Meals & Nap/Rest Time — First Environments

4.5 Meals & Nap/Rest Time

4.5.1 Meals

The Center participates in the Child Care Food Program, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The goals of this program are to provide nutritious and appetizing meals and snacks for children, introduce different types of foods and help teach good eating habits. We will avoid serving overly sweet items and encourage children to appreciate the natural flavors of a variety of wholesome foods. Service will be family style with lots of opportunities for children to develop their skill in feeding and serving themselves. Our weekly menus will be posted for your convenience.

First Environments is a peanut-free center. If your child has a food allergy, please make sure that the staff and Health Coordinator are aware of it. All food allergies must be documented, posted, and a copy of the documentation must be kept in your child’s file as well as in their classroom.

Children may bring breakfast, lunch and/or snacks from home as long as it meets state nutrition standards. First Environments complies with USDA and the Child and Adult Care Food Program nutritional requirements. All outside food must be peanut-free.

Please bring your infant’s breast milk or water in a plastic or glass bottle. FEELC can accept glass bottles if they have a silicone sleeve. Please do not place glass breast milk bottles in the freezer. Please label all food items and bottles with your child’s first and last name and date. FEELC does not serve beef, pork, fish, hot dogs, grapes, nuts, popcorn, raw peas, hard pretzels, peanut butter, and chunks of raw carrots or meat larger than can be swallowed whole. Mini raw carrots are served to children older than 2 when teachers and parents are comfortable with the children’s chewing abilities. Staff cut/break foods into pieces no larger than ¼ inch square for infants and ½ inch squares for toddlers/twos, according to each child’s chewing and swallowing capability. The Staff will discard foods that have expired dates.

Your child will receive meals and snacks depending upon the length of his/her stay at the Center. Typically, breakfast is served from 8:45-9:30 a.m., lunch from 11:45 - 12:30 p.m., and afternoon snack from 3:45-4:30 p.m.

4.5.2 Nap/Rest Time

In the infant classrooms children nap and rest as needed. Infants are not on a schedule for nap/rest. Each infant has their own individual crib that is labeled. Infant crib mattress sheets are changed and washed at least once a day but sometimes multiple times per day depending on the infant’s needs. For ages Toddler-Pre-K, all classrooms have a scheduled nap/rest time after lunch. The times vary based on the age group. Your child’s class schedule will list the nap/rest time. Each child has their own individual labeled nap time mat. The sheets are changed and washed weekly as licensing requires.

Rest Time is a time to let go and re-charge. It is a time to rest our bodies and minds. Here at FEELC we think it is important for all children to have the opportunity to relax and take a break from the busy day of large group activities. For older preschool children after 30 minutes of quiet time children are able to choose from a variety of activities to do on their mats. Some children rest and do not sleep, however we find the majority of our children do. If children fall asleep FEELC will not wake them until rest time is over or they wake on their own.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).

Last updated: 1/26/2017