What are your favorite reasons why providers should participate in the food program CACFP? Use this infograph and spread the word, the CACFP word.
Listening to Providers on Facebook this week:
Provider #1 Soooo confused about the infant requirements!! They say to start solids at 6 months...the charting you even have to state what meat, veg, fruit you gave... yet other reading states not all 6 months are ready so to slowly introduce :/ does this mean if u don't offer the REQUIRED components you just can't get reimbursed? Provider #2 Would anybody be willing to share their lunch meals/ snacks menu? I'm not on the food program. Provider#3 How do you all like the USDA Food Program?I will be applying I am in VA if that matters. Provider #4 I like the Food Program....well balanced meals and I get my money back. Well worth it to me...just a few minutes a day loging info Provider #5 Wednesday lunch. Cold pasta salad with broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas and black beans and greek dressing. Banana and gluten free trail mix bar on the side.Vegan and gluten free meal. Not on the food program. Provider #6 Well that was a waste of money! I tried some whole grain wheat thins they all took 1 small bite we don't like them. Snack time isn't gonna be easy with these new rules! Provider #7 My group loves wheat thins and triscuits already so I am relieved that it won't be a big change. I just bought my pasta in whole wheat. Hoping it goes well. Provider #8 Go grain free at snack...cheese, veggies, fruit, PB, yogurt. We do while wheat crackers (ritz makes a whole wheat one too) while wheat goldfish once in awhile, wheat thins, whole grain tortillas, PB sandwiches on whole wheat. Provider #9 You only have to serve a whole grain 1x a day.... I Love Wheat thins always have.... my group have had no problem with the whole grain Aldi bread Provider #10 Breakfast is easy...chex rice/ wheat....rice krispies...corn flakes...cheerios...wheat toast , wheat bagels whole grain waffles. ....we only need one whole grain a day...is your the same? Provider #11 Try to get your whole grain item done at breakfast or lunch. I try to do whole grain for breakfast everyday, but sometimes we do cinnamon rolls or waffles ( that aren't whole grain) so I'll give whole grain bread at lunch on those days! Provider #12 Breakfast-milk, pancakes, whipped topping, strawberries. Lunch-cheeseburgers, tator tots, apple slices, milk *Food program Provider #13 We are so excited! We found another edible garden! Our city is slowly planting quite a few. This is mint! We ate a bunch and picked some to bring home. Provider #14 Not on food program. fruit, crackers meat and cheese, macaroni and cheese, chicken with stuffing. All leftovers 😀 carrots added after picture Provider #15 I LOVE the Access Agency in CT- they provide a list to all providers of creditable cereals, crackers, yogurts- they are awesome! Provider #16 On seeing the dessert based grains training: This is such a ridiculous rule change. I am going to quit the food program. Tired of the dumb rules. Provider #17 Geez. No graham crackers or animal crackers? Or nilla wafers?? Looks like saltines, saltines and more saltines... Provider #18 Friday morning snack. Applesauce muffins with cantelope slices and peanut butter to dip.Vegetarian dairy free snack. Not on the food program. Provider #19 my whole group hates milk. I'm pouring it down the drain 2x a day. Except the under 2 they love it Provider #20 t's why I stopped serving milk 2 years ago. I might as well just open the jug and pour it straight down the drain. No Food Program anymore Provider #21 I just joined this group because I found myself in a meal rut. I felt like I was feeding the kids the same 4 things day in and day out. Thanks to this group I have been given SOOO many new ideas! Provider #22 Farm to Early Care Learning Group. Of course we applied & last week we were informed that we were accepted into the group.They will support new and expanding farm to early care and education projects in Iowa by providing funding, training, support, and participation in a peer learning collaborative. A representative from the program will be coming to our site today for an introductory meeting. Excited to learn more about the group and share with everyone! #FarmtoECE Oh there were more...hope your Facebook and Twitter page is going strong! What does this transition period mean exactly, below FRAC gives us a quick summary.
USDA Issues Transition Policy for CACFP The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a transition policy (pdf) for the first year of the updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns requirements and related preschool meal pattern requirements for school meal programs. Designed to support the success of the new, healthier meal patterns, the policy emphasizes the importance of technical assistance and training, while removing the threat of meals being disallowed and programs terminated. As outlined in the memo, the one-year transition period “will allow CACFP institutions and facilities, and school food authorities to adjust to the updated requirements in the first year of implementation without having fiscal actions imposed or being found seriously deficient.” USDA directs state agencies and sponsoring organizations to provide ample training and focused technical assistance to bring program operators into compliance with the new requirements. USDA fully expects that all participating providers and programs will be working to implement the new meal patterns; however, if “operators are making a good faith effort to comply with the updated requirements, then meals cannot be disallowed and CNP [program] operators cannot be found seriously deficient” for not meeting the new requirements. USDA plans to continue to provide state agencies and sponsoring organizations with the training, technical assistance, and resources necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the updated meal pattern requirements. In addition, USDA emphasizes that “to the extent practicable, state agencies should not impose additional paperwork requirements to ensure compliance with the updated CACFP meal patterns.” USDA has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to being responsive to the input of key stakeholders, including CACFP, child care, and advocacy communities regarding implementation. In this memo, USDA strongly encourages continued feedback. USDA Memo: Transition Period for the Updated Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns and the Updated National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Infant and Preschool Meal Patterns (pdf) Contact: Geri Henchy, [email protected], (202)986-2200. |
Chris ClarkChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) enthusiast. Archives
August 2018
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