What Child Care Providers are saying about the Food Program this week...

​Want to know what providers are really thinking about CACFP. One thing is for sure, they talk alot about the Food Program, not CACFP. Here are a few questions seen on Facebook this past week: 1. Are you all licensed providers or on the state food programs? Some of the meals I see on here in our group do not seem up to the food program's standards. I have to serve 2 fruit/veggies, 1 whole grain, 1 protein and milk with every meal. Snacks are more flexible just has to be a combination of two groups. 2. Food Program vs Not? I'm mixed on what to do since I fall in the Tier 2. Any helpful info would be appreciated. 3. Those on the food program: how big of a pain is it, really? And is it better to do the program or claim the food expense at the end of the year? 4. I'm on the food program. We are suppose to serve fish at least once a week. What do you all serve to get your requirement  in?

Skim through the responses below, you might be surprised.

1.  Are you all licensed providers or on the state food programs? Some of the meals I see on here in our group do not seem up to the food program's standards. I have to serve 2 fruit/veggies, 1 whole grain, 1 protein and milk with every meal. Snacks are more flexible just has to be a combination of two groups.

•  Nope
• Im not licensed and not on the program. My meals are all whole foods , mainly vegan . They would not fit standards .
• Licensed providers are not required to be on the program here
• I was just curious. We are not required to here either but it's worth the hassle to me to be able to be reimbursed for some of the cost.
• For me it's not. I cater to food allergies .I also believe milk and dairy are harmful to children, my clients agree.
• Also according to who your representative is the rules are interpretated differently.
• Most of our food is farm to table . Alot of it wouldn't be allowed. We eat fermented foods, not allowed.
• We hardly eat grains, not allowed
• Being mainly vegan With several kids with a soy allergy would make their head spin
• I have families who pay a high price for my care I would actually loose money choosing the program to follow the rules.
• Thank you. I like to get other perspectives and learn about how other providers are doing things. I wish some of the rules weren't so strict sometimes. I only have had a couple kids in the past with food allergies and one was my own so, I just didn't claim them to make it easier to do.
• I am right with you with all 7 allergies with 3 different ones having them it is impossible to follow the food program! My lady said just get a dr note it's easy! I told her no way is that easy cause I would be cooking 4 different things…
• Currently I have 13 on roll and 9 have allergies. I also cater to students who are high or special needs. Several manage issues through food , which wouldn't count as an alternative for the food program.
• it is so sad what foods do to the body and behavior! As a mom with a child with food allergies I love that you are very aware and cater to these children
• This page is open to preschool teachers, daycare providers both on and not on food programs. Lots of ideas but yes some may not work for you If you are on a food program.
• Lots of people are not on it I'm a licensed provider but not on the food program. this site is not not just for home daycare providers on the food program
• Food program requirements are the same throughout the US, but with that being said, I think that there should be no "policing" what anyone serves and shares on here whether or not they're on the food program. **Not that that is what you're doing here, I don't know that it is.
• I am not registered. (equivalent of licensed here in my province)
• I am not either of them.
• I am permitted, on food program only have to serve 1 whole grain a day.
• This is correct only one whole grain a day.
• I am certified and am on the food program. However, I am aware that some are not on it.
• This is an international group and the food program is US only so there lots of people not required to
• licensed and on the food program
• Licensed, accredited, and on the food program....I love seeing all the meals! Always getting ideas for new things.
• Im legally unlicensed by choice. If i chose to be licensed i would decline the food program. My meals are good foods and the kids are happy ,healthy with full tummies
• What are some of your meals? I have a group of picky kids and am alway interested in what other kids like...
•  Licensed and on food program. I love seeing the meals too, many of them wouldn't take much to make food program approved.
• I am licensed and enrolled in the food program. It is not required too.
• Licensed and not on the food program, but our licensing requires all the food groups present as well. There's just a lot more flexibility for me to not be on the program. I get the $$ back on taxes later anyhow.
• Licensed, on program, meet the requirements with every meal I post minus the one treat Day and I didn't claim it that day.
