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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.
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.