Meal Pattern Minute: Tortilla Chips

In the Child and Adult Care Food Program, CACFP providers are required to serve at least one whole-grain rich grain component when a grain is served each day. This rule is in effect when feeding children ages one and up and adults. There are many products that fit the whole grain-rich component like whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta, but sometimes it’s not as easy to determine if a product is whole grain-rich. For example, we know that tortilla chips are made from corn but are they considered to be whole grain-rich? How would a CACFP provider determine this? 

 Tune in to this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, divulges the answer to this question and directs you to resources to help you further. 

Need more help determining if a product is whole-grain rich? Review the resources below to help you navigate and decide which products you serve are whole grain-rich. 

•  Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Quick Guide
  • This is a valuable resource to bookmark on your computer and print out. The second page has a decision tree to quickly help you figure out if a product is whole grain-rich. 
•  Meal Pattern Minutes Here are a few Meal Pattern Minutes that go over certain methods to conclude if a product is whole grain-rich.  
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Method 2
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Method 3
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Method 4, Part 1
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Method 5
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich Method 6
•  Free Webinars 
  • Adding Whole Grains to Your Menu (Añada granos integrales a su menu)
    • This webinar hosted by USDA Team Nutrition focusses on how to offer whole grains at CACFP sites. Available in both English and Spanish. 
  • Identifying Whole Grain-Rich in the CACFP Using the Ingredient List (Identificar alimentos ricos en grano integral para el CACFP usando la lista de ingredientes)
    • • This webinar hosted by USDA Team Nutrition will focus on how CACFP operators can use a food’s ingreidient list to identify whole grain-rich items for their menus. Available in both English and Spanish. 

 What pairs well with tortilla chips? Try a few of these recipes below as part of a snack, lunch, or supper. 

• Harvest Salsa
• Fruit Salsa with Abby Cadabby 
• Telly's Tasty Plum Salsa
• Afghan Salata

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