• I was on but there's things I can't feed my kids and won't we are mainly vegan meat occasionally..whole foods..sometimes we eat raw vegan meals ..it was working but now I may let the food program go
• Licensed and food program
• Tax question in regards to meal counts......my children are grown now so own more taxes at the end of the year....I'm really bad at paying quartly taxes!!....do you think it would help me to stop my food program and take the deduction at the end of the year??..
• What tier are you on because you can still do both
• It would definitely put you in a different tax bracket so it could help
• You can be on the food program AND take the deduction. Also, maybe save some food program checks if you are worried about taxes.
• But you have to claim good program money as income correct?
• Yes mine has always been a wash ...paid $5000.. claim/deduct 5000..
• Yes. With your meal allowance and your income, it kind of balances out
• ou still get the same tax deduction for meals served you just have to claim your food program reimbursement as income. I recommend everyone have an accountant do their business taxes.
• We use to do our own, until we added two re tals, the childcare and our new house mortgage, we hired someone. Unfortunately we might need to fodn a new one who's knowedgable in interstate stuff, (rent in Ohio, own in NY) military and business owners now , stocks and stuff like that. We have a lot of stuff to account for now lol
• The extra income puts you in a higher tax bracket there for owing more than you would if you didn't have that income
• I do have an account...I had always done standard deduction...she told me to start serving an extra simple snack .
• Yes, you can claim more meals and snacks per child on taxes than you can on food program per day. But make sure she is claiming all meals and snacks you serve.
• How old are your children? They could help with the daycare and you could offset their wages from your income.
• You get paid for 2 meals and a snack or 2 snacks and a meal... but you can deduct 3 meals and 3 snacks on taxes (if you serve them). For any who take babies that would tip the scales since they eat every couple hours.
• My infant gets 2 meals and 3 snacks a day
• How about take food check and send it monthly to the IRS for your quarterly payment
• That have been my problem....something always comes up ..and taxes get pushed back...
• If you could live without the food program income, this suggestion would allow you to participate in the food program, pay your quarterlies, and potentially get a bigger refund at the end of the year.
• If your married, have your husband go in & have extra taken out of his check each week.
• I found dropping the food program a huge advantage for two reasons - time and taxes. So much time planning, scheduling, executing, and recording. Yeah, that is all deductible, but the hours every week in the process was ridiculous. And the benefit was minimal because the check is not deductible, it's considered income.
• ..it actually is deducted...you can claim standard food deduction the same as your check... or receipts.....I hope you did!
• I was also thinking about the time and monitoring visits. What a hassle..ugh!!
• I dropped out 25 years ago and have NEVER regretted that decision.
• I agree I dropped the food program three years ago and it's the best thing I could have done. Constantly being popped in on and having your paperwork dug through and making sure you're putting in your information every single day and making sure you ha...See More
• Yes!!!!
• I'm planning of quitting it's more income and I pay more ! Single not married no kids in house hold! It don't benefit me anymore ! Sure the checks are nice but , the changes , visits, recording , making menu is just not worth it in my case!
• I think the food program is a waste of tax payers money   

 
Food Program vs Not? I'm mixed on what to do since I fall in the Tier 2. Any helpful info would be appreciated

• I changed around my meal service. Instead of an afternoon snack at 4ish, I serve dinner. Not much more food is consumed for that time of day; what's left over my family eats or I save for another day; I get reimbursed more for the meal; kids parents ar...See More
• Oh my provider choice rep told me in need to claim it. I'll check with my accountant tomorrow :)
• You claim the income on the income side of your taxes. But you deduct your meals on the deduction side. So if you use the standard deduction for meals, you claim the tier one rate for each meal and snack. And you can tax deduct more meals per day per child than the food program will pay. So in some cases your deduction is way higher than what the food program paid you.
• Okay. My slow Monday brain is finally starting to get it! 😀
• Easy, I still do the paperwork , not online. 500+ a month, worth it. Plus I have a great rep, she's In and out sooooo fast. My rep is great too... And extremely helpful!
• It's easy! And covers some of the grocery bill. I would do it!
• Nope for me. Too much government.
