Join us on Zoom for a deep dive on some of our most popular topics in the Child and Adult Care Food Program! We develop new Boot Camps regularly, so keep checking back for what's coming up next.
Upcoming Boot Camps
Check back for our next Boot Camp! In the meantime, you can watch our previous Boot Camps on demand.
Past Boot Camps
Obtain a broad overview about dietary needs of individuals with swallowing impairment. Receive information on the various types of texture-modified diets to safely feed individuals.
Discover the top nine food allergens and learn to recognize what food products contain these. Get a better understanding of how to read the food label to identify and avoid food allergens.
Learn how to adjust your menu when a participant has a dairy allergy. Receive training on how to identify foods containing dairy, how to modify recipes, and what dairy products can be replaced to meet the fluid milk component.
Learn the differences between various types of special diets and how to prepare these foods to meet CACFP guidelines.
You’ve learned about how to modify meals based on special dietary requests; now see how it’s done! Join us in this half hour cooking session where you will get recipes using these meal modifications.
Discover new ways to incorporate plant-based meals into the CACFP meal pattern. Learn how using plant-based recipes can be beneficial to your budget and your health.
Develop an understanding about the differences between wheat and gluten meal modifications. Learn how to identify food products containing wheat or gluten. Receive recipe ideas that will help you adapt and modify your menus.
Sodium plays an essential role in our body but consuming too much can cause us harm over time. In the CACFP, it is recommended to serve foods low in sodium. Learn about the the impacts of sodium and how to reduce sodium while still retaining flavor in the meals you serve.
Operating CACFP in Head Start is a requirement, but do you know the differences between what’s a CACFP regulation and what is mandated by Head Start? Learn what the Head Start performance standards that govern child nutrition are and how they align with the CACFP to provide good nutrition to children. Gain an understanding of the requirements and hear about the latest updates in Head Start performance standards for child nutrition.
It’s a requirement for operators of CACFP to ensure non-discrimination in the administration of the program and knowing how to establish a written procedure for handling civil rights complaints related to discrimination is important. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Civil Rights Complaint Procedures and learn how to develop a Self-Assessment Checklist, essential components for compliance. Enhance your knowledge, strengthen your agency’s commitment to civil rights in the CACFP, and be inspired by a real-life example showcasing the successful execution of these procedures.
The pandemic taught us to always be one step ahead and prepared for the unknown. Discover ways to integrate emergency preparedness and planning into your facility operation plans while including all departments. Practice writing your own emergency plans to support your program and outline your next steps.
Early Head Start sites must often manage two different meal patterns when complying with CACFP requirements based on the age of the children in their care. Learn the differences between feeding infants and toddlers to ensure optimal nutrition and program compliance. Gain valuable insights on how to create balanced and age-appropriate menus, address specific dietary considerations for infants, and implement practical strategies for promoting healthy eating habits to foster a positive mealtime environment.
Unlock a world of learning opportunities during meal times in Head Start sites through Family Style dining. Equip your staff or team with a deep understanding of the performance regulations surrounding this meal service model, empowering them to create enriching experiences. Discover how to seamlessly incorporate Math, Science, Language, and Literacy into meal times, transforming them into valuable educational moments. Get practical guidance on aligning meal service with academic goals while ensuring compliance with CACFP and Head Start regulations.
Navigating the complexities of developing a CACFP Head Start menu can often be overwhelming and confusing. What crucial information should
you include on the menu to be in compliance? Do you include ounce equivalency, serving size, or both!? Moreover, are there specific documents you should maintain while planning your menu? Learn how to create menus stress-free while meeting CACFP requirements in Head Start as we guide you through the process. Get confidence and clarity in your menu development endeavors.
Head Start centers play a critical role in serving nutritious foods to those they serve. The CACFP guides you on how to provide healthy meals using five food components which make up the meal service requirements: grains, fruits, vegetables, meats/meat alternates and milk. Learn when these components are required and how they fit into the CACFP meal pattern.
