Skip to content

Blog

Meal Pattern Minute: Beef Jerky Sticks

March 24, 2023

Beef jerky sticks can be a quick and tasty snack, but are they creditable in the CACFP?

Read More

Comment Requested – Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 DGAs

March 23, 2023

Based on feedback from our members, NCA has developed model comments to help you provide feedback to USDA about the Proposed Rule regarding changes to meal patterns to be consistent with the 2020 DGAs.

Read More

New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

Read More

Spring Has Sprung!

March 20, 2023

Feeling the warmer breeze and seeing flowers sprouting everywhere? It must be that Spring has sprung in your area!

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Medical Statements with Soy Milk

March 17, 2023

When do you need a medical statement in order to serve soy milk to your #CACFP participants?

Read More

New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

Read More

Free Webinar Child Nutrition Programs Proposed Rule: Revisions to the CACFP and SFSP Meal Patterns

February 15, 2023

The USDA released a document with proposed revisions to Child Nutrition Programs’ meal patterns in order to be consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We’re partnering with USDA and other organizations to host a webinar on how these proposed changes would impact the CACFP and SFSP. After the webinar, we’ll be hosting our own Q&A session for our NCA members and their feedback.

Read More

Scholarship Recipients Announced for #NCNC23

February 14, 2023

Fifteen scholarships have been awarded from the National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) for the 2023 National Child Nutrition Conference. Through the scholarship program, NCA is honored to recognize the professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that our nation’s most vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food.

Read More

National CACFP Week is Coming Up – Are You Ready?

January 31, 2023

National CACFP Week is March 12-18,2023. What can you do to celebrate?

Read More

CACFP Required Annual Training FY2023

January 31, 2023

The CACFP plays a vital role in nutrition equity for children and adults in centers and day care homes by providing access to healthful meals. Sponsors and providers are critical for the continued success of this program. The required annual training in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a critical component in…

Read More

Free Webinar: New Year, New Recipes!

January 9, 2023

We are starting 2023 off right with some brand new, CACFP-approved recipes. Join us on Zoom for this fun, free webinar!

Read More
A wooden counter top holds vegetables and an open notebook. There is a woman's hand holding a pencil over the notebook.

Webinar: How to Make Your Recipe CACFP Creditable

November 14, 2022

We want you to be empowered to turn any healthy recipe into a creditable one. Join us on Thursday, December 15, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern for How to Credit Recipes in the CACFP.

Read More
Diverse group of children sitting in the grass eating healthy snacks and drinking water.

Final Rule: Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

September 19, 2022

Food and Nutrition Service amended the regulations of the Summer Food Service Program in September 2022 to strengthen program integrity and streamline program administration. The final rule codifies changes that will simplify the application process, enhance monitoring requirements, clarify existing requirements, and provide more discretion at the state agency level to manage program operations.

Read More

Comment Request – Special Milk Program for Children 

August 12, 2022

Comments are requested regarding the collection of information for the Special Milk Program for Children. Comments regarding this information collection received by August 24, 2022, will be considered.

Read More

CACFP Convening: White Paper and NCA Letter Submitted to White House

August 2, 2022

NCA has compiled feedback and policy priorities into a paper for the White House Conference, along with a letter addressing the Biden-Harris Administration.

Read More

CACFP Reimbursement and Cash in Lieu Rates Released 22-23

July 26, 2022

The USDA has released the Reimbursement and Cash in Lieu Rates for 22-23. Rates are effective beginning July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

Read More

Take Action Today- Support the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act

July 21, 2022

Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act as the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Read More

Questions and Answers Regarding the 2022 Infant Formula Shortage

June 24, 2022

The ongoing infant formula shortage due to supply chain issues, which worsened due to a major formula recall in February 2022, has left many CACFP operators concerned about access to formula and their options for safely feeding infants in their care. Food and Nutrition Service has developed the following Questions and Answers to support CACFP operators and their families during the infant formula shortage.

Read More

New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

Read More

New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

Read More

CACFP Resource: Serving Snacks

October 28, 2022

Snacks can be a great way to give CACFP participants the nutrients and energy they need between meals. Use this resource to learn more.

Read More

Member Resources: Meal Component Activity Pages

September 9, 2022

NCA Members can download these meal component activity pages. Each activity page includes crafts, games, recipes and more! Theres a page for each meal component in the CACFP.

Read More

Resources for a Healthy, Creditable Breakfast

August 30, 2022

Managing sugar at breakfast time for children is a tall order. If you find that you need a helping hand putting together a low-sugar, creditable breakfast, check out these resources.

Read More
Fruits and vegetables spread over a counter top around a blank menu template. The text Five Free CACFP Menu Templates is written over the top.

Five Free CACFP Menu Templates for Easy Meal Planning

August 25, 2022

These five CACFP weekly menu templates were designed by us, the National CACFP Sponsors Association, so you can trust that they’re not only tried and true, but also up to speed on the current demands of the CACFP. Use these free fillable menus, and your weekly meal planning will become a breeze. Each one is organized by age, meal, and meal component.

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Beef Jerky Sticks

March 24, 2023

Beef jerky sticks can be a quick and tasty snack, but are they creditable in the CACFP?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Medical Statements with Soy Milk

March 17, 2023

When do you need a medical statement in order to serve soy milk to your #CACFP participants?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Crediting Pickles

March 9, 2023

Cucumbers credit as a vegetable in the CACFP, so what about pickles?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Potato Chips

March 3, 2023

We know that potatoes credit as a vegetable in the CACFP, but what about potato chips?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Flavored Milk

February 24, 2023

Flavored milk – children and adults alike love it, but is it #CACFPCreditable?

