SECTION 340:110-3-94. Food and nutrition

(a)   Daily requirement. A child remaining in the family child care home for longer than a four-hour period is served a balanced meal that provides at least one-third of the child's total daily nutritive requirement. The minimum meal pattern for children is found in Supplement VI of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Publication No. 86-104, Licensing Requirements for Family Child Care Homes and Large Family Child Care Homes.

(b)   Snacks. Snacks are provided at mid-morning and mid-afternoon when the interval between regular meals is four hours or longer.

(c)   Provision of food.

(1)   The caregiver provides the food for all children who are able to eat regular food. The caregiver may require the parent to provide food for an infant or child requiring a special diet.

(2)   Second servings are available for children.

(d)   Encouragement to children. Children are encouraged to try new food but are not forced to eat or punished for not eating.

(e)   Menus. Weekly menus are planned in advance, readily available, and closely followed. Reasonable substitutions are permissible.

(f)   Water. Water is offered to children at various times throughout the day.

(g)   Prohibited foods. Foods that may not be served or offered to children are:

(1)   home-canned foods;

(2)   raw seed sprouts;

(3)   prepackaged unpasteurized juices, milk, or juices that have a warning label;

(4)   unpasteurized milk from animals;

(5)   raw or undercooked animal foods, such as hamburger, fish, or eggs;

(6)   lightly cooked or uncooked foods containing raw shell eggs, such as meringue, eggnog, ice cream, or egg beverages.

(h)   Food storage. Food is covered and protected from contamination and spoilage while being obtained, stored, prepared, or served.

(1)   All equipment and surfaces are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(2)   Refrigerated foods are maintained at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Stored frozen foods are maintained frozen. A thermometer is located in the refrigerator.

(3)   Chemicals and toxins are not stored in the food storage area.

(4)   Dishes washed by hand are sanitized and air-dried.

(i)   Dishes, cups, and eating utensils. Each child is provided with clean individual dishes, cups, and eating utensils. Disposable items are used only one time.

[Source: Amended at 10 Ok Reg 107, eff 10-13-92 (emergency); Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2287, eff 6-11-93; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 189, eff 10-6-93 (emergency); Amended at 11 Ok Reg 2773, eff 6-13-94; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1607, eff 5-25-00; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 22, eff 10-1-07 (emergency); Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1962, eff 7-1-08]