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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>How Much Do You Spend on Food?
ksmith 07:30 AM 03-23-2013
I'm curious how much everyone spends on food on just daycare (it could be per kid a week, or a monthly total. Just included the number of kids pretty please). When I did daycare before, we lived some where, where the food was ridiculously expensive. It's been a while since I've been food shopping in the states, so I'm just trying to get an estimate of how much most people spend. Also, what types of food you buy (lots of boxed pre-made food, or items to make homemade items)?
nannyde 07:36 AM 03-23-2013
$5 per kid per day.
MNMum 07:42 AM 03-23-2013
We are a family of 5. And I usually have about 7 dck - 4 days/week. Our grocery bill is between $800-$1000/month. I'm not as good as Nannyde - she does all homemade food, all organic, all special meat. But I make about 80% homemade/organic. I do not buy organic milk - that alone would be an extra $80/month. Most of my fruits and veggies are organic and fresh. In the summer I have a nice vegtable garden to subsidize our bill 
Almost all of our food comes from Costco - until summer, then its the farmers market and Costco.
Almost all of our food comes from Costco - until summer, then its the farmers market and Costco.
ksmith 07:45 AM 03-23-2013
That makes me happy to hear that some providers provide lots of organic and homemade meals. I was hoping to do the same (although I didn't before), which was another concern with the prices.
CedarCreek 07:47 AM 03-23-2013
Hmm..I think around 450 a month. Probably a little less.
Texasjeepgirl 07:55 AM 03-23-2013
allot!!!!!
blandino 08:25 AM 03-23-2013
We are licensed for 12 children, but typically have 8-9 eating table food. I don't provide organic food for the daycare, but everything is homemade (with the exception of one meal on the menu - corn dogs, which have a CN label, but are our only processed, premade, food)
I grocery shop for the daycare completely separately than personal shopping, and I shop monthly (aside from produce and milk) - and it usually runs about $320.00 a month.
I grocery shop for the daycare completely separately than personal shopping, and I shop monthly (aside from produce and milk) - and it usually runs about $320.00 a month.
ksmith 08:38 AM 03-23-2013
Originally Posted by blandino:
We are licensed for 12 children, but typically have 8-9 eating table food. I don't provide organic food for the daycare, but everything is homemade (with the exception of one meal on the menu - corn dogs, which have a CN label, but are our only processed, premade, food)
I grocery shop for the daycare completely separately than personal shopping, and I shop monthly (aside from produce and milk) - and it usually runs about $320.00 a month.
Blandino, do you do daycare in your home?We are licensed for 12 children, but typically have 8-9 eating table food. I don't provide organic food for the daycare, but everything is homemade (with the exception of one meal on the menu - corn dogs, which have a CN label, but are our only processed, premade, food)
I grocery shop for the daycare completely separately than personal shopping, and I shop monthly (aside from produce and milk) - and it usually runs about $320.00 a month.
SilverSabre25 08:57 AM 03-23-2013
We average $120-$150/week for a family of 4 + 4 dcks (3 eating table food, all full-time).
I can't break down what we spend just to feed daycare kids because we haven't done it.
I do very little processed, premade stuff.
I can't break down what we spend just to feed daycare kids because we haven't done it.
I do very little processed, premade stuff.
blandino 09:06 AM 03-23-2013
Originally Posted by ksmith:
Blandino, do you do daycare in your home?
Yes and no. We are an in-home license, but have a seperate home just for the daycare. So I am able to completely seperate the groceries.Blandino, do you do daycare in your home?
just_peachy 09:25 AM 03-23-2013
I know this goes outside the limits of the question, but the only way I keep track is household food AND toiletries.
So for a family of 5 plus 3 daycare kids 4 days a week, we spend $1200-$1500 a month.
We do all organic, the only "processed" foods I buy are the organic kids' Cliff bars and the organic Cliff Kids fruit ropes. We've made sacrifices to be able to feed our family the way I want. I think it's important. My mom has crippling arthritis, she's already had a hip replacement and is looking into a new knee sometime soon. She's on heavy duty anti-inflammatory drugs which will probably be the cause of her death years down the road. And she is convinced that it's because HER mom fed them from boxes and cans their entire life. I tend to agree.
I'll be honest though, sometimes I feel resentful that I am feeding the daycare kids better than how they eat at home. It's a lot of time and work. It helps me when I put myself in the mindset that these are "my" kids between the hours of 7 and 5.
So for a family of 5 plus 3 daycare kids 4 days a week, we spend $1200-$1500 a month.
We do all organic, the only "processed" foods I buy are the organic kids' Cliff bars and the organic Cliff Kids fruit ropes. We've made sacrifices to be able to feed our family the way I want. I think it's important. My mom has crippling arthritis, she's already had a hip replacement and is looking into a new knee sometime soon. She's on heavy duty anti-inflammatory drugs which will probably be the cause of her death years down the road. And she is convinced that it's because HER mom fed them from boxes and cans their entire life. I tend to agree.
