We know that fast food actually slows a child’s learning development, and that nutritious food is vital to children’s health, growth, development and well-being. Proper hydration is also important for children. Staff ensure that all children have access to drinking water throughout the day.
Certified in Food Handling
A child-friendly multi-cultural menu is served in a sit-down family meal setting here at the Village Treehouse. Our food is prepared by our in-house cook, who is certified in food handling to ensure all health and safety regulations are followed. Our supervisor and director are also certified in food handling to ensure that the Village Treehouse childcare follows proper health and safety regulations.
Balanced, Nutritious Meals and Snacks
The Village Treehouse provides a morning and afternoon snack. The morning snack is not a substitute for breakfast, so please provide your child with breakfast before arriving at the childcare. Menus are planned on a 4 week cycle. Planned menus for the current and following week are posted on the parent board for parents to review and for home meal planning. Any substitutions to the menu will be posted accordingly.
Canada Food Guide
Our seasonal, monthly rotating menus follow the Canada Food Guide. We consciously adhere to Canada’s Daily Food Guide to meet children’s nutritional needs and to offer a wide variety of foods children need to be their best throughout the day. Our menus are adapted for food allergies, food restrictions and religious beliefs. Our facility, like all area childcare businesses, is regularly inspected by the Hamilton Health Department.
Allergies
We strive to offer the safest and healthiest environment for all the children who attend Village Treehouse Childcare. This includes the children who have various food allergies. We developed a strict policy stating that NO outside food can be brought into the childcare. The children are provided with substantial snacks and meals, and therefore it is not necessary for families to bring food into the child care from home.
Due to increased frequency and severity of nut allergies, we strive to be a nut-free environment. Please do not bring from home nuts or any foods derived from nuts, as this can be life-threatening for children with allergies. We ask that our parents understand and respect this policy.
Children receiving child care many have known food allergies which may be serious or life-threatening. (Anaphylaxis) There may be also children who have specific food restrictions. These restrictions may due to food intolerances, family dietary choices or religious observance.
We do make exceptions for families whose children who have specific dietary requirements which can be discussed on an individual basis. Parents must clearly label any food with their child’s name that they bring into the childcare.
Allergies, food restrictions and religious observances for children are posted in cooking and serving areas and classrooms.
Anaphylactic Allergies
Upon a child’s admission to the childcare, the parent must supply a doctor’s note stating the specifics of an allergy and provide an auto-injector (EpiPen). In conjunction with the parent and physician, the supervisor will develop an individual plan and emergency procedure, which will include a description of the child’s allergy, monitoring and avoidance strategies, signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic allergy, and action to be taken by the staff in the event that a child has an anaphylactic reaction. This information, along with the child’s photo, will be posted for staff. All staff, students and volunteers will review the individual plan for all children. The parent will train the supervisor on how to use the EpiPen in the case of a severe reaction, who in turn will train the teachers, students and volunteers.
To ensure the well-being of children who have anaphylactic reactions it is imperative that an EpiPen is available at the child care at all times. If a parent does not provide an EpiPen, or fails to replace an expired EpiPen, admission to the program will be denied. If a parent believes the child no longer requires an EpiPen, a doctor’s note confirming this information will be required.