N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.35

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 8.9.4.35 - FOOD SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMES

A. MEAL PATTERN REQUIREMENTS: All foods prepared by the home will conform to the guidelines from United States department of agriculture's (USDA's) child and adult care food program (CACFP) for foods, meal patterns and serving sizes.

B. MEALS AND SNACKS:

(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.

(a) Only one hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice shall be served. The use of fruit drinks containing less than one hundred percent or artificially flavored drinks for meals or snacks is prohibited. one hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice may be diluted with water.

(b) Only whole, pasteurized fluid milk shall be served to children between 12 and 24 months of age; reduced fat, low fat, or skim milk may be served to children who are two years and older.

(c) A wide variety of fruits and vegetables shall be served, with a preference for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over canned.

(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.

C. MENUS:

(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.

D. KITCHENS:

(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:

(a) wash with soapy water;

(b) rinse with clean warm water; and

(c) sanitize.

(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.

E. MEAL TIMES:

(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.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.4.35

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, October 25, 2022, eff. 11/1/2022