2026 NCNC
Feeding Curiosity: Engaging Families in Nutrition
What if the key to lifelong healthy habits begins at the family table? Explore how early food experiences influence child development, followed by lessons from a nationwide pilot on engaging families in nutrition education. Learn five strategies to boost caregiver engagement, from shared activities and resources to consistent communication, safe feedback spaces and building peer support networks.
Read MoreFeeding Connection: Centering Student Voice in Meal Programs
How can programs truly meet students’ needs? FoodCorps’ approach reflects those needs by building trusting relationships and creating meals that feel like home. Learn how practical strategies like taste tests, advisory groups and real-time feedback boost engagement. Centering student voice strengthens trust, increases participation and supports lasting success in school nutrition programs.
Read MoreExpanding CACFP Through Partnership and Communication
How can State agencies move the needle on CACFP participation? Hear proven strategies that Maryland has implemented to improve communication with CACFP agencies and expand participation. Examine sustainable systems that support long-term growth and promote nutrition equity, plus practical ways to relay updates, training and guidance via multi-channel methods.
Read MoreEarly Childhood Nutrition Assessment: I Am a Seed
Traditional early childhood assessments often depend on parent and teacher observations. This validated tool assesses nutrition and food systems knowledge, attitudes around food neophobia and behaviors directly from student responses. Developed alongside the garden-based curriculum I Am a Seed, which includes social-emotional regulation, it adapts easily to diverse cultures and nutrition goals.
Read MoreConnected and In Community: Digital Well-Being with Sesame Street
Just like family dinners or a trip to the supermarket; digital media is a part of our everyday lives, and we find ourselves asking more questions about how to use this technology. There are always new opportunities to use digital media in healthy, balanced ways as you connect, play, learn and relax. Join your friends at Sesame Street to explore ways to help children build healthy media habits.
Read MoreBuilding Awareness & Connections: A Farm to ECE Campaign for Ohio
Results from Ohio Early Care and Education Provider and Producer Assessments helped shape a statewide Farm to ECE Awareness Campaign. The campaign connects child care providers with local producers to increase access to local foods meeting CACFP meal requirements. Learn key findings, campaign strategies, and review sample resources like menus and outreach tools.Â
Read MoreUltra-Processed Foods: Nutrition Quality in Policy and Practice
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are common in nutrition programs but are increasingly linked to negative health outcomes. Without a universal definition, classifying UPFs remains challenging. Review leading classification systems, explore recent evidence, understand the complexities around developing UPF policies and dietary guidance and learn how to assess and improve food quality in alignment with current evidence.Â
Read MoreCompliance and Special Diets in the CACFP
What is required for a child with a food allergy or special diet need? Come and learn how to best support the needs of the child while balancing program regulations. Review real-world examples with solutions and lists of creditable foods, tools and resources while maintaining program compliance.
Read MoreChampioning Change with CACFP Advocacy
Do you want to advocate for your program or those you serve, but don’t know where to begin? Being an “advocate” can sound daunting or difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Learn how to get started and receive resources to help you along the way. Plus, hear first-hand from your peers about their experience advocating for the CACFP.
Read MoreSponsor Audits: Avoid Pitfalls, Stay Prepared and Succeed
Successfully prepare for the State audit of your sponsoring organization. What are the most common findings during an audit? How can you prepare for them to ensure a successful review? Learn how to identify potentially unexpected problems, streamline documentation and ensure program integrity with confidence so you can make it through a State agency review like a pro.
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