QR4 Nutritious Meals & Snacks Requirements

Quality Rating 4: Nutritious Meals & Snacks

Requirements

Let’s look at the requirements for Administrative Policies and Practices: Nutritious Meals and Snacks: ADM 4.4.

Review the requirements for your program type.

Some terms may be unfamiliar to you. Select the hyperlinks for more information.

Child Care Center

ADM 4.4: Nutritious Meals and Snacks

Program provides whole grains, fresh fruits and/or vegetables at least three times per week, and limits fats, sugar, and salt in food served by the program. The program monitors meals provided from home and supplements as necessary to ensure that children are receiving nutritious, balanced meals and snacks.

Documentation to submit: Nutrition Policy and Recent Weekly Menu (served within the past month)

Family Child Care

ADM 4.4: Nutritious Meals and Snacks

Program provides whole grains, fresh fruits and/or vegetables at least three times per week, and limits fats, sugar, and salt in food served by the program. The program monitors meals provided from home and supplements as necessary to ensure that children are receiving nutritious, balanced meals and snacks.

Documentation to submit: Nutrition Policy and Recent Weekly Menu (served within the past month)

School-Age Only

ADM 4.4: Nutritious Meals and Snacks

Program provides whole grains, fresh fruits and/or vegetables at least three times per week, and limits fats, sugar, and salt in food served by the program. The program monitors meals provided from home and supplements as necessary to ensure that children are receiving nutritious, balanced meals and snacks.

Documentation to submit: Nutrition Policy and Recent Weekly Menu (served within the past month)

Key Terms

Whole Grains, Fresh Fruits and/or Vegetables

Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables provide many of the vitamins and minerals the body needs to stay healthy. By offering children a variety of foods that include whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, you model good nutrition and healthy food choices. Many products have whole grain versions, including breads, cereal, rice, pasta and flour. Fresh fruits and vegetables are neither canned, frozen, dried, or preserved or processed in any way.

 

Limits Fat, Sugar, and Salt

Healthy diets limit the amount of fat, sugar, and salt which can lead to health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

 

Monitors Meals Provided from Home and Supplements

Observe the meals and snacks that children bring from home and provide additional food or substitute foods to create a more balanced and nutritious meal or snack.