Have you ever received a parent’s or doctor’s note describing a meal modification or substitution to serve a child in your care? Maybe you
have felt confused or overwhelmed on how to modify the menu to ensure foods are safe to serve to a participant with a disability. Learn about the requirements for having a medical statement to serve safe and reimbursable foods in the CACFP. Identify creditable and non-creditable milk substitutions in the CACFP and understand the documentation needed. Gain valuable knowledge on tailoring foods for special diets, including vegetarian, pureed, and gluten-free diets. Empower yourself with the information and guidance to confidently address meal modifications and provide suitable options for participants with specific dietary needs in the CACFP at your Head Start site.
Maybe you are new or have been working in the CACFP for quite some time. But are you a CACFP Infant Meal Pattern Superstar? This fun, interactive session will test your knowledge in the CACFP meal patterns specific to infants and fill in the details of what you may not know!
Coordination and muscle control are key skills infants need to be ready to eat solid foods, but what are the signs and resources you need to help you know? Having parents part of the conversation on what their baby is eating at child care can help bridge the gap between healthy eating practices at home and at child care.
If you are caring for infants at your site, you know there are additional requirements when feeding infants which change as they move from 0-5 months of age to 6-12 months. There are also many resources! Learn how to use and reference the USDA’s Feeding Infant Guide to support your care, protocols, and participation in the food program.
Breastmilk and formula are both creditable in the CACFP infant meal pattern. Learn what formulas are reimbursable, how to store formula and breastmilk, and how to develop a breastfeeding friendly environment at your center or family child care home.
From purees to bite-sized foods, new recipes to add to your menu are always in demand. Explore infant-friendly recipes that will not only bring something exciting to the plate, but more flavors and vegetables to be explored by those in your care!
Food allergies can arise at any age, even in infancy! Learn the nine major food allergens, how to identify foods containing these allergens and questions you may need to ask to serve meals safely for the infant(s) in your care.
Do you have a mix of infants and toddlers in your care? Following two different meal patterns can be challenging since there are foods that are creditable in one and not the other. Learn how to identify creditable foods that can be served to infants while adhering to the CACFP meal pattern requirements.  
Received a special food request and not quite sure what to do? Learn about medical statements and what you need to know before serving foods that may or may not be creditable in the CACFP.
The internet is abuzz with various approaches to introducing solid foods to infants, but which methods are the safest? Understand the distinctions between feeding styles, such as conventional or baby led weaning. Gain insights into how to ensure the safety of the foods you offer, implement responsive feeding practices, and prevent choking hazards.
Don’t know what SFSP even means? Are you brand new to child nutrition food programs? Do you run one program and are thinking about sponsoring another? Learn how this food program provides healthy food access for children in child care, afterschool, out-of-school time and during summer.
You’re already working the food program and are ready to expand to summer feeding. Hear about best practices to ensure proper internal controls for successful financial management and mitigate high risk program areas. Identify key SFSP Financial Management Requirements. Discover strategies for existing programs to include SFSP. Acquire best practices to prevent common internal control weaknesses.
When school ends and summer begins, students who live in rural areas often experience food insecurity and sometimes have no access to healthy foods at all. Schools or parks may be up to an hour or more away from where they live and parents or caregivers simply can’t get them to SFSP sites. Learn how real programs adopted this meal service option for rural areas to better serve their community and feed hungry kids. We’ll also cover an overview of the latest policy updates, such as the recently released Interim Rule for Non-Congregate Feeding option.
Cold meals can be high-quality, healthy and reach children in a variety of non-traditional settings. Learn how to work with key community partners to bring cold meals to the Summer Food Service Program. Presented by a 2017 Silver and 2018 Gold USDA Turnip the Beet award winner.
What does it take to feed children over the summer months? A lot of preparation comes before launching SFSP. Uncover the month-by-month tasks that will help you be successful in implementing SFSP from reaching out to previous sites to bidding to paperwork and so much more!