Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Food Program Inspection
Leigh 10:17 PM 03-06-2016
Had ANOTHER food program inspection (they come WAY more often than required-ugh). There's a new inspector. She tried telling me that NONE of my meals were creditable because I told her that I don't post menus a day ahead of time. I have been told since I started with the food program that my menu for the day has to be available for parents by pickup time the day that the meals were served (and they are). She was frustrated that I don't use cycle menus (I don't like serving the same things over and over, and I make meals according to what's available that day and what I have time for-if it's a busy day, I'll make something easier).

Anyway, a whole month of meals aren't creditable now because I didn't circle the meals I served on my paper copies (why, I don't know, but I just quit doing it). I know this has been a rule with our program, but does everyone have this rule? It seems REALLY stupid to me, since in and out times are recorded, and I told her that. That's not an issue with her-it's always been that way, and I don't agree with it-my issue with her when it came to this is that she told me that if a child refuses to eat, that I can't claim them and that is the reason I must circle that the kid was here for breakfast, lunch, and snack (NOT true, I know). I told her that all I have to do is put the food in front of them, and she told me that the kid has to actually eat it. This was her third time at my house, and she's such a rude witch when she's here (and wrong about half of what she tells me) that I'm been thinking of quitting the program. She's not just annoying to me, but aggressively rude and argumentative. I pretty much threw her out of my house the last time she was here. She was arguing with me about not having records for days that I didn't even claim (I had a crisis in my life, and didn't record meals for about 2 weeks because I, frankly, had better things to do-caring for the kids was almost too much).

I just DREAD visits now (I really enjoyed everyone else I have dealt with from there).

Has anyone else heard that a kid had to actually EAT a meal in order for it to be claimed? Seriously, it wouldn't pay to be on the program in that case-nearly every day, at least one kid skips a meal because they're not hungry or holding out for something better.
Reply
Josiegirl 02:45 AM 03-07-2016
A child does not have to eat their food to be counted. We merely have to serve it in front of them. And as far as the menu rotation they've suggested it but don't require it. Plus the FP monitor and I have discussed posting the menu a week at a time. It's not mandatory and she says as long as I've got a couple day's worth on the posted schedule ahead of time, that's fine. I told her exactly what you had said, plans change, food is spoiled, etc. when you go to use it.
My monitor may be extra easy going though. She only asks me if my fridge is clean and all food covered, she's never personally checked. She says you can tell a lot from the way a person keeps the whole dc environment. I love my FP lady.
It helps that she used to be a provider for many years so she knows what it's like.
Reply
Josiegirl 02:49 AM 03-07-2016
Is there someone else at your agency you can speak with about it? Is all of this written into the FP policies? I think if she's creating such a fuss and being so rude I'd either file complaints or drop out. A lot of people that come into a job like that start off crossing all their T's as they don't want to make a mistake. But she sounds much worse than that.
Reply
Play Care 03:05 AM 03-07-2016
My FP actually discourages cycle/rotating menus as they want the kids having variety, and they feel it would mean providers serving the same things over and over.
We also only have to offer it to them, they can chose to eat or not.
I agree with Josie in that it's time to go over her head.
Reply
NillaWafers 07:28 AM 03-07-2016
Just like a licensing inspection, I would ask her to show me where it is written that kids must eat to be counted, and the meal planning/cycling menus.

My FP monitor is great, I love her. She never checks my fridge and just looks on minute menu to make sure I've recorded all meals. I have never had her ask about menus, even though I post them a week ahead of time and use a program to plan them out (plantoeat.com it's great). SO I have my bases covered if they want proof I've been planning meals.
Reply
284878 08:04 AM 03-07-2016
I would ask to see where it says that. I did that with my FP lady, I had rule that I could not find anywhere and I made her show me. ( it was in the fine print of contract. )
I did it with the health department too. They were telling me to call weekly, I asked were that was written. Come to find out they were trying to strongly suggest I call weekly by telling it was the law and I would be fined if I didn't.
You could also interview other FP in your area to see if they have the same rules.
Reply
Unregistered 12:56 PM 03-07-2016
Ask the agency if that is required.

I had one once who told me to wake my whole group up from nap and serve them lunch, which ee'd already eaten. I refused and emailed the agency after she left in a huff. She was trying to meet her quota for unannounced meal visits. She only lasted a few months.
Reply
sharlan 01:28 PM 03-07-2016
Definitely call the main office. Is there another program you can change to?
Reply
Josiegirl 02:26 PM 03-07-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Ask the agency if that is required.