• If I was tier 2 and not tier 1 I'm not sure I would bother with the hassle.
• I claim standard deduction...they pay me $7000... I deduct $...7000
• I think it depends on your views on government involvement. I am self employed, I run my business the way I see fit. I don't need more oversight from any gov't entity. I am not motivated by money. No food program here.
• Yes , have been for 18 years. It's very beneficial for me. Very minimal work.
• I'll have 5 kids, 6 including mine. Not sure if $200 a month is worth the time. Guess I could do it and bow out in Oct if I'm not happy :)
• I'm in the Tier 2 as well. I was in Tier 1 until we moved in March. Now i'm Tier 2 and thought about quitting but haven't yet. I get about $200 a month. For now my thought is it's better than nothing since fruits and veggies are so expensive.
• Don't you have to pay taxes on that money. It's income
• Yes, but you also claim the expense on the other end so it evens out.http://tomcopelandblog.com/is-the-food-program-worth-it 
• Is the Food Program Worth It? - Tom Copeland's Taking Care of Business
• It is always financially beneficial for family child care…TOMCOPELANDBLOG.COM
• yep, it's added income and completely taxed.BUT you still claim the expense on the other side of your taxes, plus any non-resimbursed meal costs.
• I have used the food program on both tiers. No matter which tier you are on you can use tier 1 rates on taxes but have to keep counts of meals like if on program. I look at it as they are helping me cover the cost of food kids don't eat and I throw away.
• I quit when I had no dependents at home. It threw us into a higher tax bracket.
• I don't. We serve whole real food here and alot if what we serve wouldn't be good program worthy. I don't pump kids full of grains and sugary crap. We also do not serve milk or many dairy products.
• The kids eat food that's been freshly canned, locally grown etc ...See More
• I hate that the program requires milk! Most of mine won't drink it but I have to offer so down the drain it goes! I'm anti milk myself so no way I'm telling them they have to drink it.
• When I was with the agency I had to serve milk. So stupid. Another reason I left.
• I'm so happy I don't have to any more. We eat homemade yogurt and cheese for our dairy.
• I sooo wish I could charge my families to cover the cost of 'good' food. Not happening where I live :(
• If you serve family style, with the changes, you can offer milk and water at the same time and the kids can choose either or both. (Per my sponsor in WI, although I know things are not consistent state to state and sponsor to sponsor)
• I don't drink milk but the kids love it!
• Licensing doesn't like family style here 😩 requires a whole written plan
• Seriously, Licensing doesn't care here and my food program sponsor loves it! I'm in WI.
• Stange yup they make it a point to mention every visit to lol
• If I didn't get tier one and my own kids didn't qualify I wouldn't do it...but that $500+ check each month is pretty nice
• Same here. If I go down to Tier 2 I'll probably drop it. I'm not a fan of so much grains and glutin and milk.
• Nope for the same reasons as the above commenters. I serve most vegetarian here and some kids drink milk but others don't. Also I am out a lot during the day and we have morning snack on the go. I didn't like having to worry about when someone would show up at my home.
• Thank you all for your comments. I have been concerned about the whole grains that have to be served everyday. I have Celiac so I keep everything gluten free so I don't get sick.
• I cater to food allergies
• I actually asked if it could be any whole grain and the Dept of Ed said yes. So no it does not have to be wheat. I'm celaic too and I only back gluten free in my kitchen.
• I am tier 2 and every little bits helps. When the school qualify they will automatically bump me up. I sure appreciate the food program.
• Plus it appears you can write off more just filing it with taxes. .48 vs 1.32. I dont understand why I wouldn't do the taxes deductions way.
• Here DHS requires that I serve what qualifies so why not get paid to serve what I am required to anyway? It doesn't cover it all, but it helps.
• Exactly! Even if your not on the food program, you still have to meet the guidelines
• Yes I have 12 children daily and receive over $700 a month. As long as you cook it's easy and worth it. Any amount over what you receive from the food program you can still write off
• Not anymore. I was on it for about 6 1/2 years. When we moved I dropped down to the lower tier and it's not worth it to me. All the extra training, paperwork, meetings etc for 200-300/month. No thanks. I actually am glad I am off of it. One less thing to stress about.
