Food at the childminders?

Fittle · 23-09-2011 09:03AM #1

Morning all, me again;)

So my lad is 9 and in a childminders after school. We are both very happy with her, she's great and my hope is he can stay there until he doesn't need childcare again.

My only issue is the food she provides for him. He is a great eater and pretty healthy (much healthier than me!!!) and plays outdoors all day after school and at weekends (not into wii, PS etc and long may that last!!). So I'm always conscious that he eats well and has plenty of energy.

Briefly, the minders kids are dreadful eaters - they pick at food all day so that at dinner time, they eat very little (if anything). She tends to cook quick and easy dinners for them...chips/pizza/sausage rolls and so on. Once a week, she will do mash with gravy (but no veg) and some chicken dippers etc...

My lad is the opposite to her kids - love his grub - has a large bowl of porridge /weetabix for breakfast, a decent lunch (wrap with peppers/salad etc) and fruit...

The odd evening, I have defrosted a stew or spag bol that I've had in the freezer for him as he says hes starving when we get home (around 7pm) because he only had 'really skinny chips and mini pizza for dinner'...

Without tackling my minder about her menuplan for him, any ideas on how I can solve this problem? I am useless at confrontation - she has also become a great friend to me and I really don't want to confront her about her own childrens eating habits etc...I think if I mentioned something, she would be quite insulted to think that I think she isn't giving her own kids nutritious food...any ideas????

So far, I'm just ensuring he has a good breakfast & lunch, and making up for the lack of fruit and veg at weekends...is this the right thing to do?? Thanks alot.

Edit; The new homework regime is going great, thanks !!

LadyMayBelle · 23-09-2011 10:28AM

Bring your own food for him?? Do up an extra batch to freeze when you are cooking diners for the week and bring one with you when you drop him off, or just drop something at the house for the next day when you collect him?

A lot of parents do that.

Fittle · 23-09-2011 11:15AM

She might take offence if I did that though! She does cook a dinner for all the kids every day - but it's never nutritious - today it's those smiley faces with fish fingers...her own kids will barely pick at them and my lad will wolf them down with bread:D

January · 23-09-2011 11:17AM

Fittle wrote: »

She might take offence if I did that though! She does cook a dinner for all the kids every day - but it's never nutritious - today it's those smiley faces with fish fingers...her own kids will barely pick at them and my lad will wolf them down with bread:D

Just give him an extra meal when you get home? Freeze up batches of lasagne, shepards pie etc and take it out that morning so it's defrosted for when you get home.

LadyMayBelle · 23-09-2011 11:23AM

At the end of the day, if she takes offence, she will get over it. I doubt she will stop minding her little lad. He isn't getting nutritious foods, he is hungry and you are his parent.

If he is only there for a little while after school, it might not be worth bothering about (let him have a bigger lunch and bigger dinner when he gets home), but if it happens during half term, holidays etc, bring an extra batch for him. He's a growing lad with a big appetite, that can be the line you take, not an accustatory one.

silja · 23-09-2011 11:28AM

Maybe mention that he is a growing lad, and how you've noticed he is eating more and more at home, and as you don't want her to be out money by having to feed him so much, you'll be providing extra fruit (or even his whole dinner) from now on? That makes it sound like you are doing her a favour.

Acoshla · 23-09-2011 11:38AM

My childminder used to feed me awful crap, same as her kids ate, I would either feel sick eating it or would go hungry. My mother used to kind of go the "She eats little and often" route, and gave me homemade chocolate chip oat cookies, a salad pitta, etc, so that all I really had to eat with them was dinner if she was late (as it wasn't normally part of the deal). I used to sit on my own in the sitting room while they ate dinner, she knew I hated her food and would wait til I got home to eat, she had no hard feelings about it, each family is different so she just thought I was a picky little b*tch

Fittle · 23-09-2011 11:47AM

Great replies thanks. I like the route of trying to save her money (she'd like that too I think!) and perhaps giving him a frozen stew or something. She has commented before (jokingly) that he needs to bring a sliced pan with him everyday coz he eats so much!
I'm glad ye don't think I'm being picky here - but her kids eat like sparrows and eat only rubbish (pancakes with chocolate spread for lunch only in school!). They are a bit younger than my lad however (7 & 6) so their appetites might improve...my lad was always a great eater though.

We don't get home till after 7 every evening and I don't want to give him a full dinner at that time - would you give a 9yr old a full dinner at 7pm???

Fittle · 23-09-2011 11:48AM

silja wrote: »

Maybe mention that he is a growing lad, and how you've noticed he is eating more and more at home, and as you don't want her to be out money by having to feed him so much, you'll be providing extra fruit (or even his whole dinner) from now on? That makes it sound like you are doing her a favour.

Thanks.

You have to tell me what a VBAC baby is please???? Just reading your sig;)

January · 23-09-2011 11:51AM

Fittle wrote: »

Thanks.

