Meals

Birth to Five Early Learning Center will provide breakfast for children between 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and lunch between 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Center will also provide a mid-afternoon snack. All meals and snacks will be offered to all children in attendance at the specific times listed in the daily schedules for each classroom.We participate in the USDA Food Program. All meals and snacks are prepared and served in accordance with the most current edition of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards.  Children younger than 12 months must be served formula or breast milk unless written direction is received from the child’s health care provider. All bottles and food that are brought into the Center must be labeled with your child’s name. All food will be immediately refrigerated.

Water is available to children throughout the day and at all meals and snacks. If no beverage is specified, the beverage offered will be water. All juice served is 100% full-strength fruit juice. Children (age 12-24 month) are served whole milk. After 24 months, all children are served 1% milk. 

Food Allergies and Special Dietary Needs

Birth to Five Early Learning Center is a nut free facility. We have children who have severe allergies to peanuts and other tree nuts (including walnuts, almonds, pecans and macadamia nuts). These allergies have the potential to be life-threatening.An allergic reaction can occur by coming in contact with someone who has eaten or touched peanuts or other tree nuts, or by touching someone who was previously touched by someone who ate nuts. Sometimes an allergic reaction can occur through the smell of nuts in the air or on someone’s breath. Due to the severity of these allergic reactions, we request that you eliminate the use or consumption of peanuts and other tree nuts in our building.

If your child has food allergies or adverse reactions to certain foods or beverages, the Center must obtain an individual care plan from both you and your child’s health care provider. The individual care plan, pursuant to WAC 110-300-0300, must include the following:

1. Identify the foods that must not be consumed by your child,
2. Describe the allergic reactions and symptoms associated with your child’s allergies,
3. Identify the foods that can be substituted for allergenic foods, and
4. Provide a specific treatment plan for the Center to follow in response to an allergic reaction. The specific treatment plan must include the:
   1. Steps to take in the case of an unintended allergic reaction,
   1. Names of all medication to be administered,
   1. Directions for how to administer the medication, and
   1. Directions related to medication dosage amounts.