Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-6.3
Food and Nutrition

GEN (a) All centers shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Food served to children who are present during normal mealtime hours or required snack periods, as specified in (b) and (c) below, shall be provided either by the child's parent or by the center.

2. If the center chooses to provide foodx "food:preparation and storage", the center shall ensure that all food served to children is prepared by either:

   i. The center on-site or off-site; or

   ii. A caterer who is licensed, registered, certified or otherwise approved, as appropriate, by the local or county health department or State Department of Health and Senior Servicesx "Department of Health and Senior Services:caterer licensing", as applicable.

3. If the center chooses to have parents provide food, the center shall have a supply of food at the center for any child whose parent forgets.

4. If the center provides food, the center shall ensure that the food is stored, prepared, and served in a sanitary manner.

5. Staff members shall advise parents of any repetitive feeding problemsx "feeding problems" experienced by their child.

6. Staff members shall not force-feedx "food:force-feeding prohibited" or coerce a child to eat against his or her will.

7. A snackx "snacks:when required" shall be served to all children who are under the center's care for at least three consecutive hours and for all children who are served on an after-school basis.

8. Drinking waterx "water:drinking" shall be made available to all children.

9. Centers that provide meals shall ensure that:

   i. For children on special diets (for example, due to health reasons, religious belief or parental request), an alternative choice of foodx "food:special diets" is provided by either the center or the child's parentx "parent:food provided by"; and

   ii. Individualized written diets and feeding schedules, if submitted to the center by the child's parentx "parent:permission:special diet"(s) or physicianx "physician:authorization:special diet", are posted in a location that is accessible to staff members caring for the children, and are followed.

10. The center shall have a supply of foodx "food:supply at center" at the center and shall serve a snackx "snacks:when required" to any child who is hungry or has missed a meal.

1. Centers operating for more than three consecutive hours shall have a working refrigeratorx "refrigerator".

2. Foodx "food:inspected for spoilage" brought from outside the center for a child shall be inspected by a staff member for spoilage before it is served.

I/T 3. Feeding requirementsx "infant/toddler programs:feeding requirements" for centers serving children less than 18 months of age are as follows:

i. The center shall develop mutually with each child's parent(s) and follow a feeding planx "feeding plan" regarding the feeding schedule, specific formula, nutritional needs, and introduction of new foodx "food:infant/toddler" for each child.

ii. For children less than 12 months of age, the feeding planx "feeding plan" shall be:

(1) Documented in writing;

(2) Maintained on file; and

(3) Made available to each staff member responsible for feeding each child;

iii. All food served to a child shall be appropriate to the child's developmental eating ability;

iv. Each child's bottlex "bottles:labeling"(s) shall be labeled with the child's name;

v. A child who is too young to use a feeding chair or other seating apparatus shall be held when fed;

vi. A child who, because of age or developmental readiness, no longer needs to be held for feeding shall be provided with an infant seatx "infant/toddler programs:feeding equipment", high chairx "high chairs" with safety strap, or other age-appropriate seating apparatus, which meets the standards of a recognized safety organization (such as the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the American Society for Testing and Materials, or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commissionx "Consumer Product Safety Commission");

vii. When a child is feeding, the bottlex "bottles:propping prohibited"s shall not be propped at any time; and

viii. When a child is bottle-feedingx "bottles:naptime" while resting or sleeping, the bottle shall be removed when the child falls asleep.

EC 4. Mealtime and snack requirements for centers serving children 18 months of age or older and those children younger than 18 months of age who are developmentally ready to eat regular mealsx "meals:early childhood" and snacks are as follows:

i. Centers that provide breakfast shall ensure that breakfast includes the following:

(1) Fruits or vegetables or full-strength fruit or vegetable juice; and

(2) Enriched whole grain bread, a bread product or cereal and/or a protein alternative.

ii. The center shall serve lunch for all children who have not eaten lunch and are:

(1) Present during 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.; and

(2) Under the center's care for at least five consecutive hours;

iii. The center shall serve dinner for all children who:

(1) Have not eaten dinner;

(2) Are present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; and

(3) Are scheduled to remain after 7:00 P.M.;

iv. Centers that provide meals shall ensure that lunch and dinner for each child include the following:

(1) Meat, poultry, fish or a protein alternative;

(2) Fruits or vegetables;

(3) Bread or bread products; and

(4) Milk, juice or waterx "water:drinking";

v. Centers that provide snackx "snacks:early childhood"s shall ensure that the snackx "snacks:components of" includes one full-strength juice, milk or fruit and one food supplement selected from the lunch and dinner choices specified in (b)4v above, except on special occasions, such as holidays and birthdays; and

vi. Centers that provide meals shall ensure that milkx "milk, required" is served at least once a day.

1. Centers that store perishable foodsx "food:school-age" or medicationx "medication:storage" shall have access to a refrigeratorx "refrigerator".

2. Centers that provide snackx "snacks:school-age"s should include one full-strength juice, milk or fruit and one food supplement selected from the food choices specified in (b)4iv above.

3. On days when school is not in session, if applicable, the center shall serve mealsx "meals:school-age" as specified in (b)4 above.

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