1. A. Food and beverages that are furnished by a provider for meals or snacks, or both, shall comply with the guidelines of the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as indicated on a chart supplied by the office.

2. B. Unless provided by the child’s parent, the provider shall furnish:

   1. (1) All beverages, including beverages for meals and snacks; and
   2. (2) Milk with all meals.

3. C. A beverage furnished by the provider may not contain an added sweetener or caffeine, except for:

   1. (1) Infant formula: or
   2. (2) A beverage prescribed for a child by a health care provider.

4. D. If the child is:

   1. (1) Younger than 2 years old, milk furnished to the child shall be supplied or approved by the child’s parent; or
   2. (2) 2 years old or older, milk furnished to the child by the provider shall be 1% fat milk or nonfat milk, unless otherwise ordered by a health care provider or requested by the child’s parent.
5. E. The provider may arrange with the child’s parent to furnish milk of a type that is different from the milk ordinarily furnished by the provider.

6. F. Except during approved hours of overnight care, a provider shall serve meals and snacks at intervals of not more than 3 hours according to the following schedule:

   If a child is at providers home for:	The child shall receive at least:
   Less than 4 consecutive hours	1 snack
   4 to 7 consecutive hours	1 meal and 1 snack
   7 to 11 consecutive hours	1 meal and 2 snacks or 2 meals and 1 snack
   11 to 14 consecutive hours	2 meals and 2 snacks or 3 meals and 1 snack

7. G. If a provider chooses not to provide meals, the provider shall make arrangements with the parent of each child to provide food for meals.

Authority: Education Article, §§9.5-301—9.5-308, 9.5-310—9.5-312, 9.5-320, and 9.5-321;
General Provisions Article, §4-333; Human Services Article, §1-202; Annotated Code of Maryland
Agency Note: Federal Statutory Reference — Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.);
Pro-Children Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. §6081 et seq.);
Child Care Development Block Grant (45 CFR Parts 98 and 99 and 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
Social Security Act §418 (42 U.S.C. 618)

Effective date: October 20, 2008 (35:21 Md. R. 1826)

Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 882)

Regulation .01B amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 12)