You have to tell me what a VBAC baby is please???? Just reading your sig;)

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section baby

LadyMayBelle · 23-09-2011 12:00PM

Fittle wrote: »

She has commented before (jokingly) that he needs to bring a sliced pan with him everyday coz he eats so muchQUOTE]

If I were you I would take her 'joke' as a bit of seriousness...I know childminders who are ate out of house and home with some kids (not saying that about your fella, but this happens!).. I know we used to mind a child who used to go through a lot of milk in the day; fecking loved the stuff, but when you add it up, that's a fiver or so a week OUT of your childminders pocket... just saying, it could be your window in to what sounds like a topic that sounds like she wants to review?? Take it as your opportunity either way!

careca11 · 23-09-2011 12:01PM

Fittle wrote: »

Morning all, me again;)

So my lad is 9 and in a childminders after school. We are both very happy with her, she's great and my hope is he can stay there until he doesn't need childcare again.

My only issue is the food she provides for him. He is a great eater and pretty healthy (much healthier than me!!!) and plays outdoors all day after school and at weekends (not into wii, PS etc and long may that last!!). So I'm always conscious that he eats well and has plenty of energy.

Briefly, the minders kids are dreadful eaters - they pick at food all day so that at dinner time, they eat very little (if anything). She tends to cook quick and easy dinners for them...chips/pizza/sausage rolls and so on. Once a week, she will do mash with gravy (but no veg) and some chicken dippers etc...

My lad is the opposite to her kids - love his grub - has a large bowl of porridge /weetabix for breakfast, a decent lunch (wrap with peppers/salad etc) and fruit...

The odd evening, I have defrosted a stew or spag bol that I've had in the freezer for him as he says hes starving when we get home (around 7pm) because he only had 'really skinny chips and mini pizza for dinner'...

Without tackling my minder about her menuplan for him, any ideas on how I can solve this problem? I am useless at confrontation - she has also become a great friend to me and I really don't want to confront her about her own childrens eating habits etc...I think if I mentioned something, she would be quite insulted to think that I think she isn't giving her own kids nutritious food...any ideas????

So far, I'm just ensuring he has a good breakfast & lunch, and making up for the lack of fruit and veg at weekends...is this the right thing to do?? Thanks alot.

Edit; The new homework regime is going great, thanks !!

Just ask your childminder would it be ok if she just gave a light snack to your son (yogurt and Banana or even a ham sandwich .....better than pizza/chip etc) , and just explain to her that you cook his dinner when you get home ..........................can't see her having a problem with that

SlimCi · 23-09-2011 11:45PM

Ok OP I agree what a lot of the other say about not rocking the boat as you are generally happy with her and don't want to offend her. However, I am torn, you are paying this woman for a service you are not happy with. It drives me mad that parents have to bite their tongues because they are afraid of losing their childminder. Is she registered? It isn't good for you to be too close to her either because if you are ever in a position where you need to read the riot act, it is going to be difficult. I would certainly recommend that you feed your child a proper dinner in the evening that you've defrosted. We always did that as the creche my child was in never fed them great food either. But I would also try to let her know in a subtle was that you are not that keen on the type of food shes feeding him.

fiona12 · 24-09-2011 09:29AM

Hi Op,

No wonder your child is permanently starving, I would never go down the chicken nuggets and oven chips route, I used to for years, but then I have noticed that after about 20 minutes everyone is hungry again. That stuff is not food!:(

I agree with others, tell your childminder that you realise your son eats a lot and would it be ok with her if you supplied fruit and snacks (ie, yoghurt, rice cakes, snackpot beans, pitta with salad, etc) , that way you can control what he eats and you know he's not getting just the cardboard stuff that she prepares. More than likely she would be happy about this as it would save her money and effort.

I am amazed at how much my children eat every day, they are like mini hoovers!:)

Justask · 25-09-2011 02:19PM

Hi Fittle.

Maybe make a big pot of veg soup ( I have a fab easy cheap recipe i'll pm it to u if you want) and have some brown bread home. He would be able to have bowl of that with some bread when you get home full of goodness and stays fresh for ages. Wouldnt b to heavy to have after 7. And with the winter comig in would be ideal. I have a pot of it on all the time and my dude loves it and so do his mates :rolleyes:

I personally wouldnt say anything to the minder she sounds great and I would be afraid to rock that boat, god childminders are not easy to find.

Fittle · 26-09-2011 09:07AM

Thanks justask - that's a good idea and I'd appreciate the recipe;) I think at 7pm, it's too late to feed him a full dinner to be honest, but a good veg soup would do the trick I'm sure!

She's not registered - She's a neighbour of mine and it works really well as she drops him to places for me 2 evenings a week...and he gets to play out on his road with his own friends every day...

Wantobe · 26-09-2011 09:58AM

Is 7 too late for dinner?

We regularly have dinner at 7 ( in fact the earliest we have it is at 6.30).

We give our children breakfast, lunch and 'four o clock' and then dinner at 7ish.

'Four O'Clock' is usually yoghurt/fruit/hot chocolate/pain au chocolat/smoothie or things along those lines, depending on how active they have been, how cold it is, how hungry they are etc.

And then we all sit down to dinner together and talk about the day.

