February 2026
Stirring Up Goodness: Your Resources for CACFP Week
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern
You stir up goodness every day in the CACFP, now let’s make sure your program shines during CACFP Week! Discover all the free CACFP Week resources available to help you celebrate with confidence. You’ll see exactly how to use these tools to highlight your program, engage the community you serve and share the impact you make.
Whether this is your first CACFP Week or you’ve been celebrating for years, you’ll leave feeling inspired, prepared and proud of the goodness you bring to the table.
Presented By: Lisa Mack, President & CEO, National CACFP Association
Fundraising Strategies to Sustain and Grow Your Food Program
Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Discover practical fundraising strategies tailored for food program sponsors and operators. This session explores direct giving, special events, grants and engagement tools to help programs supplement federal reimbursement funding. Learn how to build a sustainable funding plan that supports your work in the CACFP and SFSP.  Learn how direct giving, grants and events can supplement CACFP reimbursements and support program growth. Explore tools like giving catalogs and storytelling to inspire community support and recurring donations. Discover how to collaborate with local businesses, foundations and sponsors to fund meals and other educational and wellness initiatives.
Earn a certificate for 1.0 CEU, Specialty 5 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Alexia Thex, MEd, Vice President of Policy, Partnerships, and Events, National CACFP Association
Grains Essentials: Creditable Grains, Whole Grain-Rich and Grain Ounce Equivalents
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern
Let's talk about grains! Learn what creditable and non-creditable grains are in the CACFP, how to identify whole grain-rich, and how to calculate grain ounce equivalents in recipes and pre-packaged grain products to meet CACFP grain requirements for the age(s) you are serving.
- Differentiate between creditable and non-creditable grains in the CACFP.
- Learn the six methods for identifying whole grain-rich.
- Calculate grain ounce equivalents to know how much to serve.
Earn a certificate for 2.0 CEU, Specialty 2 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Melinda Nguyen, MS, RDN, LD, Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
March 2026
Discovering Goodness Through Food Adventures
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern
This CACFP Week, let’s Stir Up Goodness by turning mealtime into a moment of discovery. Explore creative ways to bring food to life, whether it’s growing herbs in a garden, whipping up something in the kitchen, making snack time interactive, or hosting taste-testing adventures. These ideas help children and adults build confidence, learn what foods do for their bodies and feel excited to try new flavors. When we stir up goodness at the table, we create meaningful connections that support lifelong healthy habits.
- Learn five practical ways to engage children and adults with healthy foods in any setting.
- Understand how hands-on food activities build confidence and encourage trying new foods.
Earn a certificate for 0.5 CEU, Specialty 1 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Isabel Ramos Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
Behind Certification: Real Stories, Real Advice
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern
Ready to be inspired by stories of growth and success? Join CACFP Professionals as they share their experiences earning their CACFP Management Professional (CMP) and/or CACFP Child Nutrition Professional (CCNP) designation. Hear firsthand how they got started, what kept them motivated and how earning certification helped shape and strengthen their careers.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore certification or already on your path, you’ll leave feeling excited, connected, and prepared to take your next step toward earning your CCNP or CMP.
Learn more about how to join this exceptional group of CACFP professionals!
Presented By:
Blair Munday, Marketing Communications Specialist, National CACFP AssociationÂ
Rhonda Kobylecky, CMP, CCNP, Director of Food Services, Acelero Learning
Turning Global Trends into CACFP-Friendly Meals
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Global flavors are a huge hit on menus, but figuring out how to bring those flavors to CACFP meals can feel tricky.
This session draws on the National Restaurant Association’s trends, focusing on Indian- and Moroccan-inspired spice blends. These flavors are easy to adjust, use spices you may already have on hand, and fit seamlessly within CACFP meal pattern requirements.
Join this live cooking demonstration featuring tandoori-style chicken and a Moroccan-style chicken tagine, paired with brown rice, chickpeas, and dried fruit. You will also learn easy ways to adapt recipes to be more plant-forward, including vegetable-based swaps and protein alternatives, along with simple batch cooking strategies and professional seasoning techniques to elevate everyday menus.
- Build confidence using global flavors and spices in CACFP-compliant meals.
- Apply scalable recipes and seasoning strategies that are flavorful, flexible and kid-approved.
- Incorporate cultural variety into menus while maintaining nutrition standards and operational ease.
Earn a certificate for 1.0 CEU, Specialty 1 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Chef Lindsey Schoenfeld, MS, RDN, Co-Founder, Culinary Nutrition Expert, To Taste Â
Chef Vahista Ussery, MS, MBA, RDN, Founder & Culinary Nutrition Expert, To Taste
Hot Topics in Food & Nutrition: Ultra-Processed Foods
Tuesday, March, 31, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern
Ultra-processed foods are dominating nutrition headlines and raising questions for CACFP operators. Join the International Food Information Council for a practical, research-based session informed by the latest consumer insights. We’ll explore how ultra-processed foods fit into current nutrition discussions, what consumers really understand and how to address these concerns when they come up with families and staff. Leave feeling empowered to address ultra-processed food questions with confidence and credibility.
- Identify common misconceptions and consumer perceptions about ultra-processed foods using research and resources from the International Food Information Council.
- Apply practical communication strategies to confidently address questions about ultra-processed foods and nutrition trends with families and staff in CACFP operations.
Earn a certificate for 0.5 CEU, Specialty 1 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Monica Amburn, MS, RDN, LDN, Senior Director, Food & Nutrition, International Food Information Council
April 2026
2026 National CACFP Association Annual Meeting
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | 10:30 am - 11:00 am Eastern
Free for NCA Members Only
Members of the National CACFP Association are invited to attend our annual meeting to learn about where the organization is today and find out what we have planned for the future. Our mission is to provide you with education resources, training opportunities, and guidance on federal program policies.
This session will be held live in-person at the National Child Nutrition Conference in Las Vegas, NV with a virtual option on Zoom as an added benefit.
May 2026
Root to Fruit: What Grows Where?
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from backyard beds to windowsill jars. Each one offers a unique way to grow delicious, nutritious foods. Discover how different gardening methods support every part of a plant, from root to fruit. Learn how to match plants with the best growing method to make gardening fun, flexible, and full of flavor—no matter how much space you have.
- Learn about different gardening methods.
- Compare the benefits and limitations of various gardening methods for growing different types of plants.
Earn a certificate for 0.5 CEU, Specialty 3 for attending this Zoom webinar.
*FREE with promo code inside the 2026 How Does Your Garden Grow calendar
Presented By: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, Senior Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
Annual CACFP Training FY26
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern
Get a comprehensive review of the essential components of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Explore key topics including meal patterns for all meal types, meal counts, claims submission, review procedures, recordkeeping requirements, monitoring protocols and the reimbursement system. The training also covers Civil Rights compliance, recent updates in CACFP guidance, including learning how to calculate added sugars in yogurt and breakfast cereals.
Annual CACFP Training is based on federal guidelines and will not cover state specific additional training requirements.
*Please check with your Sponsor or State Agency to confirm if this training meets your annual training requirement.
Earn a certificate for 2.0 CEU, Specialty 2 for attending this Zoom webinar.
Presented By: Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, Senior Nutrition Education Specialist, National CACFP Association
July 2026
State Agency Collaboration
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern
Learn about the newest NCA resources, hear about what's happening in CACFP policy, get advocacy updates, and provide feedback about how we can support you (and your operators) in your work with USDA child nutrition programs.
** Invitations for this event will be sent out to State Agency Directors and State Agency NCA Members who work in the CACFP **
Email policy@cacfp.org for more information.