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CACFP University

The National CACFP Sponsors Association makes it a priority to help keep our providers up-to-date with the latest policy, guidelines and best practices. We're happy to offer many of our virtual events on demand, so you can follow a training program that works around your schedule. CEUs marked with a $ are paid resources and pricing can be found on the respective item's expanded information.

Looking for the Child Nutrition Virtual Summit? Click here!

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CACFP University

Learn about meal pattern guidelines and practices.

 

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Advancing Indigenous Health Equity and Food Security

August 24, 2023

Policy is a major determinant of health among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Explore the complex factors that have contributed to high rates of obesity and diabetes among Indigenous Peoples in the United States, including, but not limited to, the disruption of Indigenous knowledge systems, commodity food offerings, displacement, and federal funding shortfalls. Identify best practices for engaging with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Villages and learn how state and federal food commodity programs can advance food sovereignty efforts.

Watch On Demand

Advocating for the CACFP: How to Host Elected Officials

June 15, 2023

Showcasing your program is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for the CACFP. Invite your elected official to join you at your site to interact with and serve meals/snacks to the children or adults in your care. Learn how to host your elected official at your site, from the initial invite to the follow up after a successful site visit.

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Age-Defying Flavors: Recipes for Older Adults

May 8, 2024

May is Older Americans Month and we’re celebrating the invaluable contributions of the older adult members within our community. Join us to discover how to adapt CACFP recipes to align with the changing needs and tastes of older adults. Gain insights into modifying recipes to cater to their distinct taste profiles and nutritional needs, ensuring meals that are both satisfying and health-supportive for our revered community members.

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Between the Bread: Nutrition Packed Sandwiches ($)

June 20, 2024

Whether you’re gearing up for field trips or planning outdoor meal adventures, sandwiches are a summertime’s best friend. Say hello to creative combinations of textures, colors and flavors all nestled between two slices of bread. We’ll explore how to make this mealtime classic into another #CACFPCreditable addition to your menu, just in time for summer!

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Brunch for Lunch ($)

May 26, 2022

Looking for new ideas for your CACFP lunch menu? Why not try brunch for lunch?! Hear about endless possibilities when combining breakfast food favorites and lunch classics. Learn how to navigate brunch related food components in the CACFP and get recipe ideas to use in your child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers.

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Power of the Food Program

Learn how the CACFP contributes to nutrition security and why you should participate. Get practical training on serving healthy meals. Discover ideas and resources you can use in your program immediately.

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Beginners’ Guide to the Five Meal Pattern Components ($)

January 27, 2023

Centers, family child care homes, and afterschool care play a critical role in serving nutritious foods to those they serve. The CACFP guides you on how to provide healthy meals using five food components which make up the meal service requirements: grains, fruits, vegetables, meats/meat alternates and milk. Learn when these are required and how they fit into the CACFP meal pattern.

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Joining Made Easy – Five Steps to Food Program Success ($)

December 7, 2022

Are you convinced and ready to join the CACFP, but not sure where to get started? Learn how to successfully launch the program at your center, home or afterschool site. Find out how to work with a sponsor who will provide you training, technical assistance, monitoring, and administrative support or how to work with a state agency directly. Start getting financial reimbursement for meals you are already serving.

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Keeping Kids Healthy: All About Food Allergens & How to Read Food Labels ($)

December 7, 2022

Serving those in our care safely is our top priority! Learn about the nine major food allergens and how to recognize what food products contain these. Get a better understanding of how to read the food label to identify and avoid food allergens.

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Making Cents! How to Get Financial Reimbursement for the Meals You Serve ($)

December 7, 2022

Reimbursement rates for CACFP participants are dependent upon a variety of factors, such as whether you operate a family home child care, center, or afterschool program. Learn how to determine what the amount of reimbursement would be based on your enrollment, meal service, and rates of reimbursement. Discover how to qualify and how to receive financial reimbursement once you join the CACFP.

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Playing Around: Making Physical Activity Part of Your Program ($)

December 7, 2022

Being healthy is not only based on the foods we serve but also how we stay moving throughout the day. Learn why keeping children active should be an important part in everyday activities and how essential physical activity is to child development. Get ideas on how to incorporate new, fun, physical activity games into your program.

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2023 National Child Nutrition Conference

Originally held April 10-14, 2023 - watch the virtual sessions from the 2023 National Child Nutrition Conference in San Diego.

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Advocating for a Third Meal ($)

April 13, 2023

Ready to advocate for a reimbursement of a third meal but unsure of where to start? Explore the importance of advocating at the state and local levels in early childhood nutrition and how to secure legislation and funding.