Fittle · 26-09-2011 10:46AM

7 just seems to late in my house - I'm only home at 7ish (he has soccer training etc 4 nights a week) so I would only be starting to prepare dinner at that time. I suppose I need to more prepared and cook in bulk over the weekend, leaving stuff in the freezer for when we get in. I tend to have a decent lunch myself and just eat a sandwich when I get in, in the evenings.

cbyrd · 26-09-2011 04:32PM

Starting from scratch at 7pm is a hassle .. i'm my house i generally cook in bulk so sunday dinner does mondays aswell and i'm off thurs and fri i will cook a few meals and lash them in the freezer. Leftovers can be used up in minutes. . extra mash become potato cakes

If you plan your meals at the start of the week its surprising how quickly you can throw a dinner together, a few peeled potatoes cut small only take a few minutes to boil and a quick steak or chicken fillet or fish will only take 10 -15 mins along with some frozen veg in a pot you're talking less than half an hour. . pasta dishes, stir fries it's amazing how quickly you can throw something together when you have everything to hand.. that's where the list making and meal planning at the weekend comes in handy ..

deisemum · 26-09-2011 05:36PM

Fittle wrote: »

7 just seems to late in my house - I'm only home at 7ish (he has soccer training etc 4 nights a week) so I would only be starting to prepare dinner at that time. I suppose I need to more prepared and cook in bulk over the weekend, leaving stuff in the freezer for when we get in. I tend to have a decent lunch myself and just eat a sandwich when I get in, in the evenings.

As he has training 4 nights a week then I suggest sending a dinner to the childminders's and just say he needs to eat his main meal a few hours before training perhaps once he's in from school then he'll have enough energy for training, say the coaches have recommended that to all the players (my sons were told similar by their clubs) and as hers are younger she wont know if it's true or not and then he can have a light meal or snace after training. The meal wouldn't want to be just before training or he might get sick running round on a full stomach.

Fittle · 27-09-2011 09:29AM

cbyrd wrote: »

Starting from scratch at 7pm is a hassle .. i'm my house i generally cook in bulk so sunday dinner does mondays aswell and i'm off thurs and fri i will cook a few meals and lash them in the freezer. Leftovers can be used up in minutes. . extra mash become potato cakes

If you plan your meals at the start of the week its surprising how quickly you can throw a dinner together, a few peeled potatoes cut small only take a few minutes to boil and a quick steak or chicken fillet or fish will only take 10 -15 mins along with some frozen veg in a pot you're talking less than half an hour. . pasta dishes, stir fries it's amazing how quickly you can throw something together when you have everything to hand.. that's where the list making and meal planning at the weekend comes in handy ..

God I wish I was a woman into her 'lists'!! I'm useless...but I will go out at the weekend and buy a new load of containers to freeze stuff in - I like the idea about saying it's to strenghten him for training etc. Thanks again guys.

Neyite · 27-09-2011 12:50PM

Fittle wrote: »

God I wish I was a woman into her 'lists'!! I'm useless...but I will go out at the weekend and buy a new load of containers to freeze stuff in - I like the idea about saying it's to strenghten him for training etc. Thanks again guys.

See if you can get the plastic Chinese takeaway containers - much cheaper and perfect portion sized. Easy to stack in the freezer too.

deisemum · 27-09-2011 01:43PM

Fittle wrote: »

God I wish I was a woman into her 'lists'!! I'm useless...but I will go out at the weekend and buy a new load of containers to freeze stuff in - I like the idea about saying it's to strenghten him for training etc. Thanks again guys.

Having spent years encouraging my lads to eat healthy food, sometimes having a battle on my hands and no doubt being seen as the nagging mum then it comes as a bit of a surprise when their coaches have discussed nutrition and how important it is to have a healthy diet they take note.

Fittle · 27-09-2011 01:54PM

deisemum wrote: »

Having spent years encouraging my lads to eat healthy food, sometimes having a battle on my hands and no doubt being seen as the nagging mum then it comes as a bit of a surprise when their coaches have discussed nutrition and how important it is to have a healthy diet they take note.

I am blessed with his eating habits thankfully:D I have a recording of him when he was 4, telling a radio show that his favourite food is turnips and that he hates chips:p

His sleeping habits on the other hand, are abysmal. He didn't sleep a full night until he was 2yrs and 2 months (I have it marked in my diary!!) and still comes into my bed during the night sometimes:mad:

We can't have it all I guess;)

Justask · 27-09-2011 01:59PM

Fittle wrote: »

God I wish I was a woman into her 'lists'!! I'm useless...but I will go out at the weekend and buy a new load of containers to freeze stuff in - I like the idea about saying it's to strenghten him for training etc. Thanks again guys.

Just a little tip dont freeze potatoes, they are horrible frozen (well I think)

Great way to do quick baked potatoes is get a large potatoe rub a little olive oil on the skin wrap in kitchen paper towel and put in the microwave for 20 mins

Yum

Acoshla · 27-09-2011 02:06PM

I used to eat at 6.30pm, we'd be home by 6, dinner was always just as Home & Away started so it was definitely at that time! Good planning and quick moving from my mother meant dinner never took more than 30 minutes to prepare.

Food at the childminders?

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