Are food preparation and storage areas neat and clean?
Don’t forget to check out these areas. Adequate refrigeration is a must. Children bringing food from home should be able to store it in a clean refrigerator that operates at 40°F or below. Where is the diaper changing area? It should be away from the areas where children eat and play, to minimize the spread of germs. How much does your childcare provider know about nutrition? CACFP participants must receive annual nutrition training, but other day care providers may know less about child nutrition. In fact, research bears that out. In one study, only about half of the caregivers could correctly select the major food sources for certain nutrients (i.e., dairy foods as a source of calcium) or knew the appropriate serving sizes for preschoolers. Is the environment conducive to eating? The best way to find out is by observing unannounced. Our sitter Louise, who has been caring for my children for the past five years, allows parents to drop in without notice, a policy that I applaud. The no
