Lunch Program and Food Policies

At Giving Tree Early Learning, we strive to provide healthy food to our students by following all federal and state guidelines. 

• All food available to the children is kosher and nut-free, which includes items cooked in peanut oil. 
• Families must provide a morning and afternoon two-component snack (protein, grain, fruit/vegetable) each day. 
• If your child stays in Aftercare, you are required to send in an additional shelf-stable snack. 
• Lunch may be provided by the parent and must be transported in a lunch box with the child’s name clearly located on the outside of the lunch box. Preschool lunches in Indiana must follow USDA and Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) standards for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), requiring specific portion sizes of fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein, plus milk. For children ages 2-5, a lunch must include at least three of the following components: ¼ cup of fruit, ¼ cup of vegetables, ½ ounce equivalent of grains, and 1 ounce equivalent of protein. 
• An option to purchase a daily hot lunch is also available.
• Children will receive milk or a dairy substitute (for allergy with proper documentation) each day at lunch. 

Food must be brought to the facility in clean, insulated, sanitizable containers, which keeps cold food at 41° F or below and hot food at 135° or above. Containers must be clearly labeled with the child’s name and date of preparation. Upon receiving the food from the parent, the facility shall verify the temperature of the food. When potentially hazardous food temperature is not correct, the facility will not accept the food. Upon accepting the food, the facility shall maintain correct food temperatures until served.

Bottles

Because the youngest age served in our program is 12 months, HHAI operates a toddler program, not an infant program. As a result, our classrooms must follow toddler-appropriate feeding guidelines.

• Baby bottles are not permitted in any toddler classroom.
• Bottles may not be sent from home or used by students during the school day.
• Staff may not provide, warm, or feed from baby bottles under any circumstance.

Cups

To support oral development, safety, and licensing compliance:

• Sippy cups with soft, bottle-like tops are not allowed.
• Students may use only:
  • hard-spout sippy cups
  • straw cups
  • open cups, as developmentally appropriate
  • Labeled with the child’s name
     

This policy ensures consistency with state toddler-care guidelines, reduces choking risks, supports healthy feeding transitions, and maintains developmental appropriateness for all children enrolled in our program.

Snacks during the school day must be fresh fruit or vegetables. Kindergarten students are expected to have a snack for morning and afternoon. Elementary and Middle students may bring a morning and afternoon snack of veggies or fruit.

After School Care: For children staying past 3:30, parents may elect to send in an additional fruit/veggie or kosher certified pre-packaged snack such as graham crackers or Cheez Its.

• All food must be kosher certified, parve or dairy, and nut-free (including items cooked in peanut oil). Students who bring packed lunches must arrive with all necessary items to eat their lunch, as paper goods will not be provided.
• All hechshered (kosher certified) dairy foods such as yogurt and cheese
• Kosher certified foods that are pareve, neither dairy or meat, including premade salsas, canned beans, hummus, guacamole, crackers. lox, bread, bagels etc.
• Nut butter alternatives such as sunbutter (sunflower seeds) and soy nut butter
• Canned fish that have fins and scales like tuna, salmon or white fish.
• Side items such as fruits, veggies, chips and other kosher certified snack items.
• Hard boiled eggs cooked at home are permissible.
• Water, milk, milk-alternatives and juice are the only permitted beverages.
• Premade kosher certified items (see resource list for ideas) may be reheated in a microwave, toaster or toaster oven with foil lined tray. (before sending to school)
• No food sharing will be allowed

• Any meat, including luncheon meats, are prohibited.
• Items cooked at home excluding hard boiled eggs.
• ALL NUTS. (Items made in a nut facility are permissible)
• No sodas or teas are allowed.