Statutes, codes, and regulations
Colorado Administrative Code
Department 1400 - Department of Early ChildhoodDivision 1402 - Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and AdministrationRule 8 CCR 1402-1 - CHILD CARE FACILITY LICENSING RULES AND REGULATIONS
CHILD CARE SERVICES
Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.224 - FOOD AND NUTRITION

8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.224

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Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024
Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.224 - FOOD AND NUTRITION
A. Meals and Snacks provided by the center
1. All meals and snacks provided by the center must meet current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern guidance and requirements published by the USDA Food Nutrition Service at https://www.cacfp.org/meal-pattern-guidance/ (April 2016) and 7 C.F.R. sections 210.10 and 226.20 (July 1, 2022), herein incorporated by reference. No later editions or amendments are incorporated These regulations are available at no cost from the USDA Food Nutrition Service at https://www.ecfr.gov. These regulations are also available for public inspection and copying at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, 710 S. Ash St., Bldg. C, Denver, CO 80246, during regular business hours. and be offered at suitable intervals not more than three (3) hours apart. Children who are at the center for more than four (4) hours, day or evening, must be offered a meal. Arrangements must be made for feeding children who are in care before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
2. If 100% fruit juice, which is not a sugar sweetened beverage, is offered as part of meals and/or snacks, it must be limited to no more than two (2) times per week.
3. Centers must not provide sugar sweetened beverages to children. These are beverages that have been sweetened with various forms of sugars that add calories and include, but are not limited to: soda, fruitades, fruit drinks, flavored milks, and sports and energy drinks.
4. The size of servings must be suitable for the child's age and sufficient time must be allowed so that meals are unhurried.
5. Foods offered shall be age appropriate and not pose a choking hazard.
6. In centers that do not regularly provide a meal, if a child brings a meal from home that does not appear to meet current USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program meal pattern requirements, the center must have foods available to offer as a supplement to that meal.
7. Staff members must sit with the children and encourage them to try a variety of food served. During meals, children should be encouraged to engage in conversation and to express their independence.
8. Children must not be given foods that are contrary to the religious beliefs of their families or that are known to cause an allergic reaction or a health hazard.
9. Food and beverages are not to be used as a reward.
10. Meal menus must be planned at least one week in advance, dated, and posted in a place visible to parents. After use, menus must be filed and retained for three (3) months.
11. A table, counter, or shelf, separate from the diaper changing area, must be available for preparing infants' and toddlers' food.
B. Feeding the Infant
1. An individualized diet and feeding schedule must be provided according to a written plan submitted by the parent or by the child's physician with the knowledge and consent of the parent. A change of diet and schedule must be noted on each child's daily activity schedule and posted in an area clearly visible to the staff.
2. All infants less than six (6) months of age must be held for bottle feeding. Bottles must not be propped. Older infants must not be allowed to hold their own bottles when lying flat. Bottles must not be allowed in a crib with the infant.
3. Older infants must be provided with suitable solid foods that encourage freedom in self-feeding and must be fed in safe chairs such as highchairs or baby-feeding tables.
4. When the infant program provides food other than breast milk or formula, food must be varied and include food from cereal, vegetable, fruit, and protein sources. When the center does not provide solid food, it must supply any additional foods and/or monitor the infant's total nutritional intake.
5. A staff member may not mix cereal with breast milk or formula and feed it to an infant from a bottle or infant feeder unless there are written instructions from the child's health care provider.
6. In infant nurseries, an adequate number of highchairs, or other suitable pieces of equipment that meet federal Consumer Product Safety Commission standards published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at 16 CFR sections 1112 and 1321 (June 19, 2019), herein incorporated by reference. No later editions or amendments are incorporated. These regulations are available at no cost from the CPSC at https://www.ecfr.gov. These regulations are also available for public inspection and copying at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, 710 S. Ash St., Bldg. C, Denver, CO 80246, during regular business hours;, must be provided for infant feeding.
7. Children who are actively eating may be in a highchair or other approved feeding equipment for longer than fifteen (15) minutes. Children must be moved once feeding is complete.
C. Feeding the Toddler
1. Staff members must either feed toddlers or supervise them when they are eating, and children must be encouraged to try a variety of food served.
2. Toddlers must be sitting when eating or drinking.
3. Children who are actively eating may be in a highchair or other approved feeding equipment for longer than fifteen (15) minutes. Children must be moved away from the feeding location once feeding is complete.

8 CCR 1402-1-2.224

46 CR 22, November 25, 2023, effective 12/15/2023