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CACFP Important Factor for Obesity Prevention

December 6, 2023

The University of Colorado College of Nursing published their 2022 Annual Report on Achieving a State of Healthy Weight. The report determines how state regulations support obesity prevention in licensed ECE programs. It also highlights state successes and identifies opportunities for ECE regulations to improve support of obesity prevention in young children.

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State Agency Perspectives on Administering the CACFP

December 4, 2023

A study was published in October 2023 by the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health to explore federal and state policies and practices that support or discourage CACFP participation among child care centers. The report approaches: program outreach and administration, barriers that make CACFP participation challenging, and recommendations to expand access to CACFP for eligible providers.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Tortilla Chips

December 1, 2023

Are tortilla chips always whole grain-rich?

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Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products

November 29, 2023

USDA released guidance that extends the option of serving commercially prepared tofu and soy yogurt as meat alternates to infants 6-11 months participating in the CACFP. The memo also extends the ability to serve tofu and soy yogurt as meat alternates in SFSP.

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Untapped Potential: License-Exempt Home-Based Child care Providers

November 29, 2023

A study was published in October 2023 by the Urban Institute to identify major gaps in the CACFP’s coverage and ability to reach children. The study specifically focused on CACFP eligibility for small home-based child care providers who are legally exempt from their state’s child care licensing requirements.

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SFSP Boot Camp is Here!

November 27, 2023

Join us for a day of learning on vital topics tailored to the unique needs of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

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SFSP Boot Camp is Here!

November 27, 2023

Join us for a day of learning on vital topics tailored to the unique needs of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

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Free Webinar Take Action: The Importance of Advocacy in the CACFP

November 16, 2023

Join us to learn how to advocate for the CACFP and explore tools and resources to effectively communicate the importance of your work. Gain insights on raising awareness and highlighting the invaluable role of the CACFP within communities.

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Scholarships Available for #NCNC24!

November 13, 2023

We are thrilled to offer 7 scholarships for the 2024 National Child Nutrition Conference in-person in Orlando, Florida. We will also be awarding 8 additional scholarships to attend the conference virtually.

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#NCNC24 Registration Now Open!

November 1, 2023

Registration is now open for the 2024 National Child Nutrition Conference. This year we’re hosting our premier event in Orlando, Florida, and we can’t wait to see you there.

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November Virtual Events

October 30, 2023

Check out these virtual events coming up at NCA!

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Webinar: Phrases that Help and Hinder

October 19, 2023

On November 1st, join NCA’s Nutrition Education Specialist, Isabel Ramos-Lebron as she joins experts from the National Pork Board to present this webinar that will help create healthy habits.

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Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products

November 29, 2023

USDA released guidance that extends the option of serving commercially prepared tofu and soy yogurt as meat alternates to infants 6-11 months participating in the CACFP. The memo also extends the ability to serve tofu and soy yogurt as meat alternates in SFSP.

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Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game, and Eggs

November 20, 2023

This memo clarifies the regulatory requirements related to food safety and answers specific questions related to local meat, poultry, seafood, game, and eggs.

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Senate Partner Bill: Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act

November 14, 2023

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Casey to permanently:
• Increase reimbursement rates by 10 cent for each meal and snack
• Eliminate the tiering of family day care homes
• Allow family day care home providers to claim their own children’s meals for reimbursement
• Shift the calculation of family child care homes’ reimbursement from “food at home” to “food away from home” to align with centers

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Off-Site Monitoring Waiver: Oregon Case Study

November 9, 2023

USDA has the authority to waive on-site monitoring requirements for the CACFP. State Agencies can submit a 12(l) waiver application to USDA in order to allow for off-site monitoring flexibilities in their state. Oregon was the first state to submit an application and the first state to be approved! Read about their approved waiver.

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The CACFP Strengthens the Child Care Infrastructure

November 8, 2023

The CACFP serves millions of children and adults in care and supports thousands of child and adult care providers nationwide. The support from the CACFP helps struggling providers to keep costs low and increase the competitiveness of their small businesses.

