Full Day Programs: Lunch and Snacks

Morning and afternoon snacks and a nutritious midday meal are prepared for infant, toddler and preschool children by an on-site cook who is required to complete the Food Handler’s course offered by the Public Health Department. If an on-site cook is not available, a catering service may be used. Site menus are created in consultation with a dietitian, in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide.

Weekly menu plans are posted in the Parent Information Area in each program. UFCC cooks meet regularly to review and adjust menus according to the seasons. If infants require food that is not part of the menu (e.g., formula, pablum, etc.), it must be provided by the family and clearly labelled with the child’s name.

Extended Day Programs: Nutritious Snacks

Morning and afternoon snacks are prepared for children in extended day programs by UFCC staff who have completed the Food Handler’s course offered by the Public Health Department. Weekly menu plans are posted in the Parent Information Area in each program. Supervisors and Program Leaders plan and review snacks twice a year.

Kindergarten and School Age Children Attending Full Day Programs

Kindergarten and school age children attending a full day program on P.A. days or during school breaks bring a bagged lunch unless otherwise stated. The lunch should be brought to the school in an insulated lunch bag containing an ice pack to keep food at a safe temperature. All food that needs to be served warm should be packed in an insulated thermos. The lunch bag and all containers must be clearly labelled with the child’s name.

Milk and fresh fruit will be provided by UFCC staff unless children are on a field trip/excursion.

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions / Bringing Food from Home (Applies to All Age Groups

During the enrollment process, families can communicat any allergies or dietary restrictions their child may have to the Program Leader or Supervisor. Should new allergies or restrictions develop, these will need to be communicated to the Supervisor or Program Leader as soon as possible.

A list of dietary restrictions/allergies will be posted in the food preparation area and in the area where food is served.

While we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, UFCC, in accordance with Sabrina’s Law: An Act to Protect Anaphylactic Pupils, shall make every reasonable effort to:

• Reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common areas.
• Ensure that personnel are aware of which students within the centre have been identified as being at risk of severe anaphylactic reactions.
• Implement procedures necessary to intervene effectively in the event of an anaphylactic emergency.

UFCC staff will ensure the health and safety of all children by checking any food brought from home to ensure all foods are safe to be consumed (e.g., have not passed their expiry date) and will remove any foods containing centre allergens, substituting with another food item if necessary. Should a child bring an item(s) containing centre allergens to the program, the item(s) will be wrapped and stored in the office and returned to the family at the end of the day.

If food/drink is brought to the centre from home because of dietary restrictions/allergies, the items should be in their original packaging and clearly list the ingredients. If that is not possible, a list of ingredients must be provided for the item(s), in case they affect the allergens of other children or
UFCC staff.

Kindergarten and school age children attending a full day program on P.A. days or during school breaks must bring a bagged lunch, unless otherwise stated. Milk and fresh fruit snacks will be provided by UFCC staff members unless children are on a field trip/excursion. If a child forgets their lunch, UFCC will attempt to contact the family to see if they can bring the child’s lunch. If not, UFCC will provide a lunch for the child for that day.

Families are requested to pack healthy foods/drinks based on information from Canada’s Food Guide and ideally should consist of servings from four different food groups: meat and alternatives, milk products, breads and cereal, fruits and vegetables. UFCC staff will encourage children to eat the most nutritious items from their lunch bag before any treats are consumed (e.g., cookies, candy, etc.).

Peanuts and Other Nut Products

Due to the increased frequency and severity of peanut allergies, UFCC programs have become ‘Nut-Reduced Zones’. Please note that UFCC staff do everything in their power to ensure nut-free facilities but cannot control all possible sources of nut contamination.

UFCC does not serve food that may have peanuts or other nut products. Please respect the children or UFCC staff affected and do not bring any nut-contaminated items into the program. For some individuals, this could be a matter of life or death.

Special Events and Celebrations

Public Health regulations prevent us from serving food that has been prepared in someone’s home so UFCC staff will plan special events and celebrations in collaboration with children and families.