd's now generally eat with the mindies & either I eat with them (like tonight) or later with dh. If I know i'm eating with the children then dh eats a decent meal at lunch time in the works canteen instead of the sandwiches he usually has. Lunch time I always do a light lunch of either sandwiches, french bread, or croissant plus some cold meat, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber & a few teddy crisps followed by yoghurt or fruit. I find this easier & the children & parents are happy with it. Also then the babies can start getting used to finger food earlier & they get more independent quicker when it comes to eating (& more efficient!)

My minded children bring their own food with them in the first place (for lunch), and none of them actually stay for an evening meal. I have had children stay for dinner before, but the food is still provided by the parents.

The prisoner i did that too cos all my kids had such diverse requirements -allergies etc just wasnt worth risking.

I'd like to say that this is my reason too, joanna4, but have to admit that there is no way on this planet I could slot in any time to provide a decent dinner for the mindees. I would be providing food for children aged 6 months to 11 years (worst case scenario could be 10 children - God, that sounds really really bad!!!)

I give parents the choice of providing meals or booking meals, if they book meals then I find out what they normally have at home.

I prefer to keep it simple at lunch time. So we usually have:-
soup & mash or pasta
beans/macaroni cheese/tinned pasta & toast or
toasties/pitta breads/rolls/bagels/sarnies
plus savoury item (eg hard boiled egg, cheese, sausage, raw carrot/cucumber/tomato)

followed by fruit/yoghurt