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Body Positivity and Cultivating Good Relationships with Food

April 13, 2023

Our relationship with food develops at an early age. Labeling certain foods as “bad” or calling someone a “good eater” or “picky eater” can create unintended harmful effects that can follow kids through life. Learn how to help kids cultivate a good relationship with food from the start.

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Gardening Activities for Every Classroom ($)

April 13, 2023

Ready to grow? Explore the many benefits of gardening with the children in your care. Learn about indoor and outdoor gardening activities to try in your classrooms. A love of gardening and dirt are not required.

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Healthy Habits Count ($)

April 11, 2023

Establishing healthy habits and routines during early childhood can set the stage for lifelong wellbeing. The 5-2-1-0 framework encourages children to develop positive habits through nutrition and physical activity. Learn how 5-2-1-0 reinforces CACFP meal patterns and best practices to help kids thrive.

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Meal Innovations: Maximize Labor & Mitigate Supply Chain Issues ($)

April 12, 2023

Learn creative ways to maximize your labor and food resources to ensure great participation in your Summer Food Program. Get great ideas on how to package individual items, an entire meal or create a weekly meal box. Take home creative menu ideas requiring minimal labor and suggestions to resolve supply chain issues.

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Small Tweaks, Giant Peaks: Reframing Your Mindset ($)

April 13, 2023

Are you feeling burnt out or unmotivated? Learn skills to reframe your mindset to create your best self and get strategies to help you find success. Whatever your roles and responsibilities entail, these best practices will help you level up and prepare for the future.

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Tailoring Menus to Accommodate Special Diets ($)

April 12, 2023

Unsure of how to plan menus for children with special dietary needs? Explore the key considerations to remember when planning and sourcing CACFP creditable substitutions for special diets such as food allergies, gluten-free, and preparing texture-modified diets.

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2022 National Child Nutrition Conference

Originally held April 19-21, 2022 - watch the virtual sessions from the 2022 National Child Nutrition Conference in New Orleans.

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CACFP Administrative Budgets

April 20, 2022

Learn tips and best practices on the preparation of an acceptable administrative budget. Topics will include the importance of strategic planning, using historical financial information to develop the budget, determining what expenses are allowable/ unallowable, identifying staffing requirements, how excess administrative funds affect the budget and updating the budget throughout the year.

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Crediting Basics and Beyond: An In-Depth Look at the Crediting Handbook for the CACFP

April 19, 2022

Join the USDA for this interactive session on the new Crediting Handbook for CACFP. We will review the ins and outs of each of the five required meal components, discuss both creditable and non-creditable food items, and engage the audience in hands-on crediting exercises. You won’t want to miss it!

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Digestible Bites: Modifying Food for Special Diets ($)

April 21, 2022

Learn the differences between various types of mechanical diets and how to prepare these foods to meet CACFP guidelines.

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Eat. Create. Cultivate. Fun with Food Through Positive Mealtime Experiences ($)

April 21, 2022

Come learn ideas and tools providers can use to implement positive mealtimes. Topics include Smarter Mealtimes, examining picky eater’s behaviors while identifying tips for creating adventurous eaters and engaging child participation in the kitchen. Leave with strategies, recipes and activities that engage children of any age!

Watch On Demand

Run Your Race: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself ($)

April 21, 2022

Ready to reignite your passion? Become motivated around the fact that you matter, and what you do is important. Learn who you are at your best, and what helps you to operate at optimal potency. Leave understanding what your best ability is, and why it is important to stay encouraged even in the tough times.

Watch On Demand

2021 Virtual National Child Nutrition Conference

Originally held April 19-22, 2021 - watch the 2021 Virtual National Child Nutrition Conference on demand.

 

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Accommodating Participants with Disabilities in Community Meals

April 22, 2021

Get requirement updates related to accommodating participants with disabilities participating in CACFP/SFSP, as required by Federal law, USDA regulations and the Policy Memorandum, Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program to ensure equal access and opportunity.

Watch On Demand

Baby Steps: Ounce Equivalents for Grains and Infants

April 22, 2021

Get ready to use ounce equivalents to determine the amount of grains to serve to infants in the CACFP! Learn about the requirement going into effect on October 1, 2021 and tools that make implementation easier. Participants will leave this session knowing how much cereal, crackers, and bread are needed to meet meal pattern requirements for infants.