• Free money for 15 minutes a day of paperwork.... yes please. 😊
• No not on tier 2!
• I debated the same way long ago. Finally decided to do it because I'm going to feed the kids anyway, so why not get a little help with the grocery bill. Plus, dc fees are pathetic for where I live. My food program checks help to make up for what I can't charge for dc services
• Setting up into the program was a breeze. And, if you can do it on line, it's even easier than the paper route. A couple, not invasive visits during the year. Notify your sponsor if you're going to be closed or gone for any meals. It's really not that big of a deal. Some stress over it. I find it easy.
• I am doing it. I figure I am serving healthy meals as is, why not get an extra $500 check each month?
• But then you have to pay taxes on the reimbursement. I'm so confused! 😉
• My reimbursement is less than what I spend on groceries so I still get a deduction
• Yes you claim as income but anything you spend over your reimbursement amount you write off. If you have a lot of children it is worth it
• No taxes on reimbursement...it's played and written off its a wash.
• I thought that too. My tax gal had me keep my grocery receipts, I pay WAY more in food than I get. Now I keep every receipt.
• I knew a gal that was audited...so I do standard lol...but this summer I am claiming an extra snack...not associated with the food program.

I'm on the food program. We are suppose to serve fish at least once a week. What do you all serve to get your requirement  in?

• Wow seriously fish? I personally love fish I am not on the food program but had no idea that was a requirement any where
• My kiddos don't like fish, we aren't required.
• I don't believe that a requirement. Never heard of a fish requirement. But I serve tuna here
• I totally agree with you. I've been on the food program for over 17 years. That is not a requirement. Unless every area is different. I serve fish from time to time, but most is high is contaminates. Not on my weekly or even my monthly list of food I serve.
• No fish requirement here
• I don't have a fish requirement here in ND
• Tuna pasta salad is a good one
• Salmon as a dip
• Shrimp fry : shrimp potatoes and corn...See More
• I hope I don't have a fish requirement, I don't even keep it in my house. I have a 5 year old VERY allergic!
• No fish requirement here. Thank goodness
• No fish requirement here
• There is no fish requirement on the federal food program....
• Not on the program, but these guys love shrimp
• Why would they require you to serve fish once a week? That doesn't seem right
• There is no fish requirement
• Thank god we don't have that. I can't stand the smell of it. I'd get a drs note saying I can't serve it due to allergies lol.
• Never heard this rule.
• No fish requirement here in MI but I occasionally serve fish sticks and tuna
• Like · Reply · 1 · July 24 at 1:00pm
• Remove
• Maybe her particular program ir her reps interpretation of it requires it. Arguing with her and what she's been told helps her zero
• I'm from Iowa. I don't think I misunderstood but it is possible. I serve tuna noodle casserole, popcorn shrimp, salmon patties, and fish sticks. Just looking for new ideas.
• I'm in Iowa and don't have that requirement.
• Maybe it was no more then once a week? But not a mandatory once a week.
• I think it's one of the "best practices" suggestions, not a requirement.
• I have no fish requirement
• My kiddos like fish sticks, tuna casserole, fish and fries, shrimp rolls on Hawaiian buns.
• My program doesn't require that. I'm glad, cause I'm allergic
• No food program requires fish to be served.
• I'm Iowa too... there is no fish requirement for me
• I have been on CACFP here in Iowa for 4yrs and this hasn't been a requirement but they are making changes here in October. I'm hoping this isn't one of the changes lol.. but I would double check w your food rep to make sure you are understanding the fish requirement, and if it is required ask her for more ideas.
• i agree, double check the fish requirement.
• I did find the CN food label info on the website one of my inspectors gave me once.
• I would love a link yo the cn label for this! I dont serve fish sticks because i couldn't find a cn label
• I lost the link, oops. Emailed my sponsor to get the website again.
• Thanks for the link! I will have to print it off and ask my rep if it works as a cn label to use them. I'd like to try it out.
