April 14-18, 2025
Dallas, Texas
CACFP · Afterschool Meals · Summer Food
Virtual Sessions
Not able to join us in Dallas ? We're happy to once again provide a virtual option for the 2025 National Child Nutrition Conference. Attend the sessions live through Zoom, or watch them later on demand through May 15, 2025.
If you'll be joining us in Dallas, your registration fee also includes all virtual sessions, which you can attend onsite or watch on demand through May 15, 2025.
What's Included?
- Every workshop block will have one session that will be identified as a hybrid onsite/virtual session. These will be streamed on Zoom, but in-person attendees are also welcome to attend the workshop live.
- Select spotlight sessions will be live streamed as well. This includes the General Session, CACFP Creditable Resources for Professionals, CACFP Overview, SFSP Overview, the USDA CACFP Policy Update, and the USDA SFSP Policy Update.
- NCA members will be emailed a private link to the NCA Annual Meeting.
- There are also a number of virtual-only sessions. These include the SUN Meals Overview, Afterschool Meals Overview, and CACFP Certification Program Overview.
Virtual Sessions and Hybrid Virtual/Onsite Sessions
All sessions are listed in Central Time.
Wednesday, April 9
Get acquainted with Zoom and your fellow attendees with these two sessions, which will be the week before the conference.
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Navigating the Virtual Sessions Q&A
Learn more about what to expect, how to navigate the schedule and the tools you need to get the most out of the virtual track at the 2025 National Conference.
Presented by Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Association
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Zoom Regional Networking Meeting
Through Zoom Meetings, you will have the opportunity to engage with professionals in your region, allowing you to network with peers who understand your specific challenges and opportunities. Whether you are an administrator, provider, sponsor, or involved in any other capacity in the CACFP, share your experiences and expand your professional network in this convenient online setting.
Moderated by:
Brittany Uribe, National CACFP Association
Lindsay Hanz, National CACFP Association
Tuesday, April 15
7:00 am - 7:45 am | Creditable Tools & Resources
Learn about the nutrition education resources which are available free-of-charge, including the guides for identifying whole grain-rich, determining sugar content in cereals and yogurt, and which milk to serve in the CACFP.
Presented by Lisa Mack, National CACFP Association
9:15 am - 10:15 am | CACFP Overview
You’re new-ish to the food program and concepts in the CACFP may not be as foreign to you, but you’d love to really explore the important areas in the CACFP. Join us as we review the meal patterns, identify basic program administration requirements, and get a refresher on how reimbursement works in the CACFP.
Presented by Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm | National Conference General Session
What you do matters! When we all come together in one room with one focus, you can be sure you’ll leave knowing that your role is as important as any other in ensuring that all children will have access to healthy foods. This session is strategically planned with speakers who will motivate us and remind us why we work to support our nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Presented by Lisa Mack, National CACFP Association
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm | Featured Speaker: USDA CACFP Policy Update
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which is crucial to ensuring children have access to nutritious food and where healthy eating becomes a habit. Get an overview of new and revised policy guidance and a state-of-the-state update of the CACFP. ~ CEU Specialty 7
Presented by USDA Food & Nutrition Service
Wednesday, April 16
8:00 am - 9:00 am | Helping Selective Eaters Succeed
Have you ever wondered why some children refuse to eat the foods on your menu, no matter their variation or relevancy? Children who are selective eaters often have different reasons why. From learning to tolerate the presence of food at the table to tasting new food entirely, explore how to support selective eaters who struggle with the territory of unfamiliar foods. ~ CEU Specialty 1, Beginner
- Review types of selective eaters.
- Understand the feeding hierarchy's role in introducing new or rejected foods.
- See how the division of responsibility can help those supporting selective eaters.
Presented by: Ashley Flowers, LDN, MS, RDN, Child Care Associates
9:15 am - 10:15 am | Healthy Staff, Healthy Kids: Cultivating Wellness for Your Teams
The work of child nutrition professionals is important, nurturing, and fulfilling even while it is equally demanding and challenging. Investing in the well-being of meal service staff can lead to healthier, happier team members, and ultimately, healthier children. Explore the vital role of staff wellness in enhancing the effectiveness of nutrition programs. ~ CEU Specialty 6
- Understand how staff wellness impacts the quality of child nutrition program services.
- Recognize strategies to reduce stress and cultivate wellness.
- Learn tips and resources for creating a healthy program workplace.
Presented by: Shonika A. Kwarteng, MBA, RDN, LD, National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
10:30 am - 11:30 am | Featured Speaker: USDA SUN Meals Policy Update
The USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), part of USDA’s SUN Meals initiative, offers congregate and non-congregate food access as a critical safety-net for children when school’s out in the summer. Get an overview of new and revised policy guidance and a state-of-the-state update of the SFSP from USDA Food and Nutrition Service staff. ~ CEU Specialty 8
Presented by USDA Food & Nutrition Service
1:45 pm - 2:45 pm | Food Sovereignty: An Indigenous Perspective
Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. Learn how food sovereignty and food security intertwine, how Native Nations are strengthening sovereignty through food, and how we are reclaiming our food ways through various initiatives. ~ CEU Specialty 1, Beginner
- Discuss the history of food obstacles for Native communities.
- Understand food access and food sovereignty initiatives in Indian Country
- Learn about traditional Native foods.
