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Meal Pattern Basics ($)

Centers, family child care homes, and after-school 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 meal 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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Documenting Processed Products

Back to Blog Back to Blog Documenting Processed Products November 7, 2024 The USDA released a memorandum to provide additional information and clarification on the state agency monitoring process regarding the: 1) Child nutrition (CN) label, 2) Watermarked CN label, and 3) manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS). This memorandum also reflects updates to the CN…

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Reducing Salt Intake

Early childhood is a critical time for developing taste preferences. The food eaten by children during this time can influence their eating habits for many years. One challenge is the allure of salty flavors. However, too much sodium or salt intake can pose health risks. This Mealtime Memo from our partners at the Institute of Child Nutrition will demonstrate how to identify sodium in products and provide healthy food alternatives.

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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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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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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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