NUTRITION POLICY

Pre-School and School Age:

For those children attending full-day care, “no school days” and during the summer program, a nutritious morning snack, hot lunch and afternoon snack are prepared for children in our well-equipped commercial kitchen.  School-agers will also get an afternoon snack when they arrive at the Center after school.  Part-time children will participate in the snack that occurs during their attendance and possibly lunch if they attend from 11:30 – Noon.  Menus are posted, with extra copies, in the reception area.  Lunch includes protein, fruit, vegetable, milk.  All meals and snacks will meet State of Wisconsin licensing guidelines for nutrition and regularity.

All food is stored in the kitchen/pantry, is prepared in the kitchen and delivered to the classrooms.  All meals will be served family style in each classroom. Children will eat at a size-appropriate table.  If possible, children will assist in the setting of the table.  One staff member will assist in toileting and hand washing while the other assists the helpers who are setting up the lunch.  The teachers will sit with the children while eating and will be able to assist children who require help.  Children are encouraged to try new things and to eat everything, but are not forced to do so.  Children and teachers will use this time to socialize and relax.  If possible, children will clean up their own area and help in cleaning up the room when they are finished eating.  All leftover foods, dishes and food waste will be returned to the kitchen.

Snacks must include 2 of the following:

• Milk or 100% fruit juice or water
• A fruit or vegetable
• Bread, cereal or a bread alternative (i.e., crackers)
• Meat or meat alternative (i.e., cheese, peanut butter, yogurt)

Lunch will provide 1/3 of the daily nutritional requirements for children and will consist of a protein, vegetable, fruit, and milk; such as:

• Meat, poultry, fish, egg, cooked dried peas or beans, cheese or peanut butter
• 2 vegetables, or 1 vegetable and 1 fruit or 2 fruits
• Cereal or whole grain/enriched bread products
• Grade A, Vitamin D Milk

Second helpings, if requested, will always be available.

Water and juice will be offered throughout the day to older infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Kitchen staff will adhere to all sanitation rules as well as proper dishwashing methods at all times.  Detailed instructions for use, storage and preparation are located in the kitchen.

 Special diets:  If a child has a special diet, vegetarian, allergy, religious or dietary restriction, it will be noted in the child’s file, in the classroom and in the kitchen.  This information will be otherwise kept confidential.  The cook will provide a substitute when necessary.  In the case of severe allergies or food restrictions, parents may be asked to bring in food items to meet their child’s needs.  Teachers will answer questions or lead discussions as they arise in the classroom to assist a child with a special diet so he/she can feel comfortable with his/her special needs.

Staff will have discretion to serve foods not listed on the menu, but will usually receive the permission of the Director – Family & Operations before doing so.  At times, parents may bring in “treats” for the class, either store-bought or homemade.  Before allowing the children to eat these treats, teachers will review the food restrictions list and make sure that the restrictions are followed.  Parent-supplied treats may not be a substitution for the menu meals and snacks.  However, they may be offered in addition to what is on the menu.

Parents will be notified when there are changes to the menu on any given day.  The items not served will be crossed out and the items served will be added.   Special treats are allowed but please keep treats healthy and watch for peanut allergies in classrooms.

Infants & Toddlers:

Parents must provide a fresh supply of formula or daily milk/breast milk and jar food for children not able to consume the daily snacks and lunch (infants and young toddlers).  Please label all with the child’s name and date.  Bottles left overnight at the Center will not be used, and will be discarded.  Parents must tell their child’s teacher what type of milk or formula they use.

Infants will be held while being fed.  Bottles will not be propped for feeding and children are never given a bottle in their crib.  Bottles are kept in a refrigerator in the classroom.  Bottles are heated according to parent’s instructions using a bottle warmer or warm water.  Formula, breast milk and baby food are never microwaved.  Heating instructions for each child’s bottle/food are posted in the classroom.  All leftover milk or formula will be discarded, bottles rinsed and sent home for washing and sterilizing.

Bottle and solid feedings are recorded on the child’s daily or weekly record sheet.  Parent/Teacher communication about feeding schedules, food preferences, etc. is very important. Bowls, infant spoons, sippy cups will be used when appropriate and introduced in conjunction with home introductions. High chairs or tables with chairs or infant seats will be used for feeing children under age two.  Staff will make sure that children are securely fastened in their seats for feeding.  Jar food, infant cereal, crackers, etc. will be kept in the classroom.  The cook will bring any table food made at the Center to the classroom.  Leftover food, waste and used dishes will be returned to the kitchen.

Water and juice will be offered throughout the day to older infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Parents will provide jar food.  The center will provide dry cereal, snacks and table food for those children who are able to eat it.  Parents may indicate to the teachers when their child is ready for jar food or table food, and the staff may suggest readiness to the parents.  The cook will make necessary menu substitutions where possible such as applesauce in place of sliced apples, corn puffs in place of popcorn, cooked carrots in place of carrot sticks, etc.

Teachers will encourage older infants and toddlers to self-feed. Ample time is allowed for each child to eat.  Milk will be available throughout the meal.

Jar food will be stored in the child’s cubby.  When jar food is opened it will be dated and stored in the classroom refrigerator and used within 2 days.  Any unfinished jar food will be discarded after 2 days.  Children will never be fed directly from the jar.  Food must be transferred to a feeding dish before feeding to the child.  The cook will bring table food to the infant and toddler rooms.  No food waste will be put in the classroom waste receptacle unless the receptacle is kept tightly covered.  Generally, all food waste will be returned to the kitchen for disposal.

Parents and staff will communicate daily about the feeding of children.  Records will be kept on the daily or weekly record sheet, and written information form the parent is given on the Child Intake Form.  Staff in the infant/toddler rooms must review this information, and the lead teachers must be sure the information is updated every 3 months.  Information will be shared with all staff that work with the infants or toddlers.