• My kids love these and tuna casserole
• Perhaps some suggestions for fish, instead of telling her something that's not very helpful?
• I love tuna raw with lemon pepper (they sell it in packets now) and my kids do as well. With crackers, would be good. Also, open faced tuna sandwiches, which I can't remember the recipe for But tuna (and mayo?) on a slice of bread with a slice of cheese on top, baked. We do shrimp just in garlic butter sauce or even cold with cocktail sauce might be a win. Tuna salad. Calamari. Baked lemon pepper cod is divine. lol Low fishy flavor too. You could batter or not.
• My kids love tuna melts
• I'm in Mn. No fish requirement now but maybe in Oct? I serve tuna stirred into mac n cheese and tuna "burgers". I mix tuna, boiled eggs , cheese and mayo. Put on a bun and heat 20 min.
• I've never heard that. It may be a program specific requirement. Ask for a waiver.
• I think it's recommended but not required to serve fish once a week. Double check with your rep.
• We have no requirement here but we bake popcorn shrimp and they love it
• That's a best practice. Not required
• For real your sponsor is making you do that?
• We both thought it was required. She was just here last week and mentioned that I didn't have fish on my menu for that week!
• Salmon patties fried but that I believe would break a best practice. I sometimes grill fish in aluminum foil with squeezed lemon and ground peppercorn and.for.those that like hot..cajun pepper
• We do tuna or canned salmon in stuff regularly
• I would ask for the documentation for that requirement. That's not the norm.
• I'm not on the food program. But my kiddos love baked salmon!
• It's all the federal food program, right. Why is it different for her?
• not here in MN.
• Rules are different from state to state, does not make any sense to me, since this is a federal program.
• They shouldn't be and I get so mad when I see something like this or when I post and hear that's not rt
• the rules are the same--different sponsors can make suggestions such as this. try to get a waiver or change sponsors when your contract comes up. That is in October.
• Not hear either but I do serve shrimp and fish sticks or filets
• We have tuna melts
• And tuna cheese casserole ( mashed potato 🥔 tuna 🐟 cheese 🧀) all mixed together and baked in oven to make top crispy
• Kids usually ask for 2nds
• I'm in Maine and just went to our annual food training.... these are the flyers we received with the changes.
• Each sponsor can make additional changes as long as it is listed in their contract between you, them and the State. (Former Sponsor in state of Iowa)
• And unlike some other states we can't pick what sponsor we would want to use. Our Sponsors are based on who covers our county.
• What makes no sense to me is my husband is a fisherman and brings home fresh caught fish every week. We can't claim fresh caught fish, but we can serve the processed minced fish. Sorry but they get it anyway!
• Baked whole fillets, not the breaded stuff in a box or fish sticks... Just plain fillets;
• Tuna salad sandwiches (tuna mixed with ranch dressing, rather than Mayo, and celery salt, black pepper, a little dried parsley, and onion powder);
• Shrimp (bags of peeled, precooked, when on sale)
• Fresh fish with pesto and garlic cooked in spray oil served with fresh salad yummo :)
• I never serve fish...I'm on the food program
• Broiled salmon or grilled or tuna salad or shrimp.... my kids love all seafood
• Never heard that it is required.
• Fish is a Meat/Meat Alt which is a requirement. But fish once a week is not a Federal Requirement. Federal requirements: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks State requirements:https://www.educateiowa.gov/.../child-adult-care-food... and I don't see it here. But you certainly received some awesome ideas and info.
•  I was told I couldn't serve tuna here in Mn from my food program lady.
• I don't remember why. I asked bout tuna hotdish no can do sorry to say she told me.
• Are you sure is not because there might not be enough tuna in it to meet the meat requirements. I'm in MN and serve tuna salad, creamed tuna on toast, and tuna melts. Kids love them all and i claim all of them.
• Ok i will have to ask her more bout them
• I do tuna hotdish all the time I'm in mn.... I just usually serve a cheese stick on side too
• I've been serving it for 24 years and have never been denied.
• I'm in Dakota Cty. Shouldn't make a difference I wouldn't think.
