I have receipts for the majority of furniture, toys, and other daycare items I purchased since my daycare opened earlier this year but I have not saved all my receipts and almost none of them for food. I was told I must purchase food and other daycare items separate from my family expenses. I have a family of six and grocery shopping is hectic enough with my four kids (7, 10, 13, and 15) in tail without separating each food item into separate carts. I don't see the point in this it's not like I can actually keep each of my own children out of the "daycare food" anyway.

Thanks for your question. You do not have to purchase food and other daycare items separately! No way. If you use the standard meal allowance method to claim food expenses, you don't need any food receipts! So, keep track of the number of meals and snacks you serve to each child. Save your Food Program monthly claim form and keep records of any meals or snacks you serve that you are not reimbursed by the Food Program.
For those items you don't have receipts (toys, etc.) - take a picture of them and write a note of when you bought it and how much it cost. Guess if you have to. Cancelled checks, credit/debit card statements are also evidence of purchases.
Tom Copeland