Packed Lunches
Lunch Requirements for Children Over Age 1
Ohio’s updated childcare nutrition rule requires every lunch to include all five food groups: protein, grain, fruit, vegetable, and dairy.
Easy, affordable ideas:
Protein: peanut butter, lunch meat, boiled egg, beans, or chicken
Grain: bread, crackers, tortilla, or pretzels
Fruit: applesauce pouch, fruit cup, banana, or raisins
Vegetable: baby carrots, veggie pouch, cucumbers, or a sealed shelf-stable vegetable cup
Dairy: cheese stick, yogurt, or milk (We provide milk as the dairy component, except for School-Agers on a field trip day, who must provide this component.)
Even if your child may not eat a vegetable, one must still be packed. You may send an unopened, store-sealed vegetable container with a longer shelf life. We will leave it sealed unless your child requests it.
Per our updated policy, the center is required to offer any missing food group at mealtime. If your child does not want the offered item, we are not required to serve it. Please refer to your Enrollment Agreement for information about food supplement charges.
Please check your child’s lunch each morning to ensure all five food groups are included. Thank you for helping us meet this requirement!
Milk and Special Diets
The center will provide milk for your child, except for milk alternatives, which you are to provide due to milk allergies. In special cases where an entire food group must be omitted for medical reasons, we must obtain a physician’s written instructions to do so. Special diets for cultural and religious reasons require written, dated, and signed instructions from the child’s parent, unless the special diet is part of a center program. If a child needs medical food, the parent is responsible for providing it, and the center will complete medical care plan JFS 01236 with the family.
For the Barnesville CACFP Program, additional information on meal preparation and nutrition may be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/ProgramBasics/Meals/Meal_Patterns.htm
Family-Style Meals
Our team members eat with your children at the tables so they can experience family-style meals. We believe that teachers and team members eating healthy food options with your children will encourage them to make healthy decisions with their lunch options.
Snacks
Once your child begins to eat table food, we provide an a.m. snack and p.m. snack, including 100% juice, milk, and water. If there are any dietary restrictions for your child, we ask that you bring those special snacks for them. Please speak with the Center Administrator before bringing in replacement snacks to ensure that all appropriate forms are filled out.
Birthdays and Special Occasions
Special occasions and birthdays are special for children, and we want to share in the fun! If you’d like to provide food for the celebration, we ask that all items are nut-free and commercially packaged with ingredient statements so we can be sure we’re accommodating any allergies or dietary restrictions. Healthy snack options such as whole-grain items, vegetables with dip, or fresh fruit platters are always a great choice. Please provide enough for everyone in your child’s classroom, and check in with your child’s teacher and Center Administrator before the special day so they can share any tips and plans.
