Mealtime is a very important time for children as it provides another opportunity for exploration and growth. We believe that children are happy and more prepared to learn when they receive plenty of nutritious foods throughout the day. All four of our schools participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and ensures that all meals and snacks meet current nutritional guidelines. For example:
- Dry cereals must have no more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce
- Yogurt must contain no more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces
- At least one serving of grains per day will be whole wheat, whole grain, or whole grain-rich
- Milk is served daily at breakfast and lunch; children under two years of age receive whole milk and older children receive skim
- We focus on providing a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole and multi-grain foods
- All meals meet USDA standards for portion sizes and components
We encourage children to try all foods that are served, and teachers frequently join children at the table to eat and discuss the foods they are eating. If your child has a documented allergy, disability, medical condition, or religious preference that requires menu adjustments, we will work with you to provide appropriate substitutions. A meal modification form will need to be completed by the child’s primary care physician and be on file at the school. For a sample menu, please click here.
Enrollment at A Child’s World Learning Centers includes automatic participation in the CACFP. The following forms are required once your child is attending:
Food Program Income Eligibility Form
If your child requires meal substitutions, the following form is also required:
Food Program Medical Statement Regarding Meal Modifications
Provision of Breastmilk or Infant Formula (for all infants under 12 months of age)
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Food Exceptions
Food may be supplied by parents for special events (with a 72-hour notice) or when the schools cannot accommodate the child’s special dietary needs. If the child is 12 months or older, a meal modification form is required for medically necessary substitutions. The following conditions must be met in order for parents to supply food: 1) the food must be served at the scheduled class time, 2) the food must meet the nutritional guidelines as outlined by the CACFP, 3) the food must be properly labeled and stored to meet health and sanitation guidelines, and 4) food to be shared with other children must be from an approved retail outlet. If these conditions are not met, only the food on the prepared menu or a school-provided substitute will be served to the child.
Please note that we do not include nuts of any kind on our infant or general menus. Almond milk may be in the school as needed to serve children with documented nutritional needs. All candy that is sent in to the school by parents for special events will be sent home with children at the end of the day for parent approval. Children will not be allowed to consume any candy on site.
