The National CACFP Association will host Provider Day, a free virtual event for child care providers, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The event takes place during Provider Appreciation Month and during the association’s 40th anniversary year.
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March 12, 2026 The USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides “nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth and development of young children.” Limiting sugar in children’s diets is an accepted recommendation within the scientific community and has appeared in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) since the first edition in…
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Are all flavored popcorns creditable in the CACFP?
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Late registration is now open for the 2026 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC26), the largest annual gathering of professionals dedicated to supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Late registration will be available through March 24, 2026. The conference will take place April 13–17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Do you need different volumes to equal one ounce equivalent based on the type of breakfast cereal?
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The National CACFP Association proudly announces the general session speakers for the 40th annual National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC), bringing national leadership and powerful inspiration to this milestone event. The conference will take place April 13-17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, convening child and adult nutrition professionals from across the country.
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The National CACFP Association will host Provider Day, a free virtual event for child care providers, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The event takes place during Provider Appreciation Month and during the association’s 40th anniversary year.
Read More
Late registration is now open for the 2026 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC26), the largest annual gathering of professionals dedicated to supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Late registration will be available through March 24, 2026. The conference will take place April 13–17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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The National CACFP Association proudly announces the general session speakers for the 40th annual National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC), bringing national leadership and powerful inspiration to this milestone event. The conference will take place April 13-17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, convening child and adult nutrition professionals from across the country.
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The National CACFP Association (NCA) is gearing up to celebrate National CACFP Week, an education and awareness campaign taking place March 15–21, 2026. Observed annually during the third week of March, CACFP Week shines a spotlight on the vital role the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays in combating hunger and supporting quality care across the country.
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Standard registration is now open for the 2026 National Child Nutrition Conference (NCNC26), the largest annual gathering of professionals supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. The conference will be held April 13–17, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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This year, CACFP Week will be celebrated from March 15-21, 2026. We’re highlighting how the CACFP is Stirring Up Goodness across the country, with its positive impact and the people who make it happen, one meal at a time.
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Over 20 million children leave school each day unsure if they will have supper at home. There’s help for that. Afterschool programs can take advantage of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), offered by the USDA,
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On March 20, 2023, the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Bob Casey (PA) This legislation would allow providers who are open for more than 8 hours to be reimbursed for an additional meal.
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This year, National CACFP Week was formally recognized at federal and state levels. 17 Governors proclaimed CACFP week in their state and a resolution was introduced in the congressional House of Representatives and the Senate.
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USDA released a memo that provides additional information regarding the provisions related to the frequency and number of reviews for State Agencies monitoring the CACFP.
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USDA released a proposed rule for updating the Serious Deficiency process in the CACFP and SFSP. The rule proposes updates that would redefines serious deficiency, allows for full correction and removal of serious deficiencies, and extends the process to CACFP unaffiliated centers and SFSP sponsors.
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USDA released guidance updating their Question and Answer document for rural non-congregate summer meals. Read the updated guidance.
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Behind every CACFP meal is a system of oversight designed to maintain public trust and protect the people the program serves. Sponsoring organizations ensure compliance, accountability and continued access to nutritious meals while providing ongoing technical assistance. Here are resources that explain how program integrity is upheld in the CACFP.
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Exciting news! Head Start programs have an opportunity to access one-time supplemental funds to support nutrition services and healthy eating for enrolled children and families. You can use this funding for staff training on resources and educational opportunities to help your program improve outcomes for children and families and align with USDA requirements – like the CACFP!
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The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.
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The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!
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Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.
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NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.
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Are all flavored popcorns creditable in the CACFP?
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Do you need different volumes to equal one ounce equivalent based on the type of breakfast cereal?
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Could you credit one type of beans, peas or lentils as a meat/meat alternate, and credit another as vegetables in the same meal?
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Is homemade cheese creditable in the CACFP?
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What does it mean for a meal or snack to be reimbursable?
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What is meant by the term “creditable meal component” in the CACFP?
