Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 Can you bring a sack lunch for your child? I can understand why they can't prepare or cook alternate/special foods, but I see no reason that you couldn't bring your own food that needs no cooking. Jenna NY, NY _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 My thoughts exactly! We are vegan & have 4 children that have been through daycare. My youngest is in his last year there. I have packed all of their lunches everyday. Three of our four children are in public school, I continue to pack their lunch as well. The public school menu is awful. Good Luck! NormaJean > " Jenna Way " <jennaway > > >Re: re: daycare meals? >Tue, 24 Jul 2001 13:31:28 > >Can you bring a sack lunch for your child? > >I can understand why they can't prepare or cook alternate/special foods, >but >I see no reason that you couldn't bring your own food that needs no >cooking. > >Jenna >NY, NY > >_______________ >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 Hi Zoe, I feel for you! I would start looking for good in home day-care. Something just does not sound right. Are your sure your Day Care Provider isn't just blowing smoke? I'd check around to be sure. Another thing I would do depending on your findings is send a letter to your Congressmen/Senators. Sometimes they don't realize the repercussions of their actions. What is often good intentions may also have serious repercussions. Keep us posted, I would like to know the outcome of this situation. Good Luck, Wendy Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Messenger http://phonecard./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 Yes I have run into a similar problem but from another perspective. I live in New York and use to work in a day care center. That was about 8 years ago and we ran into a similar problem with milk. A glass of milk must be poored and given to every child unless they have a doctors note. One of the children disliked milk so much she did not want it near her and everyday I would have to poor her a glass of milk just so we could throw it out later. She would tell me everyday she did not want it and I would tell her she did not have drink it and she could throw it out. I bothered me to no end but, that was what we had to do if we wanted the funding. Inspecters can come at anytime and many times did during the meal and if that child had already thrown it away they would asked and she would tell them she put it in the garbage. Although you think a note from a parent should be sufficent it can be difficult. Some parents are not good parents and this could be their only opportunity for a good meal. If you have a parent pack a lunch and that the child does not want to eat it or it does not satisfy their hunger then what is the care giver to do. You have a note from a parent that says please don't feed my child and a hungry upset child who does not understand why you can not give them something. Multiply this by the number of children in the facility and the variety of preferences/restrictions. It can get extremely difficult. There must be a happy medium but, I don't know the answer either. This is one of many reasons I nolonger work in day care. Good luck! THERESA wrote: > Hi! Do any of you have toddlers in daycare? What do you do about meals? My 2-year-old is in daycare and up to now it hasn't been a problem. We are ovo-lacto vegetarians for ethical/religious reasons. I've worked my way towards vegan, but it's not real easy living in the " Dairy " state. Up to now, they have allowed me to bring an equivalent " substitute " for her. For example, if the menu was mini-corn dogs for supper, I've brought vegetarian mini-corn dogs and they've cooked them and gave them to her. That way, she doesn't think she is not getting something the other kids are and grabbing their's and eating it. (We are working on the difference and the choices at home, but she's too young to handle it on her own at daycare...in my opinion.) Today they told me that the USDA/Federal programs rules have changed as of July 1, 2001, and since they qualify and receive federal funding for various reasons, they will lose their federal funding unless they comply. The new rules state that all children have to be offered the same exact meal, but they don't have to eat it. First of all, how do you tell a 2-year-old not to eat what's in front of them...Second, it's still being prepared and going in the garbage and defeats part of the purpose of not eating it....Third, what does she get to eat? The parents are no longer allowed to bring food into the daycare to be prepared for their children. They said it doesn't matter if the child is Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, vegetarian, has allergies...it's discrimination not to serve all children the same " healthy " meal. Seems like discrimination to me not to honor the parent's wishes. (Any lawyers reading this?) The only exception is if a doctor writes a letter that the child is not to get a certain food (such as allergies). I called my doctor to see if there is any reason he can come up with to write a letter (he hasn't called back, yet). My daycare owner said she argued quite a bit and was told the rules are strict. She said she would work with me to figure something out...but it seems like her hands are tied. Honestly, something just doesn't seem " right " here to me. Has anyone else encountered this? Any suggestions? (Changing child care is not an option at the moment -- We live in a small town and I teach at a university where my schedule is all over the place--so this daycare is about the only child care option that can easily adjust to the schedule.) Thanks for any feedback. Zoe For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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