I'll be honest though, sometimes I feel resentful that I am feeding the daycare kids better than how they eat at home. It's a lot of time and work. It helps me when I put myself in the mindset that these are "my" kids between the hours of 7 and 5.
SilverSabre25 09:36 AM 03-23-2013
ah yes, that is a good point. our budget also includes toiletries and paper products. I get a lot of stuff at Costco.
kathiemarie 04:07 PM 03-23-2013
I spend about $500 month for my family (3) and DC (8). Mostly homemade foods. I do serve crackers and granola bars at times.
LoraJenkins 08:16 PM 03-23-2013
I spend anywhere from $90 to $125 per week depending on if it a "stock up" week or not. I have 3 FT DCKS. I do serve some "convience" food such as all fruit newton's or whole grain cereals but most of what I serve is homemade. I do try to "stock up" on regularly served items when on sale for at least a month. I cook in batches and freeze the extras in serving sized containers when I can. I also shop our local Farmer's Market for local in-season produce every weekend. I do the same for my family. Just makes sense to me so I can serve the best quality for the lowest amount. I serve only organic products whenever possible.
Jewels 08:49 PM 03-23-2013
I spend about $300 per week, I buy lots of organic, fresh fruits vegetables, good fish once a week for daycare, I am licensed for 12, and have anywhere for 8-10 eating food, it includes family to, were a family of four, nut our evenings are very busy so dinners are quicker and simpler, sandwiches and such, so its daycare that runs most of the bill!
Meeko 01:57 PM 03-24-2013
I try not to think about it!!!
BumbleBee 02:38 PM 03-24-2013
Licensed for 6. Generally have 1 for breakfast, 4 for am snack, 4 for lunch, 6 for pm snack. 75% is homemade with the other 25% being crackers etc for snacks. I buy fresh fruit/veggie for snacks & use frozen fruit/veggies for meals. I do not serve juice only water & milk. I don't do organic. I also don't do canned fruit/veggies but will buy canned beans for chili.
I run right around $60 a week for daycare food (not including paper products).
I do not have any of my own kids or a spouse/partner so my personal food bill is $30 a week.
I run right around $60 a week for daycare food (not including paper products).
I do not have any of my own kids or a spouse/partner so my personal food bill is $30 a week.
Starburst 03:02 PM 03-24-2013
Wow, I am definitly going to have to use coupons when I have my daycare. Too bad California coupons and store policies make it difficult to save alot like on "Extreme Couponing".
NeedaVaca 04:09 PM 03-24-2013
My cost varies a great deal but I spend between $30-$70 per week, this includes all household items/toiletries for a family of 4 and 5 daycare kids. I coupon a lot, when I don't need to stock up on anything I can spend around $30 for the week on milk, bread & produce, when I see good deals and want to stock up my weekly expense rises.
Just this week I stocked up on 20 packages of Gogurts for summer popsicles, 20 containers of 32 oz yogurt and 20 Bailey coffee creamers. I spent $12.80 on 60 items!
Just this week I stocked up on 20 packages of Gogurts for summer popsicles, 20 containers of 32 oz yogurt and 20 Bailey coffee creamers. I spent $12.80 on 60 items!
Sugar Magnolia 04:20 PM 03-24-2013
We don't provide lunch, but we provide 2 snacks and beverages with lunch and snacks. On Friday, we have pizza, but the parents (ahem, most parents
) pay for it. Snacks and drinks cost about $50 per week for 13-15 children.
) pay for it. Snacks and drinks cost about $50 per week for 13-15 children.
Evansmom 05:17 PM 03-24-2013
I stopped providing food and I love it!! I do provide an afternoon snack which is usually a fruit or veggie paired with yogurt, cheese, sunflower seed butter or sometimes crackers on occasion bc I limit grains. It's been so great!! I'll never go back to providing food, it just took up too much of my time and money and our nice organic food was always wasted.
I admire all of you who provide food to your clients, I just couldn't do it.
I admire all of you who provide food to your clients, I just couldn't do it.
LK5kids 06:08 PM 03-24-2013
Originally Posted by Evansmom:
I stopped providing food and I love it!! I do provide an afternoon snack which is usually a fruit or veggie paired with yogurt, cheese, sunflower seed butter or sometimes crackers on occasion bc I limit grains. It's been so great!! I'll never go back to providing food, it just took up too much of my time and money and our nice organic food was always wasted.
I admire all of you who provide food to your clients, I just couldn't do it.
In all honesty I'd love to just provide snacks and be done with it!I stopped providing food and I love it!! I do provide an afternoon snack which is usually a fruit or veggie paired with yogurt, cheese, sunflower seed butter or sometimes crackers on occasion bc I limit grains. It's been so great!! I'll never go back to providing food, it just took up too much of my time and money and our nice organic food was always wasted.
I admire all of you who provide food to your clients, I just couldn't do it.