Meal Pattern Minute: Vegetables for Grains in Tribal Communities

Preparing Child and Adult Care Food Program meals in the American Indian or Alaska Native communities can be a challenge when CACFP operators are trying to be mindful of culture and honor local traditions. In the past few years, the United States Department of Agriculture has been working on getting more foods in the Food Buying Guide to provide guidance on how to credit traditional foods found in these tribal communities. A new rule came out this year specifying locations and community types that may be able to substitute vegetable for grains in the CACFP to continue to support traditional foods. Is this true for sites that primarily serve American Indian or Alaska Native children or adults? 

 Watch this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, reveals the answer to this question. 

 After reviewing the video, more information in regards to this new rule can be found here Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 DGAs. A few key points to highlight from this Federal Register are listed below. 

• Allows sponsors, institutions, and facilities serving primarily American Indian or Alaska Native participants to substitute vegetables to meet the grains requirement. 

• May substitute ½ cup vegetable for 1-ounce equivalent grain. The vegetables substituting for grains may not also be credited as the vegetable offering. 

• USDA emphasizes the importance of traditional and culturally relevant vegetables, including traditional vegetables such as breadfruit and prairie turnips, for grains. 

For further information on changes occurring the CACFP from this final rule, review the Implementation Timeline for Updated Nutrition Requirements in CACFP & SFSP.

Review Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs to become more familiar with which foods can credit towards the CACFP meal.  Also, get a quick summary handout of Indigenous foods that can be found on the Food Buying Guide. Check out USDA’s webpage, Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, this page helps CACFP providers determine how Indigenous foods may credit towards to reimbursable meal.  

Inspired by traditional foods? Try our  Blue Cornbread Muffins  and Bannock Bread.

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