• I'm in MN and I have always just used tuna. Because you can't use boxed fish unless you have a cn label and sometimes I just don't feel like calling the company trying to get those things.
• We've been told the CN label now has to actually be on the box, and you can't save an old box, it has to be on every box. Also, I've never found any CN labels
• I've never been able to either so I don't even bother with it. No store bought nuggets, or fish sticks here
• My kids love tilapia or cod. I make it with a sweet basil, garlic, parmesan butter or with butter, lemon and English sauce in the oven and they devour it
• Not here in TN. Shew. My grandson is highly allergic and can't be around tuna so we avoid fish.

Those on the food program: how big of a pain is it, really? And is it better to do the program or claim the food expense at the end of the year?

• I've used it for 11 years with no issues. I am able to claim online so for me it's not a pain at all. I claim the income as well as all the extra food cost at the end of the year.
• Can I ask, what is the extra food costs? I just claim my extra snacks at tax time. Is there something else I can claim?
• I don't get but a little over 1,000$ for the year for reimbursement so yes I keep all my food receipts and I can use them at tax time. Most of this is don't by my tax preparer, she knows what I can & cant claim I just keep everything.
• I have never been on it and probably never will be. I think it's to strict and they always change things. I have a small group in Kansas and wouldn't get very much I claim everything at the end of the year
• Yeah... I think its super strict too.
• We wasted a lot of food when I was on it and so much paperwork. I am happy not being on it anymore.
• I recently stopped doing the food program after 2 years.
• I think i did it at a good time there was going to be More changes coming and I'm over it.
• Too many rules. I feel much less stressed during meal times now. Less stress and less waste makes me happier then the measly check I was getting.
• Mine isn't a pain at all, I actually love my monitor!! It helps a lot with food costs and even if I wasn't on the program I would still serve healthy meals so it's a win for me. I print my claims at the end of the year with my totals for my taxes so it's hassle free.
• I have never had an issue..
• I am on Higher pay tier... my checks are $800-$1000 a month.. ...See More
• Where/how do I find what tier I would be? I threw away everything.
• Mine is based on my school districts amount of kids on the food program..
• my school district is 79% so I get the higher tier...
• It keeps my meals on the healthy side. I don't get to shop cheap stores like walmart due to my rural location and still get what we need. It definitely takes longer to make lunch though.
• It can be a pain, but I like my $1100 reimbursement checks each month.
• Yea that would be nice I would only get $100-$200 if that
• I care for 11-15 kids for a meal every day, so it comes at a cost for my sanity at times.
• I claim on line so it's pretty easy
• It's free money
• It is some computer work but hey free money is free money. I get approx $12,000 a year. And totally write it off
• As Tom Copeland puts it "If someone gave you a winning lottery ticket, would you say no thanks, just because you have to pay taxes on it?" It's free $$:) My food program lady is so nice and only stops by 3 times a year:) That's nothing! Helps me feed t...See More
• , at the end of the year, you would claim the same standard food deduction whether you are on the food program or not:) The bonus is if you are on the food program you also received extra income that year👍 http://tomcopelandblog.com/is-the-food-program-worth-it Is the Food Program Worth It? - Tom Copeland's Taking Care of Business 
• It is always financially beneficial for family child care…TOMCOPELANDBLOG.COM
• It's crazy easy. Don't feed them stuff like pop tarts for breakfast. And it's smooth sailing.
• I've been doing it so long that it's just part of what I do. It's really not that difficult. However, I can understand how it might seem overwhelming to a new provider.
• Honestly in my state it's not bad at all...its technically what I feed anyway...lots of fruits veggies and protein...so I have to fill out a menu each day...takes like 5 mins at naptime...and my own kids qualify...so even though I only have 4 full-time kids I still get more than $500 a month...it helps a ton
• I have been doing child care for almost 40 years...I have always hated the paperwork...now it really takes a lot for me to keep up with things. . Its really not hard if you do it daily ...if you do not rely on the extra monthly income to make ends meet then its a nice big write off that can help you a lot at tax time . I suggest you give it a try and see for yourself...give it 6 months!
