Meals and Snacks
Meals and snacks we provide
We participate in the CDA Nutrition Program (Child Development Associates Nutrition Program) providing nutritious and well balanced meals and snacks. We provide morning breakfast at 9:00am, lunch at 12:30pm and afternoon snack at 4:00pm. Milk or juice is served with all the meals and snacks, and water is offered throughout the day. We also provide formula and baby food for infants. On Monday of every week the week's menu is posted in the kitchen for you to review. Below you will find a menu, showing an example of the different types of food we serve throughout any given week. The meals and snacks for each week constantly vary in order to ensure the children receive a well-balanced diet. The children are offered the food, but they will not be forced to eat.
What is the CDA Nutrition Program?
CDA is a Child Care Food Program Sponsor and reimburses us for the meals we serve to the children in our care. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Education. CDA Nutrition Program is required by federal regulation to visit us in our home at least 3 times per year to support us in our efforts to provide nutritious food to your child. CDA also offers providers on-going training and information each year in nutrition related subjects for young children. Additionally, CDA has a full time nutritionist on staff. She is available to consult with providers and/or parents regarding children's nutritional issues. To participate in the CDA Nutrition Program, we must serve meals meeting CDA meal pattern requirements and allow our home to be monitored. In addition, we must maintain menus, meal counts, attendance records, and attend training.
What is our goal?
It is our goal to offer nutritious meals and snacks to the children in our care, as nutrition is a vital part of a child's health. Children need to eat well-balanced meals in order to meet his or her daily energy needs and to help them build a strong body and mind. We know that the good food habits a child develops will help them prevent cavities, iron deficiency anemia, and obesity, etc - all common nutritional problems in young children. It is our hope that both you and your child will be as enthusiastic as we are about our nutrition program.
