Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs--Related Resources

NOTICE: Coronavirus Guidance for School Districts: Per Governor’s executive order, in-school class cancellations remain in effect until at least April 20, 2020.
Emergency Meal Programs: The State Department of Education is authorizing two distinct categories of COVID-19 Emergency Meal Programs in accordance with federal requirements: 1) COVID-19 Emergency Meal Program Limited to Students Attending School in Specific Districts. School districts on this list are only authorized to serve meals to students attending their schools, and any other child age 18 years or younger residing in the same household; 2) COVID-19 Community-wide Emergency Meal Program for Children. Any child age 18 years or younger can receive meal(s) at any meal service and distribution sites in these towns/cities. They do not have to be a resident or attend school in these towns/cities. Check these links often as more locations continue to be added.

Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs

Related Resources

Operational Memos

CSDE Operational Memo No. 7A, 9C-16 and 9H-16: Requirements for Documenting CACFP Meal Pattern Contribution of Processed Foods
USDA Memo CACFP 09-2018: Grain Requirements in the CACFP: Q&As
USDA Memo CACFP 08-17: Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
USDA Memo CACFP 05-17: Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
USDA Memo CACFP 25-2016: Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Q&As
USDA Memo CACFP 21-2016: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs and the CACFP
USDA Memo CACFP 20-2016: Resources for Making Potable Water Available in Schools and Child Care Facilities
USDA Memo CACFP 18-2016: Water Availability in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
USDA Memo CACFP 17-2016: Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP, Q&As
USDA Memo CACFP 15-2016: Optional Best Practices to Further Improve Nutrition in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Pattern
USDA Memo CACFP 23-2011: Clarification on the Use of Offer vs. Serve and Family Style Meal Service

Resources

Basics at a Glance Portion Control (ICN)
CACFP Best Practices (English) (USDA)
CACFP Best Practices (Spanish) (USDA)
CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays Training Webinar Series: Topics related to the CACFP meal pattern requirements (USDA)
CACFP Training Tools (USDA)
Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
Measuring Success with Standardized Recipes (ICN)
Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Menu Planning Tools for Child Care Providers (USDA)
Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks (USDA)
Updated Child and Adult Care Meal Patterns: Child and Adult Meals (English) (USDA)
Updated Child and Adult Care Meal Patterns: Child and Adult Meals (Spanish) (USDA)
USDA Recipes for Child Care
Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP (USDA)
Vegetable Subgroups in the CACFP (CSDE)
What’s Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl

For more resources, visit the CSDE’s Resources for Child Nutrition Programs webpage.