Boot Camp
Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs ($)
From beef and bison in Montana to apples in Michigan and radishes in Rhode Island, local foods are on the menu for children across the country. Local procurement not only supports increasing economic opportunities for local farmers, but also helps child care institutions incorporate wholesome local foods into program meals and encourages children to make healthy food choices. Learn how local foods can meet meal pattern requirements, understand what is required when purchasing local foods, and get the resources you need for procuring them.
Read MoreMenu Planning: Your Guide to Success ($)
Do you love menu planning or are you unsure where to begin? Learn what to consider when developing a cycle menu or planning meals one week at a time. Receive new, easy recipe ideas that are sure to become favorites at your center or in your family child care home! Identify the differences between a cycle menu and weekly menu. Explore the step-by-step process of menu development, from concept ideation to finalization.
Read MoreBest Practices for Budgeting for Meals & Snacks ($)
Every penny counts at child care centers and family child care homes. Discover the secrets to stretching your CACFP budget without compromising on quality. Gain fun, practical tips on planning, purchasing, and preparing nutritious, high-quality meals that kids will love—all while staying within budget. Learn how to make the most of your resources and create delicious, healthy meals that are both budget-friendly and nutritious.
Read MoreSponsoring Summer Food: Keys to Financial Management ($)
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.
Read MoreRural, Non-Congregate Summer Food Service: Policy Update and Best Practices ($)
When school ends and summer begins, students who live in rural areas often experience food insecurity and sometimes have no access to healthy foods at all. Schools or parks may be up to an hour or more away from where they live and parents or caregivers simply can’t get them to SFSP sites. Learn how real programs adopted this meal service option for rural areas to better serve their community and feed hungry kids. We’ll also cover an overview of the latest policy updates, such as the recently released Interim Rule for Non-Congregate Feeding option.
Read MoreFrom Hot to Cold: Create an Award-Winning SFSP Cold Lunch Menu ($)
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.
Read MoreFeeding Communities: From Planning to Serving Meals in the SFSP ($)
What does it take to feed children over the summer months? A lot of preparation comes before launching SFSP. Uncover the month-by-month tasks that will help you be successful in implementing SFSP from reaching out to previous sites to bidding to paperwork and so much more!
Read MoreTransitioning to Solid Foods: Safe Approaches for Infant Feeding Styles ($)
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.
Read MoreHandling Food Allergens in the CACFP Infant Meal Pattern ($)
Food allergies can arise at any age, even in infancy! Learn the nine major food allergens, how to identify foods containing these allergens and questions you may need to ask to serve meals safely for the infant(s) in your care.
Read MoreGet Cooking with CACFP Creditable Infant Recipes ($)
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!
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