Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5101:2 - Division of Social Services
Chapter 5101:2-12 - Licensing of Child Care Centers
Section 5101:2-12-22 - Meal preparation/nutritional requirements for a licensed child care center
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 5101:2-12-22
Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) What are the requirements for meals and snacks in a licensed child care center?
The center is to:
(1)
Serve varied, nutritious, and appropriately timed meals and snacks as described
in appendix A to this rule.
(2)
Follow the portion sizes and nutritional requirements for meals and snacks
described in appendix B to this rule.
(3) Serve food that is not a choking hazard,
and that is developmentally appropriate in size, amount and texture.
(4) Provide meals and snacks according to the
posted current weekly menu, and spaced no more than four hours apart.
(a) The menus shall be posted in a visible
place readily accessible to parents.
(b) The menus shall include all meals and
snacks being served by the center, any substitutions shall be noted at the time
of the change.
(5) Serve
only one hundred per cent, undiluted fruit or vegetable juice, if used to meet the fruit or vegetable requirement for
meals and snacks. Other fruit or vegetable juice is permitted as a beverage
alternative.
(6)
Ensure that
supplemental food is on-site at the center and that no child goes more than
four hours without at least a snack or meal, except when
sleeping.
(7) Obtain a physician's written instructions if
administering a medical food
to any child or if an entire
food group is eliminated. When special diets are required for cultural or
religious reasons, the center shall obtain written, dated and signed
instructions from the child's parent unless the special diet is part of a
center program.
(8)Set its own policy
regarding the accommodation of a parent's alternate diet for a child when the
center provides the meal. The center shall ensure that any
alternate diet, except those required for religious, cultural, or medical
reasons as specified in paragraph (A)(7) of this rule,
include items from each of the following food
groups: meat or meat alternative, grain, fruit/ vegetable,
and fluid
milk.
(9) Provide for the
safe storage of all food, including milk (formula and
breast milk for infants). If safe storage of milk is not available on
routine trips or field trips, milk may be served at snack instead of at the
meal.
(10)
Have provisions for safe storage of parent provided
food.
(11) Have drinking
water freely available to children. If drinking fountains are used, there shall
be sufficient water pressure so that the child's mouth does not come in contact
with the water dispensing mechanism.
(12) Ensure that
individual servings or individual packages of food or drink that have been
served to a child are discarded or sent home with the child if not consumed
during meal or snack time. Food or drink that is individually packaged and the
package has not been opened may be stored at the center to be served again or
sent home.
(13) Not have screens
(television, computer, etc.) on during meals and snacks.
(B) What requirements shall a center implement for safe, independent self-feeding ?
The center shall ensure that:
(1) Food is not served on bare tables. Food
for infants may be placed directly on an individual highchair tray if the tray
is removed, washed and sanitized in accordance with appendix A to rule
5101:2-12-13
of the Administrative Code.
(2)
Eating utensils and dishes are suitable for the age and developmental level of
the children.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Ohio 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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