About Us - Meals & Nutrition
Meal Time
Place of Grace classrooms operate on a specified schedule each day. Meal times are designated and posted in each classroom. If a child arrives more than 10 minutes after a meal has been served, the child will not be served that meal. Parents must ensure that if a child will be arriving late for a meal that they have already been fed prior to drop off. All meals will be served in a family style manner. The teachers will work with each child on setting the table, serving the food, and using good manners. Meal time is an important time for developing social skills for the children.
Meals & Nutrition Policy
Place of Grace Early Learning Center serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack. Meals will be served at time intervals not to exceed every 4 hours. All meals are prepared according to daycare licensing regulations and USDA recommendations. Children between the ages of 6 weeks and 1 year will be served according to the child’s individual needs and schedules. Baby food and cereal will be offered to the child by 6 months of age. Parents should always try each new food for 3-4 days at home before sending the food to the center in order to monitor possible allergic reactions. The child will gradually transition to table food. Once the child is able to eat foods from the regular menu, they will be offered those foods based on parent direction. All children must be on the regular menu by the age of 1 year. Children will also be transitioned to sippy cups and whole milk rather than bottles and formula.
Children between the ages of one (1) year and twelve (12) years will at minimum be served a grain, fruit or vegetable, and milk for breakfast. For lunch this age group will be served a protein, vegetable, fruit, grain and milk. For a snack this age group will be served two of the following choices: grain, fruit, vegetable, protein, or milk.
All meals will allow for children to have only a second serving of any item in order to promote healthy choices and reduce obesity. Children will also be encouraged to try each item on the plate. The menu will frequently follow the themes with which the classroom teacher is implementing. This allows the children to use their important sense of taste to also make connections in learning.
Parents will be permitted to bring special snacks for birthday or holiday parties. All snacks must be prepackaged or purchased from a commercial facility. The foods must not contain any type of nuts. Arrangements can be made between the parent and classroom teacher for special snacks. Place of Grace encourages parents to provide healthy snacks, but will permit cupcakes and cakes for birthday parties. If the snack does not meet food group requirements for that meal, supplements or the scheduled snack will be served in addition.
Children are not permitted to pack or bring their own lunch. Parent will be responsible for providing alternative foods for children with allergies or religious dietary restrictions.
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