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Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

November 1, 2023

This memorandum provides guidance to Indigenous communities on incorporating traditional Indigenous foods that meet CNP meal pattern requirements and includes an updated and expanded list of traditional Indigenous foods that credit the same as similar foods currently listed in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG).

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

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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We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

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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Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

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 Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

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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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.

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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.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Plant-Based Meat Alternates

August 18, 2023

How do you know what plant-based foods can be credited as a meat/meat alternate?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Minimum Serving of Dried Fruits

August 11, 2023

If dried fruits credit for twice the volume of the fruit component, does that mean that the minimum serving is 1 tablespoon instead of 2 tablespoons?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Veggie Straws

August 5, 2023

Veggie straws are made using vegetables, but do they credit in the CACFP?

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Meal Pattern Minute: One Year of Tips

July 28, 2023

Let’s reflect on 52 episodes of our Meal Pattern Minutes.

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Meal Pattern Minute: Sodium Limits

July 22, 2023

There are sugar limits for breakfast cereals and yogurt. Do any foods have sodium limits?

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Meal Pattern Minute: Cereals and Grain-Based Desserts

July 15, 2023

Can breakfast cereals ever be considered a grain-based dessert?

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More Native Foods Added to the Food Buying Guide

September 6, 2023

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

We’re Expanding Our Spanish-Language Resources!

August 2, 2023

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

Program Comparison Chart: CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP

June 21, 2023

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 Support as Covid-19 Flexibilities Come to an End

June 16, 2023

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

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 Important Factor for Obesity Prevention

December 6, 2023

The University of Colorado College of Nursing published their 2022 Annual Report on Achieving a State of Healthy Weight. The report determines how state regulations support obesity prevention in licensed ECE programs. It also highlights state successes and identifies opportunities for ECE regulations to improve support of obesity prevention in young children.

Read More

State Agency Perspectives on Administering the CACFP

December 4, 2023

A study was published in October 2023 by the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health to explore federal and state policies and practices that support or discourage CACFP participation among child care centers. The report approaches: program outreach and administration, barriers that make CACFP participation challenging, and recommendations to expand access to CACFP for eligible providers.

Read More

Untapped Potential: License-Exempt Home-Based Child care Providers

November 29, 2023

A study was published in October 2023 by the Urban Institute to identify major gaps in the CACFP’s coverage and ability to reach children. The study specifically focused on CACFP eligibility for small home-based child care providers who are legally exempt from their state’s child care licensing requirements.

Read More

Afterschool Supper Participation Decreased from 2021 to 2022

November 27, 2023

A report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) found that while participation in afterschool supper remained steady throughout the pandemic, there has been a 23% decrease in participation between October 2021 and October 2022.

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CACFP Underutilized and Unequally Accessed

November 15, 2023

A study was published in September of 2023 to assess the extent and reasons for the operation of the CACFP’s among licensed child care centers in order to identify opportunities for expanding CACFP nutrition support. The study found that the CACFP is underutilized and that there is unequal access in certain states and regions.

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CACFP Associated with Food Security for Young Children

September 25, 2023

A study was published in June of 2023 that found that children with child care-provided meals had lower odds of food insecurity, having poor health, or being admitted to the hospital compared to children with parent-provided meals.

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Hmong Reflections on the CACFP 

November 20, 2023

This article by the Hmong American Farmers Association presents highlights of Hmong in-home early care providers’ feedback on the benefits of enrollment, recommendations on how CACFP could work best for them and suggestions for improvement to the program.

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Congressman Landsman Visits Ohio Child Care

October 9, 2023

Last week Congressman Greg Landsman visited Loving Kindness Education and Learning Center in his home district to announce the introduction of the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act. The act would support child care providers who administer the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) across the nation by increasing their reimbursements for serving nutritious meals to those in their care.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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