Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 Zoe, That does sound like a great question for a lawyer. I would call the 800 number for the bar and ask for a referral. All the lawyers that they refer pledge not to charge more than $20 for an initial consultation! I used it and got a phone consulation for free! Gina 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... Today they told me that the USDA/Federal programs rules have changed as of July 1, 2001...Seems like discrimination to me not to honor the parent's wishes. (Any lawyers reading this?) Thanks for any feedback. Zoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 Wow. My almost –2-year-old is in daycare and is technically an ovo- lacto veg (technically because she has dairy allergies, so milk and ice cream are out anyway and I hate eggs so she's never had them as an entree). We're in Illinois but I would guess the federal regs would apply everywhere and I haven't heard a word about it. Our daycare (it's a Montessori school) has a repertoire of veggie things they make just for her when the main dish involves meat. Contrary to feeling left out, it seems that when the other kids get mini-tacos and she gets rice and veggies, _they_ want _her_ food! I'll ask the director about it this afternoon, but as far as I know nothing has changed. Lucia is the only vegetarian in a school that goes from infant to second grade and I made it clear when I enrolled her that she did not, under any circumstances, eat meat, milk or ice cream and her cheese intake has to be limited. They agreed and we've all lived happily ever after. And I absolutely think it is discrimination and I would make an issue out of it with whoever is pushing it on your daycare provider. I can't imagine the USDA personally contacted the school to tell them you can't bring veggie corn dogs or they can't make pb & j. It sounds like someone is blindly enforcing a rule that they don't understand and if you point out the consequences, they'll back down. Finally, I'm sure if push came to shove my daughter's doctor or nurse practitioner would write a note excusing my kid from eating meat/dairy. They have both admitted to me that a veg diet is best anyway. They can simply say it's for nutritional reasons. If your doctor hesitates, start printing out some of the research available saying that this is the best diet for a kid or find a medical person who's willing to write the note. Go. Fight. Win. Hang in there and let me know what happens. Carol Single mom to Lucia, 21 months, who has to be in daycare or else we'd be living in a cardboard box and eating grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 I don't have toddlers in daycare but this seems outrageous. I agree with you that it seems to discriminate against you and limit your freedom of choice of food. The only thing I can think of is that the daycare should have to serve food that ALL the children can eat. So they should be preparing vegan, kosher, food that doesn't aggravate any allerigies in the day care. Melanie xyz [xyz] Monday, July 23, 2001 8:46 AM re: daycare meals? 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...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 You have been given information that is very incorrect. I do not know whether or not you were purposely misinformed, but you were misinformed. In fact, the USDA is moving in the other direction, and very much so. Please refer to the USDA's web page and check it out for yourself. I am posting link to a specific page that illustrates my point. http://www.nal.usda.gov/childcare/Links/index.html Best of luck! Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2001 Report Share Posted July 24, 2001 You would be very surprised as the regs they have on government funded day cares (even if the funding they receive is VERY small). I'm not sure what state you are in but it is true they have things like that. The day care my oldest child went to dropped the funding because it wasn't worth all the extra regulations she had to comply with. Good Luck, Renee - " Wendy Vaught " <wonderwendy32 Tuesday, July 24, 2001 11:16 AM Re: re: daycare meals? > 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./ > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2001 Report Share Posted July 25, 2001 That just sounds horrible about your situation. My 24 month old vegan takes her lunch to school every day. Her center receives federal money that is funneled through a state program, so I had to get a note from her Doc saying that we have a family history of allergies so she will be drinking soy milk and eating only what I send with her or what is approved. For the person looking for ideas, here is what Analea likes: Hummus with tortilla chips or pita Pasta shells with refried beans (sounds weird, but she loves it) Tofu chunks Silken tofu " cheeze " on bagel Mini bean burritos Mac n Nutritional Yeast Cheese for a side I usually include a little bit of veggies, broccoli and spinach are her fav, some fruit (fruit ka-bobs are fun), trail mix, or soy yogert. OT: To the woman with a child in Montessori, how do you and your child like it? I am condsidering switching my daughter to one, but I'm not sure if it will be right for her at this age. Linda > > > > Digest Number 215 >25 Jul 2001 07:03:37 -0000 > > >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...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Maybe a home packed cold lunch could be brought each day? The public school system allows it and you know that there funding is coming from the same place. My ten year old son brings his lunch to school and daycare(in summer) almost everyday. He has only been a vegetarian for 1 1/2 years and has had his own discussions with the " lunch lady " who can't believe that a 10 year old could make such a choice on his own. (My husband and I both eat meat, but support Kevin's decision)(I have talked with one of the other cafeteria employees and my son is only 1 of 2 known vegetarians in a school of 500). They have to serve each child so many protein choices each day - They have battled as to why he can't have a plain taco shell and only put veggies in it. He has given up. It seems pretty unreasonable to me. But then I know that he's getting his protein every day and that one lunch is not going to hurt him and they don't know that in all cases. His food choices have never been the daycare/school " norm? " He started life with a daycare provider that had a problem with feeding him bottles of breastmilk. We solved that problem too. Hang in there and good luck. I'd like to think that the government will someday actually figure out what healthy, nutritious food really is. Deb - NormaJean Lee <njleeaz Tuesday, July 24, 2001 11:58 AM Re: re: daycare meals? > 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 > > > > > 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...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Deb wrote about her son(in part): He has only been a vegetarian for 1 1/2 years and has had his own >discussions with the " lunch lady " who can't believe that a 10 year old >could >make such a choice on his own. (My husband and I both eat meat, but >support >Kevin's decision) This is our situation also. My almost 7 year old daughter decided several months ago to be vegetarian. Of course, she wasn't giving up much. She never ate much meat anyway, so it wasn't much of a change. Have you receive much criticism from others about allowing your son to make this decision? If so, how did you handle it? Also, how much detail/information do you provide your son? For example, when you hear things like the recent press about McDonald's adding beef flavoring to their fries - do you tell him? Jenna _______________ 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...
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