Have you thought about keeping 2 meals over from the night before and reheating them?
Have you thought about keeping 2 meals over from the night before and reheating them?
Debbie
I always cook in the evening for my family, prepare extra, dish it up directly into bowls, allow to cool then cover in cling film and put in fridge for the mindees lunch the following day. In the time it takes to microwave the meals, the children have helped lay the table, washed hands and sat up. I only do tea on 2 days a week, it's generally sandwiches, fruit, a milk based dessert, home made cake. Again it takes 2 minutes to make the sandwiches, the children lay table, wash hands and sit up - while they are eating sandwiches I am cutting up fruit etc - I wouldn't want to be spending all my time cooking away from the children and I'm sure the parents wouldn't either. None of my parents pick up early as this would mean they have to feed their child and they have paid me £1.50 for a meal that they didn't eat.
My own children were always used to not eating their tea until gone 6 as my husband worked on a farm back then and I wasn't going to cook twice. If you don't want to do meals so early, tell the parents that you will either give some fruit or some toast or they can provide a meal for you to microwave.
I gave them a months notice. All but one were absolutely fine with it. It's going really well now and any newbies are told I don't provide meals only snacks from the start. Much less waste and outgoings. Wouldn't go back now
I do a cooked meal for lunch which is usually something from our families dinner the night before which I froze and a lighter dinner for mindees at around 4pm. I make sure I tell parents this and stress its more of a light bite than a proper evening meal, and that their child will probably be hungry later. This way I can give the kids their light dinner of soup, pizza, sandwiches etc at around 4-4.30 and then we as a family eat a cooked dinner at around 6 when all the kids have gone and other half is in from work. My own daughter usually has her little dinner with mindees then a small portion of our dinner with us so we all eat together
I honestly don't find meal times too stressful doing it this way, but I can understand how it could be a pain for some who cook fresh, I think a month is a reasonable amount of time to give a parent and I'd word it as a pp said, that you feel cooking takes time away from the children, and that you want to focus more on them than being in the kitchen for long periods of time. I'm sure the parents will understand xxx
Kelly xx
If cooking meals for the children increases our outgoings...why not raise fees slightly to cover food and cooking?
Is our time really being taken away from children because we offer a hot dinner? after 9 hrs in our care surely meal times are just as valuable as care and education...and offer a wonderful opportunity to interact over meals, learn manners and socialise?
Cooking does not need to take a lot of time if we cook in advance and freeze their meals
What are the benefits to working parents if they get back home stressed and then have to worry about cooking dinner?
I dont see your point Simona. If we are able to cook and freeze meals so are the parents. Arent some of us working parents also?
Ive cared for los whos parents batch cook at the weekend and provide healthy and nutritious meals for both lunch and dinner. All because they work they still wanted that input into their lo.
Yes part of the service we provide could, if chosen, be to provide meals. That is our choice and we shouldnt feel pressured by parents or other cms to change our choices.
I personally do cook for mindees but If I chose I wanted to stop that would be my privilege as a service provider.
Please read my response again but let me clarify this...
I was not putting 'pressure' on anyone to provide meals...just reflecting on the comments and expressing my personal opinion on the benefits or otherwise of providing meals for which we are paid or at least cms could be well paid to provide...
Being from a mediterrenean culture I put a lot of emphasis on meal times and the social interaction that comes from it...personally I find meal time a pleasure, my children have always eaten well and a very varied diet.
I have never had what some cms label 'fussy eaters' ...children have manners and often I have had to prompt them to leave the table or they would be there for hours eating and discussing
I cook nutritious great meals and charge appropriately to reflect the quality of what is on offer...
Parents do nothing but praise my effort and all that results from it...sorry I am now making it personal
You obviously disagree with my view and I respect that while I disagree with your choice of response...it means to criticise rather than respect a point of view.
Part of the CMs service has always been to provide a home from home environment...yes we too are working parents and have chosen to be so and it will be definitely your privilege to stop meals if that is what you want to do...that was not what I was trying to say
I am coming from the point that we ...CMs...will be under a lot of competition in the future both from agencies and schools...up to us how we tackle that
It seems to me that Childminding is really changing
I apologise if you felt pressured but deep down you know that was really not my message.
I serve a cooked dinner but only at 6pm or just after, which is the time when my family eats. I find this makes things a lot easier as any children that leave at 6pm or earlier don't get dinner, just a lighter snack after school. I currently only have one child who stays until 7pm and that is only 3-4 evenings a week. I tend to do healthier home cooked meals on the days that I have him and something quick and easy like chips and beans or pizza on the other nights. This works well for me.
I love mealtimes with the children (I have mainly after schoolies) but I find I hardly see them as I'm normally too busy cooking.
I really dislike using the microwave and reheating things, sometimes I can prepare food earlier in the day but sometimes I'm busy so it all happens after school.
I tell parents that I serve food at 4.45pm (my kids are hungry things so that suits us) so either they pick up before or if it's after then they'll have had food, I won't not feed some unless it's a one off from time to time. I feel bad for the child who leaves at 4.30-4.45 though, as I've hardly seen him, as I've been cooking for the remaining mindees and my children.
But I do really enjoy us all sitting down together, and I have seen how much it's encouraged the children to try new things. I love mealtimes. Just not cooking.
I need a cook lol.
Jx
As I have under 3s I cook main meal at lunch time.i tell parents I do tea at 4,40/4.45. Best was mum who put child in nursery/day care and realised he was so hungry when she collected him. And said she never had to give him a meal when he came to me. Ok I told her he would eat sf 3.30 or 4 at nursery. She was very surprised.
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