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Behind every CACFP meal is a system of oversight designed to maintain public trust and protect the people the program serves. Sponsoring organizations ensure compliance, accountability and continued access to nutritious meals while providing ongoing technical assistance. Here are resources that explain how program integrity is upheld in the CACFP.
Read More
Exciting news! Head Start programs have an opportunity to access one-time supplemental funds to support nutrition services and healthy eating for enrolled children and families. You can use this funding for staff training on resources and educational opportunities to help your program improve outcomes for children and families and align with USDA requirements – like the CACFP!
Read More
The Child and Adult Care Food Program has new creditable foods listed on the USDA Food Buying Guide! If you are new to the FBG, this interactive tool allows for easy display, search, and navigation of food yield information. In addition, users can compare yield information, create a favorite foods list, and access tools, such as the Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) and the Product Formulation Statement Workbook.
Read More
The Child and Adult Care Food Program community asked for more Spanish resources to be available on the National CACFP Sponsors Association website and we heard you! Available now in Spanish are more resources to help sponsors and providers with meal pattern requirements, best practices, and so much more!
Read More
Serving meals to young people year-round benefits children, families, and care providers. To do this, many providers transition from operating the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool (ARAS) during the school year to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) while school is out. For an overview of the main differences between SFSP and CACFP ARAS, see the comparison chart below.
Read More
NCA understands that the end of flexibilities will cause challenges for many CACFP sponsors and providers and we commend your continued commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children or adults in your care. In preparation for the end of the additional reimbursement, we have collected the following resources to help you successfully provide meals even if your available budget decreases.
Read More
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) released their Afterschool Supper report that snapshots participation in October 2024. They found that afterschool supper participation has increased and that CACFP represents 50% of the daily participation.
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The Stanford Center on Early Childhood released a RAPID report that looks at how issues of food insecurity and hunger are affecting adults who provide care for young children. Their key finding: hunger is on the rise among child care providers.
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USDA released their second report on the Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS-II), which follow their first in 2022. SNACS-II uses data from program year 2022-23 to assess how well children’s diets and CACFP meals align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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A recent study by our partners at Child Care Aware® of America reveals that parents across the nation are struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care. The survey shows that parents are piecing together multiple care arrangements and facing challenges balancing work and caregiving.
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The CDC’s 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report gives us a big-picture look at how young children in the U.S. are eating and growing. It focuses on kids from birth to age 5 and shares important facts about breastfeeding, starting solid foods, eating healthy and how states support good nutrition.
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The “Characteristics of Emergency Shelters Participating in the CACFP” study by USDA seeks to better understand the characteristics of CACFP emergency shelters, who they serve, how CACFP fits into their operations, and their challenges with CACFP. The study was conducted in 2023 and collected data from 242 emergency shelters that participate in CACFP in Fiscal Year 2023.
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Lutheran Services Florida sponsors 24 affiliated Head Start and Early Head Start sites, 396 family day care homes and four emergency shelters. Collectively, these programs serve nutritious meals and snacks to over 6,000 children in their care. Read more about the work of this NCA member.
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NWAFCCA sponsors 47 family child care homes that serve nutritious meals and snacks to over 600 children in Northwest Arkansas. Learn more about the great work of this NCA member!
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Provider’s Network, Inc. sponsors 230 homes across Nebraska, ensuring over 1,900 children receive nutritious meals and snacks each day. Learn more about the work this NCA member is doing!
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The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina is a sponsor and operator of CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and the Summer Food Service Program. Hear how they are creating sustainable food access through their programs.
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The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) operates CACFP ARAS and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) through its “Be Mighty” program. The Be Mighty program runs in 11 branches throughout the Little Rock, Arkansas area and serves over 63,000 meals and snacks each year.
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Maria Rincon is the Nutrition Manager for the Economic Opportunities Advancement Corporation (EOAC). Hear how she and her team ensure nutritious meals to over 500 infants and children through their Head Start centers.
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