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Continuing Quality Improvement Plans (CQI) ($)

April 21, 2021

Should nutrition be a CQI plan within your Head Start program? Yes! Learn what a CQI plan is and why having a CQI plan goal of decreasing your students BMI is important for your program. Get steps on how to create the right nutrition assessment and how Farm to Early Care implementation can play a vital role in decreasing your students’ BMI.

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Cost-Saving Strategies for Sponsors ($)

April 22, 2021

Learn about proven strategies that have resulted in significant cost savings for CACFP and SFSP Sponsors including electronic meal counting, leftover policies, frozen meals, shelf-stable back-up meals, different meal packaging, and partnering with food banks for donated foods. These valuable tools and tips can produce savings that translate into better quality food and financial security for programming.

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COVID Challenges & Opportunities in the CACFP ($)

April 22, 2021

Learn about the impact of COVID on CACFP providers, sponsors, and state agencies as told through the results of a nationwide survey. Hear about the challenges and training needs for operators, get insights from state directors about challenges of administering CACFP during COVID, and learn about strategies that states and the federal government can take to better support families with young children to avoid food insecurity, including CACFP-specific infrastructure and support.

Watch On Demand

Saturday Summit

Watch sessions from past Child Nutrition Saturday Summits on demand.

 

Saturday Summit

Baking Whole Grain-Rich Foods ($)

October 16, 2021

Whole grain-rich baking can be a signature part of your program that benefits menus, snacks, and acceptance while also helping your bottom-line. Learn how to choose a few signature favorite foods and align them with baking activities to involve children and parents in the science, literacy, art, food safety and math to boost benefits beyond the plate. Take home whole grain-rich baking resources.

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CN Labels & Product Formulation Statements: Hands-On Practice

October 3, 2020

When should you request a CN Label or PFS? Is the crediting documentation for your product acceptable? Get clarity on common issues related to inaccurate or misleading product documentation. USDA will provide guidance on accepting documentation for meal pattern requirements and share sample Product Formulation Statements and CN Labels. Learn how to assess crediting documentation using sample CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements.

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Cultivating Cultural Awareness Through Food ($)

October 3, 2020

Americans of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by many chronic diseases, highlighting the need for more inclusive dietary messaging. Explore cultural models of healthy eating from around the world, with practical tips, insight, and recipes for diverse populations, with a special focus on Gen Z, and a cooking demonstration.

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Garden to Early Childhood Education ($)

October 3, 2020

Learn how to implement a Garden to Early Childhood program model in your curriculum. Hear about suggested best practices, fundamentals of teaching gardening to young children, planning year-round gardening activities, and incorporating a garden-to-table element for a healthy and fresh food program.

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Little Chefs, Big Appetites ($)

October 14, 2023

We know that children are more likely to try a new food when they are involved in creating a meal or snack. But how do you set up a safe environment at your family child care home that allows children to do this? Learn different strategies on how your kitchen helpers can assist you in making food with age-appropriate tasks, whether it is in the kitchen or eating area. Receive easy recipes to hone their fine motor skills while handling food.

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Boot Camp

Take a deep dive into specialized topics. Past boot camps include Special Diets in the CACFP and CACFP Head Start.

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Get Cooking with CACFP Creditable Infant Recipes ($)

December 6, 2023

From purees to bite-sized foods, new recipes to add to your menu are always in demand. Explore infant-friendly recipes that will not only bring something exciting to the plate, but more flavors and vegetables to be explored by those in your care!

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Handling Food Allergens in the CACFP Infant Meal Pattern ($)

December 6, 2023

Food allergies can arise at any age, even in infancy! Learn the nine major food allergens, how to identify foods containing these allergens and questions you may need to ask to serve meals safely for the infant(s) in your care.

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Infant Meal Pattern: What Foods Are Creditable and When? ($)

December 6, 2023

Do you have a mix of infants and toddlers in your care? Following two different meal patterns can be challenging since there are foods that are creditable in one and not the other. Learn how to identify creditable foods that can be served to infants while adhering to the CACFP meal pattern requirements.  

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Introduction to Meal Modifications and Special Diets ($)

August 30, 2022

Learn the differences between various types of special diets and how to prepare these foods to meet CACFP guidelines.

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Mastering Head Start Menus in the CACFP ($)

September 26, 2023

Navigating the complexities of developing a CACFP Head Start menu can often be overwhelming and confusing. What crucial information should
you include on the menu to be in compliance? Do you include ounce equivalency, serving size, or both!? Moreover, are there specific documents you should maintain while planning your menu? Learn how to create menus stress-free while meeting CACFP requirements in Head Start as we guide you through the process. Get confidence and clarity in your menu development endeavors.

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