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Substituting Vegetables for Grains in Tribal Communities & Hawaii

CACFP and SFSP operators that primarily serve American Indian or Alaska Native participants can substitute ½ cup of any creditable vegetables or 1 cup of raw leafy greens for 1 oz eq of grains. Vegetables substituting as grains can be used to meet the whole grain-rich requirement in the CACFP. There is no limit to the number of times per week that vegetables may be substituted for the grains requirement.

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NCA Advocacy Agenda FY25

The National CACFP Association released is 2025 Advocacy Agenda, which will drive our advocacy efforts for the next year. Our agenda centers around five core priorities: fair and equitable funding, reduction of paperwork, expansion of eligibility, State-level action to supplement federal efforts, and support for the child care infrastructure. Read more!

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Milk Substitutes Minor Updates: Units of Measurement and Medical Statements

USDA released a memo regarding minor milk substitute updates resulting from the Meal Pattern final rule in 2024. The memo clarifies that registered dieticians may sign medical statements for fluid milk substitutions. It also updates the units of measurement for Vitamins A and Vitamins D, however this does not change the actual amount of Vitamins A and D that is required.

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Audit Threshold Raised 

The audit threshold for federal awards was raised from $750,000 to $1 million. This means that sponsoring organizations who receive less than $1 million in CACFP reimbursement annually are not required to have an annual audit.

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Scratch-Prepared Baby Food

Discover the ease of preparing scratch-prepared or homemade baby food without culinary expertise or a commercial kitchen. Incorporating scratch-prepared baby foods into your child care program can be manageable and rewarding. The Institute of Child Nutrition’s Mealtime Memo will guide you through the process, emphasizing the benefits and offering practical tips for implementation.

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Celebrate Farm to CACFP

October is National Farm to School Month, but it’s not just for schools. This is a time to celebrate the connections happening all over the country between children and local food in many different settings, including in the CACFP. Our partners at the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) have a Celebration Toolkit & resource to help you participate in farm to ECE activities.

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NCA 2024 Advocacy Round-Up

CACFP advocacy is central to the mission of National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) and NCA is continuously working to support and advocate for you! This year, we’ve ramped up our advocacy work to help raise awareness and expand and improve the CACFP.

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