Whole Grains Month
September is Whole Grains Month. From whole wheat to nutty quinoa, whole grains add flavor, texture, and nutrition to your diet. Whether you’re baking bread, cooking dinner, or prepping snacks, there’s a whole grain option for every dish. Our partners at Oldways Whole Grains Council have materials to help you incorporate whole grains into your menu.
Food Safety Tips
September is National Food Safety Education Month. Not only is it important for you to make sure the food you serve to those in your care are safe, following food safety best practices can help avoid illness for yourself and those around you. Our partners at the International Food Information Council have resources to help you stay on top of food safety best practices.
Lactose Intolerance and Milk Allergies
Do you have children in your program who can’t drink milk? While the reasons a child cannot drink milk may vary, it is important to properly accommodate the child’s diet while participating in the CACFP. The Institute of Child Nutrition’s Mealtime Memo explains the difference between lactose intolerance and a milk allergy and discuss how to accommodate children with these disabilities.
Food Sources of Key Nutrients
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 identified 5 important dietary components that many Americans do not get enough of – calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D. MyPlate released new printable handouts that list foods and beverages that are some of the highest sources of these components.
Back to School Reading Activities
In September, school is back in full-swing nationwide. Our partners at Read Aloud 15 Minutes have activity sheets to help kids have a successful school year. If you have young ones headed off to kindergarten or children with older siblings, share these resources with their parents.
Preventing Illness with Handwashing and Glove Use
Hands can harbor unseen germs that can contaminate food and surfaces and ultimately make people sick. They can also transfer allergens to allergen-free foods. The good news is that proper handwashing and glove use are simple yet effective practices that can help prevent the spread of foodborne illness and allergen contamination. ICN’s mealtime memo provides information on when and how to wash hands to avoid illness.
Farm to ECE Federal Funding GuideÂ
Funding is a necessary resource to build up and carry out farm to early care and education (ECE) activities. There are a variety of funding sources that states, localities, and organizations have leveraged to support the purchase of culturally relevant local foods; gardening and food tastings; and food, nutrition, and agricultural education for ECE sites.
Making Recipes More Culturally Aligned with Communities
Check out ASPHN’s new cultural recipes and resources available on their CACFP Vegetable and Fruit Snack Menu. It has different ethnic foods of different regions.
Gardening with Children
Introducing children to gardening can be an enriching experience that fosters a love for nature and promotes an acceptance of healthy foods. The Institute of Child Nutrition’s Mealtime Memo discusses how to engage children in gardening activities to increase their knowledge and acceptance of healthy, local foods.
Emergency Response
Our partners at Sesame Street in Communities have developed resources to support community providers and caregivers who serve families and help children face challenges, big and small. When a natural disaster strikes or there is an act of violence in the community, caregivers and providers look for the right thing to say or do.