Library: Policy

340:110-3-298. Nutrition

Revised 6-1-22

(a) Required meals and snacks. The program ensures children are served meals and snacks according to program operating hours and children's attendance, regardless of the program or parents providing the food.

(1) Full day care. Morning meal or snack, mid-day meal, and afternoon snack are served.

(2) Evening care. Evening meal and evening snack are served.

(3) Overnight care. Evening meal, evening snack, and morning meal are served.

(4) Child's attendance. Children in care over a four-hour period are served a meal, unless the child is present during overnight sleeping hours only.

(b) Nutritional quality and quantity. The nutritional requirements in (1) through (8) of this subsection are met.

(1) Meals and snacks. Meals and snacks are required to meet the current Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines, per Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), with the exception of infants, per (f) of this Section.

(2) Additional servings. Additional servings:

(A) are available when the child remains hungry;

(B) meet the nutritional requirements, per this Section; and

(3) Water. Safe drinking water is freely available to children at all times. Children are encouraged to drink water throughout the day, especially before, during, and after outdoor play.

(4) Milk. Milk is required to meet the current CACFP milk guidelines, per OSDE, with the exception of infants, per (f) of this Section.

(5) Fruit juice. Fruit juice is required to meet the current CACFP fruit juice guidelines, per OSDE.

(6) Sweetened drinks. The program does not provide drinks sweetened artificially or with sugar, including soda. However, flavored milk, such as chocolate milk, is required to meet the current CACFP milk guidelines, per OSDE.

(7) Caffeinated drinks. The program does not provide caffeinated drinks, including soda and energy drinks.

(8) Special occasions. On special occasions, such as parties, food and drink not meeting the nutritional requirements may be served in addition to required meals and snacks.

(c) Program or parents provide. Meals, snacks, or both may be provided by the program for all children, or program policy may require parents provide the meals, snacks, or both for their children or for a group of children. When parents provide for their children, the nutritional requirements, per this Section do not apply. When parents provide for a group of children, the nutritional requirements in this Section and the approved food source requirements, per OAC 340:110-3-299(b), are met.

(1) Program provides. When the program provides the meals, snacks, or both, the parents may be requested and allowed to provide for:

(A) their own children:

(i) having special dietary needs, including health or religious restrictions;

(ii) 1 year of age and younger; or

(iii) participating in a field trip; and

(B) a group of children on special occasions.

(2) Parents provide. When the program policy requires parents provide meals, snacks, or both, the program provides:

(A) a meal or snack when the parents do not; and

(B) additional servings, per (b) of this Section.

(d) Weekly menus. Menus of program provided meals and snacks are closely followed with reasonable substitutions permitted. Menus are posted, per OAC 340:110-3-281.1(c) and (e).

(e) Eating environment. The eating environment is pleasant, relaxed, socially engaging, and provides teaching opportunities.

(1) Children. Children are:

(A) encouraged to try new foods;

(B) not forced to eat; and

(2) Personnel. When eating in front of children, personnel eat foods meeting nutritional requirements in this Section.

(f) Nutrition and food service - children 1 year of age and younger. Additional nutrition and food service requirements are met for 1-year-olds and younger.

(1) Schedule. Infants are fed when hungry. Documentation is maintained, per OAC 340:110-3-281.4(b).

(2) Overfeeding. Personnel do not continue feeding 1-year-olds and younger when children show evidence of being satisfied or full.

(3) Nutritional quality and quantity. CACFP meal and snack patterns, per (b) of this Section, are not required for infants. Infants are fed:

(A) breastmilk, formula, and introductory solid foods; or

(B) a special diet for a medical condition as documented, per OAC 340:110-3-281.4(b).

(4) Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is allowed in the facility.

(5) Bottle-feeding. Bottles are labeled with the child's full name.

(A) Bottles are not propped by any means at any time.

(B) Infants 6 months of age and younger are held while being bottle-fed.

(C) Infants 7 months of age and older are held while being bottle-fed until able to hold bottles securely without assistance.

(6) Spill-proof cups. The program has a method ensuring children do not share spill-proof cups.

(7) Self-feeding. Children showing evidence of wanting to feed themselves are allowed to do so.

(8) Eating and drinking location. When children are not held for feeding, the program:

(A) has a designated eating and drinking location, excluding rest equipment and equipment with motion, such as swings; and

(B) ensures children eat and drink only in the designated location.

(9) Chokeable, unsafe, and new foods. For safety:

(A) the program works closely with parents to introduce new foods;

(B) infants are not fed honey or peanut butter;

(D) 1-year-olds and younger are:

(i) not fed foods that may cause choking, such as candies, gum, marshmallows, raw carrots, raw peas, celery, whole grapes, nuts, seeds, popcorn, rice cakes, and chips; and

(ii) fed other foods cut into small pieces no larger than:

(I) 1/4 inch cubes for infants; and

(II) 1/2 inch cubes for 1-year-olds.

(10) Food service. The additional food service requirements in (A) through (C) of this paragraph are met.

(A) Breastmilk:

(i) is labeled with the child's full name and the date expressed;

(ii) is stored safely;

(iii) is refrigerated or frozen until immediately before feeding;

(iv) is not warmed in a microwave;

(v) is gently mixed and not shaken;

(vi) served to a child is not reused after two hours from serving; and

(vii) bottles partially served are either sent home with parents or contents are discarded daily.

(B) Formula:

(i) provided by the child's parents is labeled with the child's full name;

(ii) is not warmed in a microwave;

(iii) served to a child is not reused after one hour from serving; and

(iv) bottles partially served are either sent home with parents or contents are discarded daily.

(i) provided by the child's parents is:

(I) labeled with the child's full name; and

(II) not previously opened, unless homemade or frozen; and

(ii) is not warmed in a microwave;

(iii) is served from a separate dish and spoon for each child;

(iv) is discarded and not served again after contact with the feeding spoon; and

(v) partially served is either sent home with parents or contents are discarded daily.