Part XII. Nutrition
8VAC20-800-870. General requirements for meals and snacks.
A. Meals and snacks shall be served in accordance with the times children are in care, which include:
1. For family day homes operating less than four consecutive hours at least one snack shall be served.
2. For family day homes operating four to seven consecutive hours at least one meal and one snack shall be served.
3. For family day homes operating seven to 12 consecutive hours at least one meal and two snacks or two meals and one snack shall be served.
4. For family day homes operating 12 to 16 consecutive hours at least two meals and two snacks or three meals and one snack shall be served.
B. A family day home shall ensure that children arriving from a half-day, morning program who have not yet eaten lunch receive a lunch.
C. The family day home shall schedule snacks or meals so there is a period of at least 1-1/2 hours, but no more than three hours, between each meal or snack unless there is a scheduled rest or sleep period for children between the meals and snacks.
D. Children shall be served small-sized portions.
E. Food shall be prepared, stored, served, and transported in a clean and sanitary manner.
F. Leftover food shall be discarded from individual plates following a meal or snack.
G. Tables and high chair trays shall be cleaned after each use, but at least daily.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-870 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-880. Meals and snacks provided by family day home.
When family day homes provide meals or snacks, the following shall apply:
1. Family day homes shall follow the most recent, age-appropriate nutritional requirements of a recognized authority such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
2. Children shall be allowed second helpings of food listed in the child care food program meal patterns.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-880 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-890. Meals and snacks brought from child's home.
When food is brought from home, the following shall apply:
1. The food container shall be clearly labeled in a way that identifies the owner;
2. The family day home shall have extra food or shall have provisions to obtain food to serve to a child so the child can have an appropriate snack or meal as required in 8VAC20-800-880 if the child forgets to bring food from home or brings an inadequate meal or snack; and
3. Unused portions of food shall be discarded by the end of the day or returned to the parent.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-890 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-900. Preventing choking.
A. To assist in preventing choking, food that is hard, round, small, thick and sticky, or smooth and slippery such as whole hot dogs sliced into rounds, nuts, seeds, raisins, uncut grapes, uncut raw carrots, peanuts, chunks of peanut butter, hard candy, and popcorn shall not be served to children under four years of age, unless the food is prepared before being served in a manner that will reduce the risk of choking, i.e., hot dogs cut lengthwise, grapes cut in small pieces, and carrots cooked or cut lengthwise.
B. Children shall not be allowed to eat or drink while walking, running, playing, lying down, or riding in vehicles.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-900 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-910. Drinking water and fluids.
A. Water shall be available for drinking and shall be offered on a regular basis to all children in care.
B. In environments of 80ºF or above, attention shall be given to the fluid needs of children at regular intervals. Children in such environments shall be encouraged to drink fluids.
C. Clean individual drinking cups shall be provided daily. Children shall not be allowed to share common drinking cups.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-910 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-920. Menus.
When meals or snacks are provided by the family day home, the menu for the current one-week period shall:
1. Be dated;
2. Be given to parents or posted or placed in an area accessible to parents;
3. List any substituted food; and
4. Be kept on file one week at the family day home.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-920 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-930. Eating utensils and dishes.
A. Eating utensils shall be appropriate in size for children to handle.
B. Chipped or cracked dishes shall not be used.
C. Eating utensils and dishes shall be properly cleaned by prerinsing, washing, and air drying, or using a dishwasher.
D. Eating utensils and dishes shall be stored in a clean dry place, and protected from contamination.
E. If disposable eating utensils and dishes are used, they shall be sturdy enough to prevent spillage or other health and safety hazards.
F. Disposable utensils and dishes shall be used once and discarded.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-930 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-940. Food storage.
A. Temperatures shall be maintained at or below 40°F in refrigerator compartments and at or below 0°F in the freezer compartments.
B. The provider shall have an operable thermometer available to monitor refrigerator and freezer compartment temperatures.
C. All perishable foods and drinks used for children in care, except when being prepared and served, shall be kept in the refrigerator.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-940 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-950. Milk.
A. All milk and milk products shall be pasteurized.
B. Powdered milk shall be used only for cooking.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-950 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-800-960. Feeding infants.
A. Infants shall be fed on demand unless the parent provides other written instructions.
B. Infants who cannot hold their own bottles shall be picked up and held for bottle feeding. Bottles shall not be propped.
C. High chairs, infant carrier seats, or feeding tables with safety waist and crotch straps fastened according to the manufacturer's instructions shall be used for children under 12 months of age who are not held while being fed.
D. Infant formula shall be prepared according to the manufacturer's or physician's instructions.
E. Bottles shall be refrigerated and labeled with the child's full name and the date, if more than one infant is in care.
F. Refrigerated bottles of prepared formula and breast milk shall be discarded after 48 hours if not used.
G. Bottles shall not be heated in a microwave oven.
H. To avoid burns, heated formula and baby food shall be stirred or shaken and tested for temperature before being served to children.
I. A child's mother shall be granted access to a private area of the family day home to facilitate breast feeding.
J. Solid foods shall:
1. Not be fed to infants less than four months of age without parental consent; and
2. Be fed with a spoon, with the exception of finger foods.
K. Baby food shall be served from a dish and not from the container.
L. Baby food remaining in:
1. A serving dish shall be discarded;
2. Opened containers, from which a portion has been removed, shall be refrigerated and labeled with the child's full name and the date, if more than one infant is in care; and
3. Opened containers stored in the refrigerator shall be discarded if not consumed within 24 hours of storage.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC40-111-960 derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. July 1, 2010; renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.