Multicultural settings - providing food etc.

[MUM2BLESS]

Hi I thought I would start on thread about food etc , for settings that have children of various background and races.

I eat caribbean and english food. Most of my minded children bring food from home.

How do you cater for children who dont eat certain foods (religious reasons) or they just dont like certain foods? Maybe the food is cook differently to how you cook it. Different taste bud!!

Do most childminders cook for all their children?

Please look at welcome to my house, then you will see why I started this thread.

Thanks, look forward to hearing from you!!

I look after 2 Muslim children. The little boy eats fish but no meat here (they have Halal chicken at home sometimes). His older sister doesn't come very often because she's at school but I really struggle to think of things to feed her because she is quite fussy aswell as her almost vegetarian diet.

I provide all food for the children I look after. I often only have the youngest here at lunchtime so I find it easier to think up lunchtime meals. When I have the older one here for tea we usually have jacket potatoes or a pasta based dish. If I had her here 5 afternoons a week, every week, I'd definitely struggle with a menu plan!

I saw your other thread and I also get a few funny looks or double-takes from people when I have a mixture of white and Asian children. The oldest child I look after is 10 and she's noticed it a couple of times too. I just tell her that people are stunned by our beauty and wish they were part of our family!!

Hi MogsO

Would you not ask the parents to bring already cooked meals from home? Do you find that you are out shopping a lot?

I was once walking with quite a lot of children I believe one was white. Someone asked me if they were all mine?

I must admit that you cannot stop people from looking at you with the child/children of a different race, its the way that people look.

I once saw a childminder (white) with a balck little boy, which made me look.

I wear a uniform, which helps when out with an assortment of children. The children in my care come from several different cultures and have assorted special dietary needs. They enjoy eating a wide range of foods. Their parents suggest traditional foods they have at home, and we also have days when we try foods from other countries. It is quite funny watching them manipulate chop-sticks, but they love it. Having them all eat the same meals is much better for me, because they normally just get on and eat, copying everyone else.

MUM2BLESS - I have always offered for parents to bring their own food if they wish but most prefer for me to do it rather than having to think about packing a food bag for their dc. It doesn't really make any difference to me as I'd be having lunch and would be cooking an evening meal for ds and I. I just increase the amount I'm preparing.

The amount I shop doesn't change either really. I try to do a big order online and then put a few things in the freezer if they won't keep for long in the fridge.

Thanks for your replies.