Meals & Nutrition Policy at Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare

Meals & Nutrition

Last updated: August 25, 2026

At Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare, regular meals and snacks are part of creating a comfortable, dependable daily routine. Jenny ordinarily provides meals and snacks for children in care.

A different arrangement may be necessary when a child has a food allergy, dietary restriction, sensitivity, medical need, or infant-feeding requirement. Families and Jenny will discuss each child’s needs before care begins and whenever those needs change.


Daycare-Provided Meals & Snacks

Jenny provides meals and snacks during daycare hours. Food choices and serving methods are selected with the children’s ages, developmental abilities, known allergies, and documented dietary needs in mind.

The meals provided during a child’s scheduled hours and any special arrangements will be discussed with the parent or guardian before care begins.

Parents and guardians should tell Jenny about:

  • Foods their child regularly eats or avoids
  • Known or suspected food allergies
  • Food intolerances or sensitivities
  • Religious or cultural dietary practices
  • Medical or developmental feeding concerns
  • Special preparation, texture, or serving needs

Food Allergies & Dietary Needs

Parents and guardians must inform Jenny of any known or suspected food allergy, intolerance, sensitivity, dietary restriction, swallowing concern, or other food-related medical need before the child’s first day. Updated information must be provided promptly whenever the child’s needs change.

Depending on the nature and severity of an allergy or dietary restriction, a parent or guardian may be required to provide the child’s meals, snacks, beverages, or specific substitute foods from home. These arrangements must be discussed and approved in advance so everyone understands what will be provided and how it should be stored, prepared, and served.

Families must provide any required written medical instructions, emergency plans, medications, or healthcare documentation in accordance with applicable childcare requirements and the daycare’s health and safety procedures.

Although reasonable precautions will be taken, a home daycare that stores, prepares, or serves food cannot be guaranteed to be completely free of a particular food or allergen. Jenny and the child’s parent or guardian will discuss whether the daycare setting can safely meet the child’s individual needs before care begins.


Food Brought from Home

When a family is asked or approved to provide food from home, all lunch bags, bottles, cups, food containers, and snack containers must be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name.

Parents and guardians must provide any necessary preparation, refrigeration, storage, and serving instructions. Food should arrive safely packaged and ready to store, heat, or serve as previously arranged with Jenny.

Families should not send unapproved foods to be shared with other children. This helps protect children who have allergies, sensitivities, dietary restrictions, or other health needs.


Infant Feeding

Parents and guardians are responsible for providing an infant’s formula or expressed breast milk, along with the bottles, nipples, and other feeding supplies the infant requires.

Every bottle and container must be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last name and any information required for safe storage, preparation, and use.

Families must provide current feeding instructions, including the infant’s usual feeding schedule, amount offered, preparation instructions, and any special handling requirements. Formula and breast milk will be stored, prepared, warmed, and served according to applicable childcare requirements and the family’s instructions.

Jenny and the parent or guardian will also discuss age-appropriate solid foods, food textures, feeding abilities, and the introduction of new foods. Infant-feeding arrangements will be reviewed as the child grows and their needs change.


Drinking Water & Beverages

Fresh drinking water is available throughout the day. Children are encouraged to stay hydrated during indoor play, outdoor activities, meals, and snacks.

Parents and guardians should inform Jenny of any medical instructions, dietary restrictions, or other needs that affect the beverages their child may be served.


Food Safety

Reasonable food-safety and sanitation practices are followed when food is stored, prepared, served, and cleaned up.

  • Children are encouraged or assisted with washing their hands before meals and snacks.
  • Eating and food-preparation surfaces are cleaned and sanitized.
  • Foods requiring refrigeration are stored appropriately.
  • Age-appropriate serving methods and utensils are used.
  • Food brought from home is reserved for the child for whom it was provided.
  • Known dietary restrictions and feeding instructions are reviewed and followed.

Choking Prevention & Age-Appropriate Foods

Food is served in forms appropriate for each child’s age and developmental abilities. Children are supervised while eating, and reasonable care is taken to avoid foods or serving methods that may present a choking risk.

Parents and guardians must tell Jenny about any chewing, swallowing, oral-motor, developmental, or medical concern that could affect how their child eats. Written instructions or medical documentation may be required when appropriate.


Birthday Celebrations

Birthdays are special occasions, and children may celebrate in a positive and age-appropriate way.

Parents and guardians must obtain Jenny’s approval before bringing birthday treats or other food intended to be shared. Approval depends on current allergies, dietary needs, food-safety practices, and applicable childcare requirements.

Families may be asked to provide commercially prepared and clearly labeled items or to choose a non-food way to celebrate. Unapproved food will not be distributed to the children.


Positive Mealtime Environment

Meals and snacks are intended to be calm and supportive parts of the day. Children are encouraged to explore age-appropriate foods, practice growing independence, participate in conversation, and develop suitable table habits without being pressured to eat.

Children’s appetites can vary. Jenny will communicate significant or recurring feeding concerns to the child’s parent or guardian.


Working Together with Families

Successful food and feeding arrangements depend on timely and accurate communication. Parents and guardians must provide complete and current information about allergies, dietary restrictions, medical needs, feeding routines, and developmental concerns.

Jenny will communicate with families when a question or concern arises or when a different meal, snack, beverage, or infant-feeding arrangement may be needed.


Questions?

If you have questions about the Meals & Nutrition Policy or whether Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare can accommodate your child’s dietary or feeding needs, please discuss them with Jenny before care begins.


Contact Us

Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare
Greece, New York
Email:

Please Note

Jenny ordinarily provides meals and snacks. A parent or guardian may be required to provide food when a child has an allergy, dietary restriction, medical need, or another requirement that cannot safely or reasonably be met through the regular meal arrangements. Food brought from home must be approved in advance and clearly labeled.

Infant Feeding Reminder

Families must provide formula or expressed breast milk, labeled bottles, and the infant’s required feeding supplies and instructions. Infant-feeding arrangements should be reviewed with Jenny before the child’s first day and updated whenever the infant’s needs change.


Trusted Nutrition Resources

These optional resources provide general information about balanced, age-appropriate foods, snacks, and drinks. They do not replace Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare’s Meals & Nutrition Policy or individualized guidance from a pediatrician or qualified healthcare professional.

Balanced-meal guidance, food-group information, parent handouts, activities, and child-friendly nutrition resources.

Explore USDA MyPlate Resources (PDF file)

Practical breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack recipes created for children, families, schools, and childcare programs.

Explore USDA Team Nutrition Recipes

Parent-friendly snack guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including ideas for building healthy eating habits.

Read Choosing Healthy Snacks

Helpful information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about water, hydration, and limiting sugary drinks for children.

Read Choose Water for Healthy Hydration

Age-specific guidance about introducing foods and drinks, meal frequency, textures, and healthy choices for infants and toddlers.

Explore CDC Infant and Toddler Nutrition

External Link Disclaimer

Links to third-party websites are provided for general information and convenience only. Jasmine’s Kingdom Daycare does not control, endorse, or guarantee external content and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, safety, availability, or use. Parents and guardians access these resources at their own discretion.


Healthy bodies, growing minds, and happy hearts begin with healthy choices made together.