Meals & Nutrition
Children receive a healthy breakfast, lunch and two snacks daily at our centers. Meals are designed to be balanced and include fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting sugars and processed foods. Weekly menus are posted in your center.
Our menus are reviewed by a certified nutritionist, approved by the Indiana Department of Education and meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for child nutrition programs. Additionally, our culinary team members are Serv-Safe certified to ensure food safety.
Child & Adult Care Food Program
Day Early Learning receives reimbursement from the Department of Education Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for all meals served, depending on family income. You will be asked to fill out a family information form to register your child in the Federal Food Program.
Infant Nutrition
At Day Early Learning, we support breastfed and formula-fed babies and follow your wishes when it comes to your baby’s individual nutritional needs. Our centers provide infant formula and baby food. If you are breastfeeding, you can bring in pumped milk or come inside to nurse.
Per state licensing requirements, frozen or refrigerated breast milk must be:
- Stored in a bottle or bag containing no more than the amount of milk the child would drink at one feeding.
- Brought to the center in a clean, insulated container that keeps the milk at 41° F or below.
- Labeled with the child’s name and the date and time collected.
Once a bottle is fed to an infant, the remainder must be discarded and cannot be returned to the refrigerator.
If you choose a different formula than what is provided, you must provide it. If available, state guidelines require ready-to-feed formula unless a doctor completes a Powder Formula Form. Please see a member of your school leadership team for details.
Special Dietary Needs
If your child has special dietary needs due to a medical condition or religious or personal preferences, we will work with you to create a healthy meal plan.
Per USDA regulations, we must have the appropriate completed 504 forms on file for any dietary restrictions. Please see a member of your school leadership team to complete the meal modification procedure. A doctor’s note may be required.
If we cannot accommodate your request, you may submit a review request to your center leadership team, and the CACFP committee will review the request.