• My checks are over $500 a month. At the end of the day I have to write in who was here, who ate and what did I serve. Takes me 10 minutes. At the end of the month I have to tally all the meals and separate the top page from the bottom page and put in a...
• I have to tally all the meals and separate the top page from the bottom page and put in an envelope. 15 minutes. That's about 4 hours of work a month...so $125 an hour. And of course , I can't serve certain things that I wouldn't serve anyway....like boxed food, processed stuff, juice and all that. Well, I can serve it, but I can't claim it.
• I still claim all my food expenses, and then I claim the food program income. But my food expense is still huge enough to give me deduction. And other expenses. It all balances out. My accountant says the food income isn't a hard hit.
• Wait, if you are on the food program you can still claim food at the end of the year?! Is this every state.
• Yes. You claim the checks as income, and write off your food expenses.
•  I haven't been saving receipts
• It's not hard to do. Reimbursement helps a lot.
• I avoided the food program for awhile tell I decided to let the sponsor in to talk to me. I have now been on the food program for 6 months and it easy es there food guidelines of what to serve and how much. I really enjoy the program because it helped me branch out and try new items. We eat better then we did before. The kids likes most I make. And I like the extra income. My sponsor advise for all considering the program is to try it for six months. After six months if it not for you, drop it. 
• We do paper invoices where I live so they're super easy to check off. I complain occasionally but I'm meal planning and buying the food anyway so I might as well get reimbursed for some of it. And I serve a good variety of proteins and produce so I only had to tweak a couple of things for my menus
• You can do the food program AND claim the tax deduction.
• I claim both. What the food program doesn't cover, I claim the rest
• If you do the food program, you get the extra money (regardless if you're tier 1 or tier 2) and you claim it as income and then you still claim food costs at the end of the year (actual food cost or standard meal rate) so on the food program you will a...See More
• At the end of the year, you claim both the income from the food program and the cost of food (either meals provided or grocery expense) and it almost balances out. It's about 5 minutes of paperwork a day if you stay on top of it, and maybe 30 minutes a...See More
• Anyone interested in sending me a menu or two to let me see what kinds of things you serve or are required?
• Is whole milk required? Meat required 2 times a day?
• -I'm on the food program and rarely serve meat:) You have to serve a protein at lunch, but most days I do cheese, eggs or yogurt:) And you have to serve skim or 1% milk to kids over 1:) Whole milk to kids under 1:)
• this is what we were talking about the other day.
• I love my monitor and it is so worth it to me. The changes that are bring made are long overdue. They are difficult and that aren't that hard to figure out. There are lots of nice people that will be happy to answer question.
• I just feel some of the ideas are wrong whole milk is good for us (if milk is good for is) whole foods are good for us
• if a child is under weight or needs whole milk after the age of two all you need is a doctor's note staying whole milk is recommended. I have 5 with doctor's notes.
• I got the lowest reimbursement and so at the end of the month I was only getting about $100 for HOURS AND HOURS of work. Wasn't worth it to me at all. Don't miss it!
• i have no interest in it whatsoever
• I didnt either.
• I was on it but they disallow so much and I only made less then 100 a month not sure if I will have to pay at the end of the year but can't seem to figure it out plus all the new changes ugh don't know if I will go on it again but mayb I would miss the money if it was more for the month but alor if work for 100 dollars no way I will think about it
• once and done. The Govt has put a cap on the amount we can deduct anyway - I hated the extra time and work.
• I cannot wait for the day I can quit the food program. Most of the changes I'm happy with, some regulations I don't agree with (like milk), but the additional paperwork hours I log for my staff and I are ridiculous. Not to mention all the small mistakes you can be docked for and required to pay back (like not putting WG on the menu item for that day. Small things that don't change what the children were served, but the paper trail still gets ya). I could probably dock 5-10 hours off my payroll each week if I quit it. (centers are slightly different than in-home. not the food requirements, but the paperwork). I just opened last year though and with my reimbursements being anywhere between $1,100-$1400, I can't call it quits just yet :/