Nutrition

Our nutritional program is guided by the following goals:

• Menu meets the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program

 (CACFP) nutritional standards and state licensing rules and regulations.

• Food choices provide wholesome food selections.

• Mealtime is pleasant with conversation and food group discussions.

• Mealtime encourages family-style dining.

Children of America participates in the CACFP Program and supplies all foods including Infant Formula to all participants.

If you provide the Infant Formula or Breast Milk, the bottle must be labeled and covered with a labeled bottle cap. We

do not accept opened jars or boxes of baby food. Labels, including the infant’s first and last name as well as the date, must

be on food containers. We cannot accept bottles that have cereal or other foods mixed in. Nursing mothers may visit the

center to feed or provide breast milk ready to serve (also labeled). Daily communication forms provide an area to insert the

infant’s last feeding and diaper change so we can stick to the schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that

refrigerated formula does not have to be warmed prior to feeding. We warm refrigerated bottles by holding them under

tap water for several seconds and use bottle warmers for heating at most centers. Families are required to provide the

center with an emergency supply of ready-to-feed formula, frozen breast milk, extra bottles and nipples.

Children who eat table food are served snacks and lunches that follow the recommended daily dietary allowances. Please

review our menu to ensure your child is not allergic to any foods being served. If you discover a day when the menu contains

foods your child is allergic to, please discuss this with the center Director. We will make the accommodations to the menu

with a Medical Statement from a licensed physician with the alternative foods he suggests.

We do not serve foods that may cause choking. If you are asked to provide a special snack food, do not include grapes with

skin, popcorn, raw vegetables or candy. We are a peanut-free school; therefore, no nuts, peanut butter or other foods

containing peanuts are served or can be brought into the school.

Family-style dining is advocated at our centers. Family-style dining is when teachers are encouraged to sit with the children

and food is served in containers so children may serve themselves.

Bringing in food for breakfast is permitted in the first hour of operation only. Children may be fed in the center lounge or

in a room designated by the center director; however, the children must be accompanied by their parent or guardian and

may not bring breakfast into their classroom.