I had one once who told me to wake my whole group up from nap and serve them lunch, which ee'd already eaten. I refused and emailed the agency after she left in a huff. She was trying to meet her quota for unannounced meal visits. She only lasted a few months.
WOW, yeh, THAT'S gonna happen!
Reply
Unregistered 03:00 PM 03-07-2016
Right?! And then what, how do I come up with the food they've already eaten? And when I have already claimed it, then can she disallow me for serving something different? Plus ... NAP time! No.
Reply
Unregistered 03:28 PM 03-07-2016
When I was a preschool director, I attended a USDA training by my state's USDA main monitors (USDA employees at the state level that work directly for USDA program) and this was one of the most frequently asked question. The answer is no a child does not need to actually take a bite of food to be counted. A child's meal is counted as long as his/her food portions (pre-portioned on their plate or served family style) is served at the table with them. The reason being a child cannot be forced to eat, only encouraged to try, and it is up to the child to actually eat what is served. Your food monitor is wrong and I agree with others that you should ask to be shown where it states what she is telling you and to speak to another representative.
Reply
Leigh 02:47 PM 03-08-2016
Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I just got an email from her now telling me that I need to have a special diet form filled out for my kids that use soy milk (Silk/8th Continent). My understanding is that these are nutritional equivalents to dairy milk, and that a special diet form is NOT necessary. Does anyone know if I am correct? I'm pretty positive that she's wrong about that, too.
Reply
Thriftylady 03:41 PM 03-08-2016
I would call her supervisor and ask. I am not on the food program right now, and I don't remember about the milk. It seems that when I was on it, you had to have the paperwork for the milk. But that was years ago and my memory could be wrong and things could have changed.
Reply
Leigh 03:49 PM 03-08-2016
Originally Posted by Thriftylady:
I would call her supervisor and ask. I am not on the food program right now, and I don't remember about the milk. It seems that when I was on it, you had to have the paperwork for the milk. But that was years ago and my memory could be wrong and things could have changed.
I just finally found that they require it for soy milk. I have had lots of kids on soy milk and was told before that they didn't need documentation because of the equivalence. I've only had to get documentation for one kid who was on rice milk in the past.
Reply
LindseyA 03:56 PM 03-08-2016
Wow. I'm sorry you are going thru this! Is there any way you can get a monitor from a different County? I am right on the border of two counties. In the county I actually live in, I've heard horror stories about their monitors. So I applied to the next county's FP and absolutely love my monitor! She comes in like a family member, sits down at the kitchen table with the kids, asks how my husband is doing (he recently fell ill). We talk about our up coming camping trips, etc. I look forward to the inspections, as do the kids. If I were you, I would look into the next County over if possible. They will travel!
Reply
Leigh 06:24 AM 03-09-2016
Originally Posted by LindseyA:
Wow. I'm sorry you are going thru this! Is there any way you can get a monitor from a different County? I am right on the border of two counties. In the county I actually live in, I've heard horror stories about their monitors. So I applied to the next county's FP and absolutely love my monitor! She comes in like a family member, sits down at the kitchen table with the kids, asks how my husband is doing (he recently fell ill). We talk about our up coming camping trips, etc. I look forward to the inspections, as do the kids. If I were you, I would look into the next County over if possible. They will travel!
Around here, they go by regions and there's no other option for me. However, I am going to contact the office and ask if someone else can be my monitor. I really hate being so snotty about it, but this woman is just SO rude when she comes by that I really don't want to be on the program anymore. I've dealt with everyone else in this office, and honestly LOVE having them visit-they're so nice and so helpful. I'm betting she's not easy for them to work with, either. I hate that I let myself get so worked up over it, but I can't see putting up with that attitude in my own home.
Reply
sharlan 08:05 AM 03-09-2016
Originally Posted by Leigh:
Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I just got an email from her now telling me that I need to have a special diet form filled out for my kids that use soy milk (Silk/8th Continent). My understanding is that these are nutritional equivalents to dairy milk, and that a special diet form is NOT necessary. Does anyone know if I am correct? I'm pretty positive that she's wrong about that, too.
I have to have the form filled out for soy, too.
Reply
Leigh 08:20 AM 03-09-2016
Originally Posted by sharlan:
I have to have the form filled out for soy, too.
I discovered that yesterday, through searching online. I've never been asked to fill one out before, and I've always had at least one kid on soy. Doesn't make sense, if it's an equivalent, but I'll do it anyway.
Reply
Gemma 09:06 AM 03-09-2016
Originally Posted by Play Care:
My FP actually discourages cycle/rotating menus as they want the kids having variety, and they feel it would mean providers serving the same things over and over.
We also only have to offer it to them, they can chose to eat or not.
I agree with Josie in that it's time to go over her head.
this exactly!
Reply
grandmom 03:39 PM 03-09-2016
According to my monitor, the child doesn't have to sit at the table. I just have to ask them (twice) if they want the meal. If they say no, I claim them.
Reply
grandmom 03:58 PM 03-09-2016
Ask if they follow the "U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service February 2012" document. If they do, it says on page 24

"For example, if a child does not want a food component, or does not want the full required portion of a meal component, the provider should offer the food component to the child again. If minimum portions are not available to each child, the meals would be disallowed "

I couldn't find a more recent document.
Reply
TwinKristi 04:10 PM 03-09-2016
This is what our policy on soy milk says. We just need a note from the parents. I bought lactose-free milk for one guy, but it turns out he didn't need it. LOL
Attached: image.jpeg (122.0 KB) 
Reply
MrsSteinel'sHouse 04:25 PM 03-09-2016
I know food programs vary in their requirements but it should all be in the rules. We have a manditory annual training that they review EVERYTHING during.
Menus- we have to have a week posted in advance. You may change an item but it must be changed on the menu prior to serving.
For any change in milk we must have a doctor's note.
(if you are caught here serving the wrong milk - 2% instead of skim etc. You are disallowed back to the beginning of the month!)
And yes, here as long as the child is offered the food, it is claimable. You must have all servings prepared and available.
Reply
Tags:food program, food program inspection, subcontractor issues
Reply Up