Every day, millions of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers leave home to spend at least part of their day in a childcare setting. Parents entrust childcare providers to provide learning opportunities for their children, preparation for school and a healthy nurturing environment. A center’s nutrition program is an integral part of this environment in order to keep young children free from hunger, promote their proper growth, and reinforce choices and habits that prevent disease and support good health.

Serving nearly 500 centers in six states (PA, NJ, NY, DE, MD, VA), Novick Brothers focuses on presenting childcare centers with the products and services required to provide nutritious food programs as well as the complimentary goods needed to facilitate a clean and healthy operation.

Beyond food service, our team also assists in menu planning and portioning for child nutrition programs. Our experts provide a comprehensive assessment of your operation that covers 10 key areas and then help you to implement the various suggestions. We work with you ever step of the way - and this is a free service when you partner with us for your food service needs!

Novick Brothers is pleased to provide you "Food Service Solutions with Family Values". Read below to discover just a few areas where you can immediately begin to make improvements.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care for children and elderly adults by making care more affordable for many low-income families.

Through CACFP, more than 3.2 million children and 112,000 adults receive nutritious meals and snacks each day as part of the day care they receive.

See how CACFP can make a difference in the quality of your program! Whether you are a provider in your home, at a day care center, in an afterschool care program, or in an emergency shelter, you will find many useful resources for serving nutritious meals and snacks.

Read more at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care

CN Products

CN stands for Child Nutrition. It is a program run by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with other USDA agencies. A product is labeled CN once its formulation has been evaluated by FNS to determine its contribution toward meal pattern requirements. The contribution is then stated on the official CN label.

Products eligible for CN labeling include main dish products which contribute to the meat/meat alternate component of the meal pattern requirements as well as juice and juice drink products which contain at least 50 percent full-strength juice by volume. Examples of main dish products include beef patties, cheese or meat pizzas, meat or cheese and bean burritos, egg rolls, and breaded fish portions. Beverages include such products as grape drink, fruit punch, and juice bars.

Read more at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/CNlabeling/default.htm

Child Care Sanitation

Hand washing is the single most important line of defense in preventing the transmission of disease-causing organisms.

Employees shall wash hands upon reporting for work; before and after handling food; before bottle feeding or serving to other children; before handling clean utensils or equipment; after toileting or handling of body fluids (e.g., saliva, nasal secretions, vomitus, feces, urine, blood, secretions from sores, pustulant discharge); after diaper changing; after handling soiled items such as garbage, mops, cloths and clothing; after being outdoors; after handling animals or animal cages; and after removing disposable gloves.

Children shall wash hands upon arrival at the child care center; after each diaper change or visit to the toilet; before eating meals or snacks; before and after water play; after outdoor activity; and after handling animals or animal cages. Hand sanitizing products may be used in lieu of hand washing while children are outdoors if hands are washed upon returning indoors.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control describes proper hand washing as:

1. Using liquid soap and tempered water

2. Rubbing hands vigorously with soap and tempered water for 15 seconds

3. Washing all surfaces of the hands, to include the backs of hands, palms, wrists, under fingernails and between fingers

4. Rinsing well for ten seconds

5. Drying hands with a paper towel or other hand-drying device

6. Turning off faucet with a paper towel or other method without recontamination
    

Choking Hazards

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year they receive 15 reports of choking deaths to children under age 3. Some of these deaths involve items that are considered known hazards, such as small toys, toy parts, balloons, balls and marbles. But there are many tragic deaths each year that result from hidden hazards. These are often small objects not intended for use by children that accidentally end up in their hands and mouths.

“Parents and caregivers should stay on the lookout for small parts breaking off of toys or young children getting their hands on items intended for older siblings,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “Marbles and balls are the most recognizable hazards; but everyday household items also pose choking dangers.”

Choking has long been the leading cause of toy-related deaths to young children. To help prevent these deaths, the Commission requires age-appropriate labeling on toys and products for older children that contain small parts. Toys designed for children 3 and older should be kept away from young children.

Balloons, a leading cause of toy-related deaths, are often a favorite of young children. However, un-inflated balloons and fragments from popped balloons can also choke and kill a small child.

Keep objects like small toys and parts of toys, marbles, balloons, small balls and coins off the floor and out of reach of children. Toys designed for older children should be kept out of the hands of little ones and stored in separate containers. Follow labels that give age recommendations/ These recommendations are based on well-researched safety properties. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger siblings. Check the eyes and noses of stuffed animals to ensure they are properly secured.

Food Allergies

According to Allergykids.com and FoodAllergySmart.org, any food can cause an allergic reaction, but 90% of all food allergies are caused by one of the following: wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish and shellfish. There are no medications that cure food allergy. Strict avoidance of the allergenic food is the only way to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction. About 6-8% of young children have food allergies.

Students with food allergies are a growing health concern in schools across the country. The incidence of peanut allergy – the deadliest of all the food allergies – fully doubled in children over the five-year period from 1997- 2002. According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN):

• Education and planning are key to establishing and maintaining a safe school environment for all students.

• Those responsible for the care and well being of children must be aware of the potential dangers of allergies.

• Prevention of allergy symptoms involves coordination and cooperation within the entire school team.

• Early recognition of symptoms and prompt interventions of appropriate therapy are vital to survival.