N.C. preschoolers in childcare must eat according to USDA regulations

I've listened to the many versions of the story about the preschooler in a More at Four childcare program at W. Hoke Elementary School in Raeford, N.C., who ate three chicken nuggets for lunch instead of her home packed lunch. If it were my child, I would be angry, too.

A North Carolina Education staff member was reviewing the childcare center on Jan. 30. An un-named teacher at the center declared the 4-year-old's lunch wasn't nutritious enough, because it didn't contain all the required elements to meet USDA guidelines, and replaced it with a school lunch.

My daughter is a N.C. licensed home childcare center, so I'm familiar with the routine inspections and nutrition rules. This center was being inspected for it's N.C. Star Rated License, a system the state uses to inform parents about the quality of care at the center.

School lunches may have certain required elements that meet government guidelines, but many kids don't like it. That's why my grandkids take a packed lunch to school. They've never been questioned about what they're eating or drinking. I 've eaten in the lunch room, and teachers care more about the noise level and speed in which the kids eat.

The girl in Hoke County brought a turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips and apple juice to school. She had protein, dairy, fruit, and grain. Food she would eat. Instead she ate three chicken nuggets, the rest went into the trash, and she went hungry.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines require one serving of meat, one serving of grain, one serving of dairy, and two servings of fruits or vegetables with each meal for pre-schoolers.

The NC regulation reads: "Sites must provide breakfast and/or snacks and lunch meeting USDA requirements during the regular school day. The partial/full cost of meals may be charged when families do not qualify for free/reduced price meals.

"When children bring their own food for meals and snacks to the center, if the food does not meet the specified nutritional requirements, the center must provide additional food necessary to meet those requirements."

The newest reports about this story is that a mistake was made by the teacher. The child was missing milk and she was suppose to be offered milk. She could drink it if she wanted it with her home lunch. But, that didn't happen. The principal said he was sorry the girl got a replacement lunch instead. He said it was a misunderstanding.