Our Nutrition Program
Proper nutrition is required for the maximum development of your child. Keeping your child’s maximum nutritional health in mind, we commit to the following:
We will teach your child the importance of eating healthy foods.
We will post monthly menu plans on our website and on our classroom parent information boards.
We will serve whole milk to children under the age of two, 1% milk to children two years of age and older.
We will limit serving 100% fruit juice to 4-6 ounces per day.
We will offer water to children throughout the day.
We will serve fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables as much as possible. We will serve fruits canned in fruit juice only – not syrup.
We will not serve breaded, pre-fried, and frozen foods, such as fish sticks or chicken nuggets.
We will not serve products containing peanuts or tree nuts due to high incidence of nut allergies.
We will limit serving sugary foods, such as cookies and cakes. Cupcakes and cookies are “special occasion” foods for holidays and birthdays.
We will serve meals family style. Children will be encouraged to prepare the table, serve themselves, try new foods, engage in quiet conversation, and to clean up after themselves. (Family-style dining has been suspended throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. for school-aged children when school is in session; 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. for preschool children everyday. Breakfast consists of:
Fluid milk, and of one item from each of two of the following groups:
Fruit or vegetable or 100% fruit juice
Bread or bread alternate or cereal
Protein source other than fluid milk
Lunch is served at 12:00 PM and consists of the following:
Fluid milk
Protein source other than fluid milk
2 different fruits; or 2 different vegetables; or 1 fruit and 1 vegetable
Bread or bread alternate or grain
Afternoon Snack is served after nap for preschoolers; after returning from school for school-aged children. Snacks consist of one item from each of two of the following groups:
Fluid milk
Fruit or vegetable or 100% fruit juice (Juice will not be served if milk is the only other component or if juice was served at breakfast.)
Bread or bread alternate or grain
Protein source other than fluid milk
Modified Diet
If children require modified diet due to medical (allergies or intolerance), cultural, or religious reasons, please indicate them on the Food Information Form. If modifications are due to medical reasons (allergies or intolerance), it is recommended that a physician sign the Food Information Form. This includes children who require a milk alternative.
Get our Food Information Form here...
Menus
We publish monthly menus for our program.
Weather Watchers
Weather-related closings
The CDC is committed to providing reliable care and education for children. Should the CDC be closed or open late due to weather or other emergencies, we will inform parents in the following manner:
The first page of this website
Email, if the CDC office has record of your email address
The center’s Facebook page found here…
Listed on the closing list on www.wbal.com
Decisions to close or open late are made by 5:30 AM with notifications made shortly thereafter. If we must close early, families will be called.
Tuition is the same as normal for closures, late openings, or early closures. We will make every attempt to have the least amount of closures as possible; however, we will keep the safety of children, families, and staff as our priority.
Outdoor play
Children will have an outdoor play time each morning and afternoon unless the weather conditions are inclement.
Clothing
Warm weather clothing should include closed-toed shoes and socks. Open-toed shoes, sandals, and flip-flops are not permitted. Sun hats are also recommended. Jackets with hoods should have breakaway ties to avoid choking.
Cold weather clothing should include warm coats, mittens, and caps. Children will have the opportunity to play outdoors when there is snow on the ground.
Waterproof coats, jackets with hoods, hats, and snow boots are recommended for wet and snowy days. Please refer to the Weather Watcher Chart that indicates conditions under which we will remain indoors or shorten our time outdoors.
Sunscreen
We will administer sunscreen with your permission. Parents must supply their own sunscreen and complete the Medication Administration Form. It is recommended that children arrive with sunscreen already applied.
Safety Plan
Our Comprehensive Safety Plan
We know how important it is to be prepared. Our Comprehensive Safety Plan outlines important responses to emergency situations, including:
Alert Status to secure access to building, usually during a community emergency event.
Lockdown to protect building occupants from potential dangers inside or outside of the building.
Severe Weather Safe Area in severe weather emergencies.
Shelter in Place when outdoor conditions are unsafe, such as during external gas or chemical release.
Drop, Cover, and Hold during an earthquake or other imminent danger to building or immediate surroundings.
Evacuation when conditions outside of the building are safer than inside.
Evacuation drills are conducted monthly; alternate drills are conducted periodically.
Our Plan also describes our procedures and protocols for other emergencies and situations that may pose potential hazards.
View a copy of our Comprehensive Safety Plan here...
Do you have a plan for your family in the event of a severe emergency or community catastrophe? Resources are available from the Department of Homeland Security.
Go to the Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness and Readiness website...