Snack and Lunch Protocol

Snack and Lunch Protocol

• Parents and teachers work together to meet each child's needs.
• Menus detailing the morning and afternoon snacks are posted outside the kitchen; a new menu is posted weekly.
• Parents are welcome to join their child during snack and lunch times.
• Parents and staff work together to ensure information concerning allergies are known, documented, and posted.
• Individual food allergies are posted in the main kitchen and inside the classrooms along with allergy action plans filed in the classroom.
• Infant food may be microwave heated in glass containers, no plastic.
• Food is never withheld or used as a bribe or punishment.
• Infant mealtime schedules are specific to the age of the child. Together, parents and teachers design an appropriate feeding plan.
• Accommodations are also made for mothers who wish to breastfeed. Other family members are welcome to come and food their babies also.

Mealtime Procedures

• Employees and children wash their hands before they eat.
• Children and teachers sit down together. The children serve themselves whenever appropriate. Toddler room teachers use hand-over-hand techniques to allow the children to serve themselves.
• Eating with the children allows teachers the opportunity to role model appropriate eating behaviors, habits, and mealtime conversation.
• Teachers consider children finished with their food when they begin to play or become frustrated and lose interest in eating.
• Perishable food is disposed of after mealtime. Unopened or nonperishable food is eaten later in the day or taken home.
• Self-help skills are promoted by guiding Toddler and Preschool children to place their cups, plates, utensils, and bowls in the bin provided.
• Infant and Toddler Staff wash the children's hands and face after eating.
• Teachers supervise Preschool children in washing their hands and face after eating.

Snack and Lunch Times

Morning:

• Toddlers: 9:15–9:45 a.m.
• Preschool: 9:30 a.m.–10:15 a.m.

Lunch:

• Toddlers: 11:20 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
• Preschool: 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Afternoon:

• Toddlers: 3:15–3:45 p.m.
• Preschool: 3:15–3:30 p.m.

Choking Prevention for Infants and Toddlers

Safety restrictions for food prepared at home and at the Center are as follows:

• All foods need to be cut into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Carrots and celery need to be parboiled to a soft stage to prevent choking.
• No nuts; raisins; pretzels (hard); popcorn; marshmallows; hard chips (corn chips); gummy fruit snacks.
• Food should be cut lengthwise to prevent choking (such as olives, grapes, hot dogs, and pickles
• Fresh fruits should be peeled and cut into 1/4 inch size pieces, especially apples.

CACFP Special Milk Program

The Special Milk Program partially reimburses childcare institutions that do not participate in other Federal meal service programs. The program partially reimburses schools for the milk they serve.

Eco-healthy Child Care Program

The E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center has earned the distinction of being one of the first Centers in Nevada to have earned endorsement from the Eco-Healthy Child Care Program of the Children's Environmental Health Network. EHCC is a national program that partners with childcare professionals to eliminate or reduce environmental health hazards found within or around childcare facilities.

Guiding Principles

• Relationships foster belonging and encourage individual worth.
• Curriculum supports individual and group goals.
• Teaching supports exploration and personal development.
• Assessment is informed, systematic and advances development.
• Health Practices promote safety.
• Teachers are qualified and dedicated.
• Families are involved and respected.
• Community Relationships support our goals.
• Physical Environment is safe, well-maintained, educational and fun.
• Leadership and Management blends teamwork and expertise to build high-quality programming.