Presented by: Amy Warne, LD, MBA, RD, Partnership for a Healthier America
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Preparing for CACFP or SFSP Audits
The word ‘audit’ often evokes anxiety and unease for providers. It’s not a reflection of your confidence in your work but rather the apprehension of having it scrutinized by someone else. Even when you’re certain of following federal guidelines, why do you feel this way? How can you overcome these feelings and approach audits with confidence and composure? ~ CEU Specialty 5
- Learn how to prepare for an announced or unannounced audit.
- Understand the purpose of an audit and how to address findings.
- Identify who is responsible for each aspect of the food program at your site.
Presented by: Constance Moore, MBA, MA, CCNP, YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South
4:15 pm - 5:15 pm | Be a Kid's Hero: Food and Nutrient Acceptance in the Early Years
Complementary foods, those other than breast milk or infant formula, are typically introduced around six months of age and ensure adequate nutrition as the baby grows. When not introduced to them, infants may reject foods introduced later and consume an inadequate variety to meet nutritional needs. Learn tips for increasing food acceptance and nutrient density in infancy through adolescence. ~ CEU Specialty 1, Intermediate
- Understand the nutrient needs of focus for infants at six months of age.
- Review how to prepare and introduce solid food for developmentally ready infants.
- Get research and strategies for increasing acceptance of solid foods.
Presented by: Hawley Evilsizer, Let's Love Food Again
Thursday, April 17
8:00 am - 9:00 am | Hunger, Health and How Early Care Settings Can Help
While hunger and nutrition insecurity pose similarities, they also have distinct differences. Additionally, a lack of access to healthy food affects early childhood development. Discover ways of increasing food security and supporting early care and education professionals to implement strategies critical for continued nutrition access. ~ CEU Specialty Coming Soon, Beginner
- Learn the relationship between nutrition insecurity and health outcomes.
- See how changes to the care environment can influence food selection.
- Identify strategies you can use to increase healthy food access.
Presented by: Staci Coussens, MPH, RDN, LDN, University of Illinois Extension
9:15 am - 10:15 am | Playful Activities for Teaching Healthy Diets
The way we feed children is crucial for their development and it is also important to help children learn how to have a healthy relationship with food. Hear how you can add playful learning strategies into daily routines that will accomplish both of these objectives. ~ CEU Specialty 1, Beginner
- Understand the importance of how children relate to food.
- Learn play's ability as a tool to teach content actively and appropriately.
- See how you can integrate nutrition education into playful activities.
Presented by: Marielisa Vera, MS, The Committee for Hispanic Children & Families
10:30 am - 11:30 am | Fun and Flavorful Themed CACFP Menu Planning
Who doesn't like a good theme? Themed parties, costumes, and even menus! Explore how to design menus inspired by seasonal events, cultural celebrations, and kids' favorite stories. Take home a month's worth of menus for any celebratory or festive occasion by bringing new flavor to your CACFP program — one theme at a time. ~ CEU Specialty 2
- Discover different themes for use in your menu planning.
- Understand how to implement a theme menu planning approach.
- Obtain a menu compliance checklist for checking menu accuracy.
Presented by: Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD, National CACFP Association
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm | Cultivate Community: Serving Fresh & Local Foods with Efficiency
Unlock the power to transform your food service operations and champion local agriculture. Discover dynamic strategies to streamline procurement, craft vibrant farm-to-table menus, and forge impactful partnerships with local farmers. Empower yourself to serve fresh, community-driven foods while reclaiming precious time, by learning to elevate your operations and celebrate local agribusiness. ~ CEU Specialty 4, Intermediate
- Discover procurement optimization for local impact.
- Build strategic, seasonally-focused menu planning and rotation.
- Examine leveraging technology and automation for efficiency.
Presented by: Natasha Smith, MBA, American Farm to Institute (AFTI)
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Fresh Foods, Flavors and Kitchen Ingredients
Do you feel as if the food you serve is bland and lacks appeal? Is serving fresh fruits and vegetables hard to implement? Learn why indoor gardening is Farm to CACFP together with which essential ingredients you can use to keep sodium down, sugar low and still add tons of flavor while staying within the CACFP guidelines. ~ CEU Specialty 1, Beginner
- Discover new ideas for cooking with flavor.
- Get inspiration for Farm to CACFP with indoor growing.
- Learn how to excite and educate children with food samples.
Presented by: Cheri Wood, CMP, CCNP, CDA, FDC, Community Action Partnership of Northeast Missouri CAPNEMO
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm | Monitoring 101: Ensuring Compliance in SFSP and Afterschool Meals
Ready to level up your understanding of monitoring in SFSP or After School Meals? Whether you are a beginner or a veteran who never stops studying, discover key points of monitoring compliance, along with tips to be successful in audits, and put your knowledge on display while maximizing reimbursements for your programs. ~ CEU Specialty 2, Beginner
- Learn strategies to prepare and execute a complete monitoring review.
- Identify key areas of compliance for Special Programs in Child Nutrition.
- Understand the fiscal impact compliance has on your operations.
Presented by: Darren Carter, Memphis-Shelby County Schools
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Featured Speaker: The Power of Pause: Regulate Yourself to Lead and Serve with Strength
It takes just one minute to shift a situation. Learn the importance of pausing to center yourself, manage emotions, and lead with clarity. Move away from reactive responses driven by assumptions and instead approach challenges from a place of truth and understanding. Gain practical tools to stay calm, communicate effectively, and make thoughtful decisions that support your work and the communities you serve. ~ CEU Specialty 6
Presented by LaShonda Walker, MA, A New Life Story Coaching
Thank you to our...
Partners
Sponsors
