Menu Planning Guide for Preschoolers in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Connecticut State Department of Education https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Nutrition/NSLP/Preschool/MPGpreschool.pdf Project Director Susan S. Fiore, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Education Coordinator In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. The Connecticut State Department of Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights Education is committed to a policy of regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, equal opportunity/affirmative action offices, and employees, and institutions participating in for all qualified persons. The or administering USDA programs are prohibited from Connecticut Department of Education discriminating based on race, color, national origin, does not discriminate in any sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior employment practice, education civil rights activity in any program or activity program, or educational activity on the conducted or funded by USDA. basis of age, ancestry, color, criminal record (in state employment and Persons with disabilities who require alternative means licensing), gender identity or of communication for program information (e.g. expression, genetic information, Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign intellectual disability, learning disability, Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or marital status, mental disability (past or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who present), national origin, physical are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities disability (including blindness), race, may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service religious creed, retaliation for at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information previously opposed discrimination or may be made available in languages other than English. coercion, sex (pregnancy or sexual harassment), sexual orientation, To file a program complaint of discrimination, veteran status or workplace hazards to complete the USDA Program Discrimination reproductive systems, unless there is a Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to bona fide occupational qualification File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a excluding persons in any of the letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all aforementioned protected classes. of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: State Department of Education’s (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture nondiscrimination policies should be Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil directed to: Levy Gillespie, Equal Rights Employment Opportunity 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Director/Americans with Disabilities Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Coordinator (ADA), Connecticut State (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or Department of Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 505, (3) email: [email protected]. Hartford, CT 06103, 860-807-2071, This institution is an equal opportunity provider. [email protected]. Contents Contents About this Guide ........................................................................................................... viii CSDE Contact Information ............................................................................................. x Abbreviations and Acronyms .......................................................................................... xi 1 — Preschool Meal Patterns ........................................................................................... 1 Overview of Meal Pattern Changes............................................................................................. 1 Implementation Requirements ..................................................................................................... 2 Delayed implementation of grain ounce equivalents ......................................................... 2 Age Groups ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Serving the Same Foods to Preschoolers and Grades K-12 .................................................... 3 Preschoolers and grades K-5 eating together in the NSLP and SBP .............................. 4 Preschoolers and grades K-12 eating together in the ASP ............................................... 4 Reimbursable Meals ....................................................................................................................... 5 Food components and food items ....................................................................................... 5 Table 1-1. Required components for the preschool meal patterns ........................... 6 Additional foods ...................................................................................................................... 6 Nutrition Standards ....................................................................................................................... 7 Offer versus Serve ......................................................................................................................... 7 Buy American Requirement ......................................................................................................... 7 Resources for Buy American ................................................................................................. 8 Preschool Meal Patterns ................................................................................................................ 9 Table 1-2. Preschool breakfast meal pattern ..................................................................... 10 Table 1-3. Preschool lunch meal pattern ........................................................................... 13 Table 1-4. Preschool snack meal pattern ........................................................................... 17 Overview of Preschool Meal Pattern Requirements .............................................................. 21 Breakfast ................................................................................................................................. 21 Lunch ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Snack ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Meal pattern documentation ................................................................................................ 24 Meal Modifications for Children with Special Dietary Needs ............................................... 26 Children with a disability ...................................................................................................... 26 Children without a disability ................................................................................................ 26 Menu Planning Guide for Preschoolers Connecticut State Department of Education November 2020 i Contents Choking Prevention for Young Children ................................................................................. 27 Foods that are choking risks ................................................................................................ 27 Table 4. Common foods that may cause choking ..................................................... 27 Safe preparation and serving techniques to reduce choking risks .................................. 28 Meal Pattern Resources ............................................................................................................... 29 2 — Menu Records ........................................................................................................ 31 Table 2-1. Required documentation for preschool meal pattern compliance ..................... 31 Preschool Menus .......................................................................................................................... 32 Menu forms ............................................................................................................................ 32 Using cycle menus ................................................................................................................. 33 Sample preschool menus ...................................................................................................... 33 Production Records ..................................................................................................................... 34 Table 2-2. Information to include on production records .............................................. 35 Sample production records ........................................................................................... 35 Guidance for completing production records .................................................................. 36 Volume versus weight .......................................................................................................... 36 Resources for production records ...................................................................................... 37 Standardized Recipes ................................................................................................................... 38 Benefits of standardized recipes ......................................................................................... 38 Information to include on standardized recipes ..............................................................