Related Resources

CACFP Meal Pattern Training  |   Crediting Foods  |   Meal Service  |   Menu Planning

CACFP Meal Pattern Training: Bite Size

Bite Size: Meeting the CACFP Meal Patterns for Children is the CSDE's training program for CACFP child care facilities, including child care and Head Start centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, emergency shelters, and family day care homes. Bite Size is a series of recorded training modules that provide information on the meal pattern components and crediting requirements of the CACFP meal patterns for children. Each module is designed to provide the key information you need to know in 45 minutes or less.

  

Bite Size: Meeting the CACFP Meal Patterns for Children
Module	Resources
Module 1: Bite Size Introduction and Meal Pattern Overview Recorded webinar (29 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 1 Resource List for Module 1
Module 2: Meal Pattern Documentation Recorded webinar (35 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 2 Resource List for Module 2
Module 3: Milk Component Recorded webinar (36 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 3 Resource List for Module 3 Knowledge Check for Crediting Milk Knowledge Check for Crediting Milk: Answer Key
Module 4: Meat/Meat Alternates Component Recorded webinar (45 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 4 Resource List for Module 4
Module 5: Fruits Component Recorded webinar (34 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 5 Resource List for Module 5 Knowledge Check for Crediting Canned Fruits Knowledge Check for Crediting Canned Fruits: Answer Key
Module 6: Vegetables Component Recorded webinar (38 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 6 Resource List for Module 6 Knowledge Check for Meal Pattern Requirements for Fruits and Vegetables at Lunch/Supper Knowledge Check for Meal Pattern Requirements for Fruits and Vegetables at Lunch/Supper: Answer Key
Module 7A: Grains Component Crediting Requirements Recorded webinar (44 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 7A Resource List for Module 7A Knowledge Check for Grain-based Desserts Knowledge Check for Grain-based Desserts: Answer Key
Module 7B: Grains Component Whole Grain-rich Requirement Recorded webinar (43 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 7B Resource List for Module 7B
Module 7C: Grains Component Ounce Equivalents Recorded webinar (39 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 7C Resource List for Module 7C
Module 8: Menu Planning Recorded webinar (45 minutes)	Handout of Slides for Module 8 Resource List for Module 8 Knowledge Check for Module 8: Meal or No Meal Knowledge Check for Module 8: Meal or No Meal: Answer Key

Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs

• Crediting Commercial Processed Products (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
• Crediting Foods Prepared on Site (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
• Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
• CSDE Operational Memo No. 7A, 9C-16 and 9H-16: Requirements for Documenting CACFP Meal Pattern Contribution of Processed Foods 

Meal Service in CACFP Child Care Programs

• Encourage Healthy Foods
  • Encourage Healthful Foods (Supplement C to Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the CACFP) (USDA)
  • Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
• Family Style
  • Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs (Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association and The Nemours Foundation)
  • Grab and Go Lesson: Benefits for Serving Meals Family Style in Child Care (ICN)
  • Grab and Go Lesson: CACFP and Family Style Meal Service (ICN)
  • Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals (National CACFP Association)
  • Support Family Style Meals (Supplement E from Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program) (USDA)
  • The Basic Guide to Family Style Dining – Part 1 (ICN)
• Offer versus Serve (OVS)  Applies only to at-risk afterschool centers
  • Offer versus Serve in At-risk Afterschool Centers (CSDE)
  • USDA Memo CACFP 05-17: Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Mealtimes with Toddlers
  • Mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP (USDA): Booklet, family handout, and videos (assisting toddlers in learning how to feed themselves; encouraging toddlers to try new foods; and types of milk to serve children in the CACFP) in English and Spanish
• Water Availability
  • Grab and Go Lesson: Offering and Making Water Available in Child Care (ICN)
  • Offering Water in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
  • Resources for promoting water in child care (see "Water Availability" in the CSDE's Resource List for Child Nutrition Programs)
  • USDA Memo CACFP 18-2016: Water Availability in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
  • USDA Memo CACFP 20-2016: Resources for Making Potable Water Available in Schools and Child Care Facilities

Menu Planning for CACFP Child Care Programs

• Best Practices
  • CACFP Best Practices (English) (USDA)
  • CACFP Best Practices (Spanish): Programa de comidas para niños y adultos: Buenas practicas
  • USDA Memo CACFP 15-2016: Optional Best Practices to Further Improve Nutrition in the Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Pattern 
• CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays Training Webinar Series: Topics related to the CACFP meal pattern requirements (USDA)
• CACFP Training Tools (USDA)
• CARE Connection Online Training: Step-by-Step Menu Planning (ICN) 
• Cycle Menus
  • CACFP Fact Sheet: Cycle Menus (ICN)
  • CARE Connection Online Training: Planning Cycle Menus in Child Care (ICN) 
  • Cycle Menus for Child Care: Preschoolers (ICN)
  • Snack Inspiration (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction) 240 snack ideas that meet the CACFP snack meal pattern
• Menu Planning Basics: A Guide for CACFP Operators in Child Care (ICN): English and Spanish
• Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Recipes for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
• Resource List for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Resource List for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Resources for the CACFP Meal Patterns (CSDE)
• Sample CACFP Menus (CSDE's Meal Patterns for CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
• Serving Snacks in the CACFP (USDA)
• Serving Vegetables in the CACFP (USDA) 
• Special Diets
  • Resource List for Special Diets in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
  • Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Sugar Limits for the CACFP
  • Breakfast Cereals
    • Calculating Sugar Limits for Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP (USDA)
    • Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Added Sugars (USDA)
    • Crediting Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP (CSDE)
  • Yogurt
    • Calculating Sugar Limits for Yogurt in the CACFP (USDA)
    • Choose Yogurts That Are Lower in Added Sugars (USDA)
    • Crediting Yogurt in the CACFP (CSDE)
• Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP (USDA)
• Vegetable Subgroups in the CACFP (CSDE)