New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 9 - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Part 4 - CHILD CARE LICENSING; CHILD CARE CENTERS, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, AND OTHER EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Section 8.9.4.35 - FOOD SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMES

(1) A home will provide a child a meal or snack at least every three hours except when the child is sleeping at night.

(2) A home will serve if necessary a child a therapeutic or special diet with a written prescription/diet order from a physician or a registered or licensed dietician. Diet orders must be complete and descriptive, and not subject to interpretation by the educators.

(3) A home shall make water freely available to children.

(4) A home that provides daily meals and snacks shall plan these to meet the minimum standards in the CACFP and to be consistent with the USDA's current dietary guidelines for Americans, to include the following. Parents of children who have special dietary needs may provide written permission to the child care program to exempt their child from the following requirements if necessary due to such special dietary needs.

(5) A home will vary snacks each day and will include a selection of two different food group components from the four food group components.

(1) Weekly menus must be dated and posted in an area easily visible to parents.

(2) Menus shall be posted at least one week in advance, in a conspicuous place, for review by parents, educators and children.

(3) Menus shall include a variety of foods. The same menu will not be served twice in one week.

(1) A home will not allow children in the kitchen except under careful supervision.

(2) A food preparer will thoroughly wash all raw fruits and vegetables before cooking or serving.

(3) A home will serve food promptly and refrigerate immediately after use. Foods served will meet the nutritional needs of the infant or toddler. Foods will have the proper texture and consistency for each infant served.

(4) A home will protect food and drink from insects, rodents, and other vermin by properly storing items in an airtight container or by tightly wrapping them. A home will label and date all leftover food.

(5) If food is brought from the child's home, a home will label it with the child's name and refrigerate if necessary. A home will label and refrigerate bottles of infant formula or breast milk. Labeling is not necessary if only one child is using bottles.

(6) A home will keep food requiring refrigeration, including formula, at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and frozen food at zero degrees Fahrenheit or below.

(7) Refrigerators and separate freezers will have working internal thermometers.

(8) A home will discard any leftover milk or formula, rinse bottles after use and sanitize bottles before reuse.

(9) A home will sanitize eating utensils, dishes and cups before re-use by washing them in a dishwasher or by completing the following steps:

(10) A home will use cleaning materials for the kitchen and food preparation areas only in the kitchen and will store the materials separately from food.

(11) A home shall thoroughly sanitize food preparation surfaces before and after each use.

(1) A home will equip dining areas with tables, chairs, eating utensils and dishes appropriate to the age of the children served. Areas will be sanitized before and after each use.

(2) A home will provide sanitary cups or glasses for drinking water. Infants and toddlers shall be offered water from a cup. Toddlers shall be encouraged to hold and drink from a cup, use a spoon, and to use their fingers for self-feeding. A home will not allow children to share drinking or eating utensils. Disposable plates, cups and plastic utensils of food-grade, medium weight may be used for single service. Styrofoam cups may not be used at any time.

(3) Time allowed for meals shall enable children to eat at a reasonable rate.