Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 19 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES
Division 30 - Division of Regulation and Licensure
Chapter 62 - Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers
Section 19 CSR 30-62.202 - Nutrition and Food Service

Universal Citation: 19 MO Code of State Regs 30-62.202

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024

PURPOSE: This rule provides the requirements for nutritious meals, snacks and methods of food service.

(1) General Requirements.

(A) The provider shall supply and serve nourishing food according to the Meal and Snack Food Chart provided in this rule.

(B) The required meal schedule shall include breakfast or a midmorning snack, lunch and a midafternoon snack for children in care during daytime hours, with a maximum time of four (4) hours between any meal or snack. School-age children shall be served a snack after school.

(C) Children in care during evening hours shall be served a snack. Upon parental request, children in care during evening hours shall be served supper and children spending the night shall be served breakfast.

(D) Snacks of fruit juice, raw fruit or vegetable, milk, crackers, cheese, peanut butter or similar nutritious food shall be served.

(E) One (1) serving of fluid milk shall be served with each meal.

(F) If the facility is licensed exclusively for school-age care, the child may be permitted to bring sack meals. The provider shall supply one (1) serving of fluid milk with each sack meal and shall supply nutritious snacks.

(G) The acceptable food components and serving sizes for meals and snacks are outlined in the following chart for each age group. Menus and amounts served shall be based on this chart.

Meal and Snack Food Chart
Food Components Age 1 and 2 Age 3 through 5 Age 6 through 12
BREAKFAST Requirement- Fluid Milk*** Juice**or Fruit or Vegetable 1/2 cup 1/4 cup 3/4 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup
1 serving from each of the 3 food components Bread or Bread Alternate* 1/2 slice* 1/2 slice* 1 slice*
SNACK Requirement- Fluid Milk*** 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup
2 servings selected from 2 of the Juice**or Fruit or Vegetable 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 3/4 cup
4 food components Meat or Meat Alternate 1/2 ounce 1/2 ounce 1 ounce
1 serving from the bread component Bread or Bread Alternate* 1/2 slice* 1/2 slice* 1 slice*
LUNCH/SUPPER Requirement- 1 serving of milk component Fluid Milk*** 1/2 cup 3/4 cup 1 cup
1 serving from the meat/meat alternate component MEAT/MEAT ALTERNATE Meat, Poultry, or Fish or Cheese or Egg or Cooked Dry Beans and Peas or Peanut Butter NATE 1 ounce 1 ounce 1 1/4 cup 2 tablespoons 1 1/2 ounces 1 1/2 ounces 1 3/8 cup 3 tablespoons 2 ounces 2 ounces 1 1/2 cup 4 tablespoons
2 servings from the fruit/vegetable component: FRUIT/VEGETABLE 1 Vegetable and 1 Fruit or 2 Different Vegetables or 2 Different Fruits 1/4 cup total 1/2 cup total 3/4 cup total
1 serving Bread or Bread from the bread component. 1/2 slice* Alternate* 1/2 slice* 1 slice*

* Or an equivalent serving of an acceptable bread alternate such as cornbread, biscuits, rolls, muffins, cereal, rice, pasta, and the like.

** All fruit juice shall be one hundred percent (100%) fruit juice.

*** See subsection (1)(H) for acceptable milk supply.

(H) The water and milk supply, and the method of dispensing, shall be approved by local or state health authorities, or both. Powdered milk shall not be used except for cooking purposes. Milk substitutes shall not be used for drinking or cooking.

(I) State or local rules, or both, governing food service sanitation shall be maintained in the storage, preparation and service of foods.

(J) Mealtime atmosphere shall be enjoyable and relaxed. No child shall be forced to eat, but shall be encouraged to set his/her own pace according to personal preferences.

(K) Menus shall be available to parents upon request.

(L) Drinking water shall be located conveniently near playrooms and the playground so children may be free to drink as they wish. Water fountains or individual cups shall be used.

(2) Nutrition and Food Service for Infants Up to Twelve (12) Months of Age.

(A) The provider shall serve nourishing foods appropriate for the infant's nutritional requirements and developmental stages as specified by his/her parent(s) in a written diet plan.

(B) The written diet plan for each infant/toddler shall be followed. The parent(s) shall update the plan according to the individual needs of the child until they grant permission in writing for the child to eat table foods.

(C) If preferred, formulas and special baby foods may be provided by the parent(s) with individual identification on each container.

(D) Until infants can hold a bottle comfortably, they shall be held by a caregiver during bottle feeding. Bottles shall not be propped.

(E) When an infant/toddler shows evidence of wanting to feed him/herself, the child shall be encouraged and permitted to do so.

*Original authority: 210.221.1(3), RSMo 1949, amended 1955, 1987, 1993.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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