New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 3A - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Chapter 52 - MANUAL OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS
Subchapter 6 - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Section 3A:52-6.3 - Food and nutrition
Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 3A:52-6.3
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024
(a) All centers shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Food served to children who are present
during normal mealtime hours or required snack periods, as specified in (b) and (c) below, shall be provided
either by the child's parent or by the center.
2. If the center
chooses to provide food, the center shall ensure that all food served to children is prepared by either:
i. The center on-site or off-site; or
ii. A caterer who is licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise
approved, as appropriate, by the local or county health department or State Department of Health, as
applicable.
3. If the center chooses to have parents
provide food, the center shall have a supply of food at the center for any child whose parent
forgets.
4. If the center provides food, the center shall ensure
that the food is stored, prepared, and served in a sanitary manner.
5. Staff members shall advise parents of any repetitive feeding problems
experienced by their child.
6. Staff members shall not force-feed
or coerce a child to eat against his or her will.
7. A snack
shall be served to all children who are under the center's care for at least three consecutive hours and for
all children who are served on an after-school basis.
8. Drinking
water shall be made available to all children.
9. Centers that
provide meals shall ensure that:
i. For children on special diets (for
example, due to health reasons, religious belief or parental request), an alternative choice of food is
provided by either the center or the child's parent; and
ii.
Individualized written diets and feeding schedules, if submitted to the center by the child's parent or
health care provider, are posted in a location that is accessible to staff members caring for the children,
and are followed.
10. The center shall have a supply
of food at the center and shall serve a snack to any child who is hungry or has missed a meal.
11. Unless contraindicated by the parent or health care provider, the
center shall:
i. Not serve sugar sweetened or artificially sweetened
beverages. Parents that provide such beverages for their children shall be provided with information
regarding healthier options;
ii. Not provide solid food to
children under the age of six months;
iii. Not provide cows' milk
to children under the age of 12 months;
iv. Provide only whole
pasteurized milk to children between the ages of 12 and 24 months or milk with reduced fat (two percent) for
those children who are at risk for hypercholesterolemia or obesity;
v. Provide skim (fat-free) or one percent milk to children older than two
years of age;
vi. Ensure that food and beverages are in
accordance with minimum Child and Adult Care Food Program's (CACFP) standards, contained in the Child and
Adult Care Food Program,
7
CFR 226.20, which is incorporated herein by reference, and can be obtained
at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/childcare.htm,
including portion size and nutritional value;
vii. Provide a
variety of both fruits and vegetables and high portion of whole grains; and
viii. Limit foods that are high in solid fats, added sugar, trans fats, and
sodium.
12. The center shall ensure that these safety
and sanitation practices are followed:
i. Older infants shall not carry
bottles, sippy cups, or regular cups with them while crawling or walking;
ii. Sippy cups shall be labeled with the child's name;
iii. Food left uneaten in a dish shall be discarded;
iv. Food shall not be shared among children using the same dish or spoon;
and
v. Unused portions of food shall be labeled with the child's
name, date, and type of food. The food shall be stored in the refrigerator, returned to the parent, or
discarded with the parent's consent. All unused food shall be discarded if not consumed by the end of the
day.
(b) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply:
1. Centers operating for more than three consecutive
hours shall have a working refrigerator.
2. Food brought from
outside the center for a child shall be inspected by a staff member for spoilage before it is
served.
3. Feeding requirements for centers serving children less
than 18 months of age are as follows:
i. The center shall develop mutually
with each child's parent(s) and follow a feeding plan regarding the feeding schedule, specific formula,
breastfeeding arrangements and accommodations, and/or expressed breast milk, nutritional needs, and
introduction of new food for each child.
ii. For children less
than 12 months of age, the feeding plan shall be:
(1) Documented in
writing;
(2) Maintained on file; and
(3) Made available to each staff member responsible for feeding each
child;
iii. All food served to a child shall be
appropriate to the child's developmental eating ability;
iv. The
requirements for bottles are as follows:
(1) Each child's bottle(s) shall
be labeled with the child's name and dated;
(2) The center shall
sanitize each child's bottles, including the nipples, when the center provides the bottles;
(3) Breast milk shall be gently mixed but not be shaken;
(4) Refrigerated breast milk must be used within 24 hours;
(5) Formula or breast milk that is served, but not completely consumed or
refrigerated, shall be discarded; and
(6) No milk, formula, or
breast milk shall be warmed in a microwave oven;
v. A
child who is too young to use a feeding chair or other seating apparatus shall be held when fed;
vi. A child who, because of age or developmental readiness, no longer needs
to be held for feeding shall be provided with an infant seat, high chair with safety strap, or other
age-appropriate seating apparatus, which meets the standards of a recognized safety organization (such as the
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the American Society for Testing and Materials, or the United
States Consumer Product Safety Commission);
vii. When a child is
feeding, the bottle shall not be propped at any time; and
viii.
When a child is bottle-feeding while resting, the bottle shall be removed when the child falls
asleep.
4. Mealtime and snack requirements for centers
serving children 18 months of age or older and those children younger than 18 months of age who are
developmentally ready to eat regular meals and snacks are as follows:
i.
Centers that provide breakfast shall ensure that breakfast includes the following:
(1) Fruits, vegetables or fruit or vegetable juice; and
(2) Enriched whole grain bread, a bread product or cereal and/or a protein
alternative.
ii. The center shall serve lunch for all
children who have not eaten lunch and are:
(1) Present during 11:00 A.M. to
1:00 P.M.; and
(2) Under the center's care for at least five
consecutive hours;
iii. The center shall serve dinner
for all children who:
(1) Have not eaten dinner;
(2) Are present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; and
(3) Are scheduled to remain after 7:00 P.M.;
iv. Centers that provide meals shall ensure that lunch and dinner for each
child include the following:
(1) Meat, poultry, fish or a protein
alternative;
(2) Fruits or vegetables;
(3) Bread or bread products; and
(4) Milk, juice or water;
v. Centers that provide snacks shall ensure that the snack includes one
juice, milk, or fruit and one food supplement selected from the lunch and dinner choices specified in (b)4iv
above, except on special occasions, such as holidays and birthdays; and
vi. Centers that provide meals shall ensure that milk is served at least
once a day.
(c) For school-age child care programs, the following shall apply:
1. Centers that store perishable foods
or medication shall have access to a refrigerator.
2. Centers
that provide snacks should include one juice, milk or fruit and one food supplement selected from the food
choices specified in (b)4iv above.
3. On days when school is not
in session, if applicable, the center shall serve meals as specified in (b)4 above.
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