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NCA Comments – Proposed Rule Revisions to Meal Patterns

In February 2023, USDA released the proposed rule Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. After meeting with NCA members and CACFP stakeholders, NCA provided a comment to USDA stating our position on the proposed changes, and additional comment on cost and administrative burden efforts, and created model comments for our members to personalize.

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Standardized Recipes

How often do you hear, “This looks different than last time!” or “This doesn’t taste the same as it usually does!”? Using standardized recipes can help to ensure your recipe turns out the same way each time you make it. It is a good practice to use a standardized recipe when a menu item has two or more components. That’s why our partners at the Institute for Child Nutrition made these resources on creating a standardized recipe for simple menu items.

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Host Your Elected Official in August

During the entire month of August, every congressional representative will be back in their home state. Don’t miss this opportunity to advocate for CACFP! Showcasing your program is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for the CACFP. Invite your elected officials to visit your site in August.

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Free Webinar Advocating for CACFP: How to Host Elected Officials

During the entire month of August, every congressional representative will be back in their home state. Don’t miss this opportunity to advocate for CACFP! Showcasing your program is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for the CACFP. Invite your elected officials to visit your site to interact with and serve meal/snack to the children or adults in your care.

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Nutrition Facts Labels and the CACFP

The Nutrition Facts label on food packages provides helpful information. It is a great tool to use when planning menus to determine creditable foods. Our partners at the Institute of Child nutrition created a resource focused on how to use the Nutrition Facts label to credit certain foods in the CACFP.

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Health Equity: Build on Families’ Strengths

There are many ways grown-ups can help children take care of their physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Our partners at Sesame Street in Communities have created new resources to help all families build healthy habits as a foundation for lifelong well-being.

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Provider Appreciation Day

This year, provider appreciation day is May 12 and is all about saying “thank you“ to America’s child care providers. A simple gesture can mean the world to the workforce that keeps the rest of the workforce going. Our partners at Child Care Aware of America make it easy to say #ThankYouChildCare with their toolkit of resources in English and Spanish, and a few easy activities that make a provider feel appreciated.

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Fruit, Vegetable, and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Children

In February 2023, the CDC released state-level data on fruit, vegetable, and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake among young children. The data was collected through a 2021 national survey in which respondents were asked three questions about children aged 1–5 years regarding the frequency of consuming fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages during the preceding week. The report found that many young children between ages 1 and 5 years old are not eating fruits and vegetables each day and are regularly drinking SSBs.

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