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One meal a day would not be a deal breaker for me.

That would not be a deal breaker for me.

Tricky! I would not be wanting my LO to having corn dogs, tater tots, fries and hot dogs on a regular basis. yuck! Could you inquire about food a little more, like is at least some of it organic? How do they prepare it- are the fries/tots baked at least, not fried? not sure if that will help your decision though. If its just one meal a day then I would probably go for it since the daycare is so convenient to your home. You could always tell LO that its special school food so it won't be expected at home.

For me, it would be a deal breaker. LO is only 4.5 months, but we already know we will be avoiding certain foods (processed, refined sugars, limited dairy, mostly organic, etc.). It would bother me that we would be making every effort to have her eat healthy at home and then she would get one not so healthy meal a day. But that's just me, I realize everyone is different.

Like @looch said, it's likely he'll just associate those foods with daycare and continue to expect and accept the foods that he's been getting at home. The quality and care of the teachers would be the highest priority for me...if my kid is safe and happy and stimulated then one "bad" meal would not be a deal breaker... Especially bc they also offer a veggie and fruit with each meal

That menu isn't the best but I don't think it is the worst either. I think if everything else is awesome about this place then I wouldn't let the food bother me so much.

I think if I liked it overall, I wouldn't let the food issue stop me.

LO's daycare provides snacks and I don't love some of the things they feed them (cheese its, trail mix that has a few marshmallows) but those snacks only come up in the rotation a few times a month and we feed her healthy foods at home and most of the snacks are better like fruits and veggies.

Absolutely not a deal breaker for me (but I am very much in the "everything in moderation" camp). The quality of care is so much more important to me than the one meal a day (and the menu isn't THAT bad).

How can the daycare accommodate kids with food allergies if no outside food is permitted? For me it would be a deal breaker due to my son's allergies.

@Mrs. Pen: DS1 is allergic to dairy and eggs in addition to peanuts. I think it would be overwhelming for any daycare to attempt to accommodate his allergies.

@Mrs. Pen: at the daycare I work at we only allow outside food with a Drs note. Most of the time parents only do this if they have allergies or religious food restrictions. We also accommodate for all allergies. But maybe you could ask if ou provided a Drs note saying he needed food from home if that would be okay. If not I agree that kids compartmentalize daycare and home as far as what you eat at home. I think if you love the center otherwise it's fine. Like you said, it's only one meal a day.

This would not be deal breaker for me because I have a picky toddler and end up sending chicken nuggets for his lunch everyday because that is all he will eat. The fact that he seems to love it and it's convenient would be more important to me.

I would also be conflicted, but I think because the overall place seems like such a good fit you should just go for it. You could also request to send in something different just when x is served (whatever bothers you the most)?

Not a deal breaker for me at all - the convenience of not having to pack a lunch is great! And the food choices look fine to me - well-balanced, for the most part. Are there particular foods you aren't comfortable with? With the exception of the nuggets, these are all foods I feed my toddler and he genuinely loves it!

@yin: Our center has an allergy and vegetarian menu separate from the regular one.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. It is one meal a day. The convienence ours weighs the menu for me.

@Mrs. Pen: did they say why he can't have his own food?

Personally it would be a deal breaker for me but that is not to say it should or should not be for you. I was raised on that and worse and I did not turn out okay I kid. DH says he is allergic to hot dogs and as I said we are vegetarian. At least it is one meal a day only, but I think that would funk up lo's system even if we weren't veg because she basically eats leaves and salmon. (we are pescoveg) (I think that food would make me feel sick due to my healthy diet from dh's work- not to say I don't love junk food, just ben and jerry's!)

packing a lunch is soooooo much work. honestly if it were next door, i'd do it. we moved farther away from our daycare and it has greatly impacted our quality of life (we used to live a block away).

I think there are so many other benefits and awesome things about this place, it would be okay!

Very rarely will you find a daycare that has literally everything you want and is affordable and conveniently located. Food is important to us, too, but knowing he's in a great place that is convenient for us? Higher on the ranking chart