In the State of Illinois, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licenses and regulates daycare centers. Nutritional requirements are included in those regulations.
Daycare standards, listed by the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in June, 2008, separate child nutritional requirements by age group and by meal. Some may find that the chart provided by DCFS in its licensing requirements is complicated or difficult to understand.
For the sake of simplicity and clarity, this article will demonstrate the requirements in a more simplified manner than the DCFS materials do. For more detail, readers may see the full licensing regulations on the DCFS website.
Nutritional Requirements for Daycare Children From ages 1 to 3
Daycare providers must serve at least these items, in at least these amounts, but are not limited to serving only these items. Additional food may be given if children are still hungry.
For breakfast, children from age one through age two (up to 3 years old) should have:
- ½ cup of milk
- ½ cup of vegetables, fruits, or juice
- ½ serving of a bread product or a bread alternate
Bread product examples are bread, roll, biscuit, or muffin. Bread alternatives are cold dry cereal, cooked cereal, pasta, or a grain such as rice or corn grits.
A sample breakfast idea: oatmeal, small bits of canned fruit, juice and milk.
For lunch, children from age one through age two should have:
- ½ slice of bread, or ½ serving or ¼ cup of bread alternatives
- ¼ cup of vegetables, fruits, or juices
- 1 ounce of meat/meat alternatives (such as ¼ cup beans or 1 egg or 2 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample lunch idea: spaghetti and meatballs, juice.
For dinner, children from age one through age two should have:
- ½ slice of bread, or ½ serving or ¼ cup of bread alternatives
- ¼ cup of vegetables, fruits, or juices
- 1 ounce of meat/meat alternatives (such as ¼ cup beans or 1 egg or 2 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample dinner idea: beans and rice with chopped vegetables.
Nutritional requirements call for certain amounts of food to be offered to the children, but that does not mean that the children must eat that amount of food. Some children may not be able to eat that much and should not be forced to eat more than a comfortable amount.
Childcare providers don't want to waste food. How can they comply with the requirements and not lose money through wasted food? Serving very small portions at a time can decrease the amount of food that is wasted. Cutting a biscuit half into quarters is an example.
Cutting a biscuit into pieces like this will make the pieces nearly bite-size for toddlers, and can make it fun to eat. Serving one piece at a time allows the provider to limit the amount of food that is wasted.
Nutritional Requirements for Daycare Children from age 3 to 6
For breakfast, children from age three through age 5 (up to age 6) should have:
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetables or fruits
- ½ slice or serving of bread or bread alternatives
A sample breakfast idea: half of a frozen waffle, cinnamon applesauce, milk.
For lunch, children from age three through age 5 should have:
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetables, fruits, or juices
- ½ slice or ½ serving bread or bread alternative
- 1 ½ ounce meat, cheese, or other meat alternatives (or 1 egg or 3/8 cup of beans, or 3 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample lunch idea: cheese, crackers, apple slices, milk.
For dinner/supper, children from age 3 through age 5 should have:
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetables, fruits, or juices
- ½ slice or ½ serving bread or bread alternative
- 1 ½ ounce meat, cheese, or other meat alternatives (or 1 egg or 3/8 cup of beans, or 3 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample dinner idea: grilled chicken breast strips, fresh vegetables cut into strips (served with a dip), corn, and milk.
Children this age love to do things themselves. Allowing them to practice serving themselves at the table is a good way to encourage independence and self-sufficiency. Having them use plastic measuring cups instead of traditional serving spoons to scoop up foods can decrease the number and severity of messes. Little hands are not as strong or coordinated as adult hands.
Nutritional Requirements for Daycare Children from age 6 to 12
For breakfast, children from age 6 through age 12 should have:
- 1 cup of milk
- ½ cup of vegetables, fruits, or juices
- 1 slice or serving of bread or bread alternatives
- 2 ounces of meat, cheese or other meat alternative (1 egg, ½ cup beans, 4 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample breakfast idea: a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, grapes, milk.
For lunch, children age 6 through 12 should have:
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetables, fruits, or juices
- 1 slice or 1 serving bread or bread alternative
- 2 ounces meat, cheese, or other meat alternatives (or 1 egg or 3/8 cup of beans, or 3 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample lunch idea: half a hardboiled egg, a slice of bread spread with peanut butter, fresh fruit pieces that children can use to make into a face, milk.
For dinner/supper, children age 6 through 12 should have:
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetables, fruits, or juices
- 1 slice or 1 serving bread or bread alternative
- 2 ounces meat, cheese, or other meat alternatives (or 1 egg or 3/8 cup of beans, or 3 Tbsp. peanut butter)
A sample dinner idea: chili with stir-ins such as cheese, chopped vegetables and crackers, milk.
Childhood obesity is increasing and is one good reason for providers to teach portion sizes. Learning portion sizes can help a child maintain a proper weight, and it can help a provider spend less on food. It should be noted, however, that in Illinois (and perhaps in other states as well), daycares cannot limit children to a certain amount of food.
Feeding daycare children doesn't have to be complicated, but it is very important. Children who do not receive proper nutrition suffer for it, which is something that a caring provider would want to avoid. Feeding children well is one of the responsibilities of being a childcare provider.
Jennifer Harshman - With more than 20 years of experience and education in her fields, she's also read more than one book for every day she has lived.
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