Minimum standards for food and nutrition

1. When the operator is responsible for providing food to children, the food supplied must meet United States department of agriculture standards, and must be properly prepared, sufficient in amount, nutritious, varied according to diets of the children enrolled, and served at appropriate hours. Food that is prepared, served, or stored in a school-age child care program must be treated in a sanitary and safe manner with sanitary and safe equipment. 2. When parents bring sack lunches for their children, the operator shall supplement lunches when necessary to provide nutritious and sufficient amounts of food for children, and shall provide adequate and appropriate refrigeration and storage as required. 3. Children in care for more than three hours shall receive either a snack or meal, whichever is appropriate to that time of day. The operator shall serve nutritious meals to children in care during any normal mealtime hour. 4. When the operator is responsible for providing food to children, menus must be prepared on a weekly basis and made available to the parents, the department, and other appropriate individuals. 5. The operator shall consider information provided by the children's parents as to the children's eating habits, food preferences, or special needs in creating the feeding schedules and in tailoring menus. 6. The operator shall serve snacks and meals to children in a manner commensurate with their age, using appropriate foods, portions, dishes, and eating utensils. 7. The operator or staff members may encourage children to eat the food served, but the operator or staff members may not coerce or force-feed children.