Rule 591-1-1-.15 - Food Service and Nutrition(1) Compliance with USDA Nutritional Guidelines. Meals and snacks with serving sizes dependent upon the age of the child shall meet nutritional guidelines as established by the United States Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals and snacks shall be varied daily, and additional servings of nutritious food shall be offered to children over and above the required daily minimum, if not contraindicated by special diet.(2) Feeding of Infants and Children. A signed written feeding plan for children less than one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the Parent(s) shall be updated regularly as new foods are added or other dietary changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the child's assigned room and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies. (a) Center Personnel shall hold and feed infants less than six (6) months of age and older children who cannot hold their own bottles or sit alone. Baby bottles shall never be propped; the infant's head shall be elevated while feeding.(b) Honey shall not be served to children less than one (1) year of age.(c) Age-appropriate solid foods (including cereal) shall not be given to infants or children less than one (1) year of age until recommended as developmentally appropriate by the child's primary care physician and indicated in writing by the Parent(s). As soon as the feeding plan indicates that a child is ready for solid foods, the child shall be fed from individual spoons and individual containers or dishes. A child shall not be fed directly from the original baby food container if the contents are to be fed to the child at more than one (1) meal or to more than one (1) child.(d) As soon as the child exhibits a desire to feed him/herself, the child shall be assisted and encouraged to use their fingers for self-feeding, eat with a spoon, and to drink from individual cups.(e) The Center shall encourage and support breastfeeding. Centers shall have a designated area set aside for breastfeeding mothers to breastfeed.(f) Food for infants or children less than one (1) year of age shall be cut into pieces one-quarter inch or smaller and food for toddlers shall be cut into pieces one-half inch or smaller to prevent choking.(g) Center Personnel shall ensure that children do not have excessive amounts of food in their mouths while eating and are chewing their food appropriately to prevent instances of choking. Children shall always be seated when eating and shall not be allowed to lie down or be put to sleep while food is present in their mouths.(3) Baby Bottles and Formula. All baby bottles shall be clearly labeled with the individual child's name. Formula or breast milk shall be supplied by the Parent daily in bottles. Only the current day's formula or breast milk shall be served. Bottles shall be refrigerated at a temperature of forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit or less. If formula must be provided by the Center, only commercially prepared, ready-to-feed formula shall be used. Refrigerated or frozen breast milk shall only be heated or thawed under warm running water or in a container of warm water.(4) Feeding Chairs. A feeding chair or similar equipment designed for feeding children shall be provided for the use of each child being fed who is capable of sitting up but who is unable to sit unassisted at a table. The chair or similar equipment must be cleaned with a disinfectant after each use. Such chair or similar equipment shall have a broad base to prevent tipping; a surface that the child cannot raise; a strap or other device which prevents the child from sliding out of the chair; and a feeding surface free of cracks.(5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parent(s). Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.(6) Meal Service. (a) Children shall be served all meals and snacks scheduled for the period during which they are present. In those Centers where the Parent(s) of children enrolled provide the meals and snacks, the Center shall ensure that no child remains at the Center without receiving the scheduled nutritious meals and snacks. There shall be a period of at least two (2) hours between each required meal or snack. The following meals and snacks shall be scheduled and served by the Center when appropriate: breakfast or a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, supper if a Center operates evening care and an evening snack prior to bed time if a Center operates night time care.(b) Food and beverages shall be served in individual plates or bowls and with individual glasses or cups.(c) Children shall be encouraged but not forced to eat.(d) Caregivers shall not use food to punish or reward children.(e) Children shall be given necessary assistance in feeding and encouraged to develop good nutritional habits.(f) Hot food shall not be served at a temperature which would cause the children to burn their mouths upon consuming the food.(g) Drinking water shall be available to all children and shall be offered at least once between meals and snacks.(7) Restrictions. Food shall be served according to manufacturer's instructions and recommendations. Foods that are associated with young children's choking incidents, such as, but not limited to, peanuts, hot dogs, raw carrots, popcorn, fish with bones, cheese cubes, grapes and any other food that is of similar shape and size of the trachea/windpipe shall not be served to the children less than four (4) years of age. Children older than four (4) years of age may be served these foods provided that the foods are cut in such a way as to minimize choking. Food shall not be accessible or served to children until it has been chopped, diced, cut or mashed and is appropriate for each child's age and individual eating, chewing and swallowing ability.(8) Foods and drinks with little or no nutritional value, i.e., sweets, soft drinks, etc. shall be served only on special occasions and only in addition to the required nutritious meals and snacks. Powdered nonfat dry milk shall only be used for cooking purposes.(9) Modified Diets. When a child requires a modified diet for medical reasons, a written statement from a medical authority shall be on file. When a child requires a modified diet for religious reasons, a written statement to that effect from the child's Parent(s) shall be on file. All caregiver Personnel shall be informed of the diet restriction for the child and only food that complies with the prescribed dietary regimen but still meets the food and nutrition requirements shall be served to the child.(10) Unconsumed Food. Any portions of food or drink which are served to children or placed on the table for service and are not consumed at that meal or snack by the children to whom the portions are served shall be thrown away. Any formula or breast milk remaining one hour from the beginning of the feeding shall be discarded or returned to Parent(s).(11) Catered Food. Food purchased from a caterer shall be prepared in a facility with a current food service permit and shall be maintained at a safe temperature [forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit or below for foods requiring refrigeration or one hundred forty (140) degrees Fahrenheit for foods which must be heated prior to serving] until served.(12) Vending Machines. Soft drink vending machines and other food dispensers shall not be maintained on Center premises for children's use. Vending machines and dispensers for Staff shall be outside of the children's areas.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.15
O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq.
Original Rule entitled "Food Service and Nutrition" adopted. F. Dec. 23, 1997; eff. Mar. 1, 1998, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 7, 2009; eff. Aug. 27, 2009.Amended: F. Dec. 4, 2015; eff. Dec. 24, 2015.Amended: F. May 26, 2017; eff. June 15, 2017Amended: F. Aug. 31, 2020; eff. Sept. 20, 2020.