Read More

Meal Pattern Minute: Serving Juice More Than Once Per Day

February 17, 2023

100% full-strength juice is reimbursable for the fruit component in the CACFP. But how many times per day are you allowed to serve it?

Read More

New Feature Available on the Exhibit A Grains Tool

March 22, 2023

The Exhibit A Grains Tool has a new feature that allows users to select their Program and Meal to filter the search results to only creditable grain items for their specific Program.

Read More

New Factsheet for ECE Providers from the CDC

March 16, 2023

CDC created three new fact sheets for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers about Early Child Nutrition and Feeding. The fact sheets offer tips and best practices for supporting breastfeeding families, information about safe storage and handling of breastmilk, and strategies for introducing solid foods.

Read More

CACFP Resource: Serving Snacks

October 28, 2022

Snacks can be a great way to give CACFP participants the nutrients and energy they need between meals. Use this resource to learn more.

Read More

Member Resources: Meal Component Activity Pages

September 9, 2022

NCA Members can download these meal component activity pages. Each activity page includes crafts, games, recipes and more! Theres a page for each meal component in the CACFP.

Read More

Resources for a Healthy, Creditable Breakfast

August 30, 2022

Managing sugar at breakfast time for children is a tall order. If you find that you need a helping hand putting together a low-sugar, creditable breakfast, check out these resources.

Read More
Fruits and vegetables spread over a counter top around a blank menu template. The text Five Free CACFP Menu Templates is written over the top.

Five Free CACFP Menu Templates for Easy Meal Planning

August 25, 2022

These five CACFP weekly menu templates were designed by us, the National CACFP Sponsors Association, so you can trust that they’re not only tried and true, but also up to speed on the current demands of the CACFP. Use these free fillable menus, and your weekly meal planning will become a breeze. Each one is organized by age, meal, and meal component.

Read More
Female child care provider leaning over a table helping children with craft.

Experiences of Early Child Care and Education Operators During the Pandemic

February 1, 2023

In December 2022, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team released a report describing the child nutrition and care provision experiences among early care and education (ECE) stakeholders, sponsors, and center directors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in four states and a variety of ECE stakeholders participated. The study identifies six common experiences among ECE stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read More
Female Family Child Care Home provider sits in a circle with young children playing with toy building blocks

Facilitators and Barriers to FCCH Enrollment in CACFP

January 30, 2023

In December 2022, the Indiana University CACFP Project Team released a report describing the facilitators and barriers to CACFP participation by family child care homes (FCCHs). The report concludes with suggestions for potential strategies to promote participation in the CACFP by FCCHs. The study was conducted in two states, Arizona and New York, that have varying levels of CACFP participation. The study outlines the facilitators and barriers to FCCHs’ enrollment in CACFP and recommends a few strategies to increase participation.

Read More
Image grid of 4 photos. One with a young woman handing orange slices to a little girl. One of a mother feeding her toddler a banana, One of a smiling child holding a platter of fruits, and one of a table set for a child's meal.

Study of Nutrition and Activity in CACFP

December 5, 2022

In October 2021 the USDA released a report on the Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings (SNACS), which is the first nationally representative, comprehensive assessment of the CACFP.

Read More
Front page of study, named Providing Meals in Early Childhood Settings with image of a young boy eating a snack and smiling

Barriers to CACFP Participation

December 2, 2022

December 2, 2022 Providing Meals in Early Childhood Settings report Hunger Free Vermont conducted a statewide survey of early childhood programs in late 2021, seeking to understand what barriers early childhood providers face when it comes to providing food to program participants. The Providing Meals in Early Childhood Settings report identified the most common barriers…

Read More

Problems and Solutions in Food Advertising to Children

September 29, 2022

The 2022 FACTS Report suggests problems in food advertising to children, and the newly issued National Strategy on Hunger may offer a solution.

Read More

Survey Review: 2021 National Farm to Early Care and Education Survey

September 22, 2022

This is a broad overview of the newly published findings of the 2021 study conducted by the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems. Read the complete report for an in-depth look at their findings.

Read More
CACFP participant child hands making heart symbol

CACFP Inspire: Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona

November 21, 2022

Eleven years ago, Lidia Madrid opened Kidz Korner in Payson, Arizona to see her children and other local children grow up and learn safely in a town where there were limited child care options.

Read More
Headshot of Shedron Davis over a beige background

CACFP Inspire: Shedron Davis of Alpha & Omega Nutrition Program, Inc in Memphis

October 25, 2022

Shedron Davis is the Founder and Executive Director of Alpha & Omega, and her mission is to empower children to succeed through a healthy lifestyle.

Read More

CACFP Inspire: Jessica Coleman of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens in Virginia

October 20, 2022

Jessica Coleman is the children’s day care supervisor and CACFP manager at Generations, an intergenerational daycare in Virginia.

Read More

CACFP Inspire: Andrea Rivera of Christian Military Academy, Puerto Rico

October 13, 2022

With experience and credentials like hers, it’s no surprise that the Food and Nutrition Services office selected Andrea Rivera to create a new community food service program at the start of the pandemic.

Read More
An adult man, Kyle Jackson, wearing a blue t-shirt stands in front of evergreen trees.

CACFP Inspire: Kyle Jackson of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County

October 5, 2022

Kyle Jackson is an area director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County, and a true leader in executing at-risk after school meal operation

Read More

CACFP Inspire: PATCH

September 28, 2022

People Attentive to Children Hawaii, PATCH, has a straightforward mission: to support and improve the quality and availability of care for the young people of Hawaii. In fact, this mission is stated so plainly that it could be misunderstood as easy when it is simply direct.

Read More