The National CACFP Sponsors Association makes it a priority to help keep our providers up-to-date with the latest policy, guidelines and best practices. We're happy to offer many of our virtual events on demand, so you can follow a training program that works around your schedule. CEUs marked with a $ are paid resources and pricing can be found on the respective item's expanded information.
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CACFP University
Learn about meal pattern guidelines and practices.
Policy is a major determinant of health among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Explore the complex factors that have contributed to high rates of obesity and diabetes among Indigenous Peoples in the United States, including, but not limited to, the disruption of Indigenous knowledge systems, commodity food offerings, displacement, and federal funding shortfalls. Identify best practices for engaging with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Villages and learn how state and federal food commodity programs can advance food sovereignty efforts.
Watch On DemandShowcasing your program is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for the CACFP. Invite your elected official to join you at your site to interact with and serve meals/snacks to the children or adults in your care. Learn how to host your elected official at your site, from the initial invite to the follow up after a successful site visit.
Watch On DemandMay is Older Americans Month and we’re celebrating the invaluable contributions of the older adult members within our community. Join us to discover how to adapt CACFP recipes to align with the changing needs and tastes of older adults. Gain insights into modifying recipes to cater to their distinct taste profiles and nutritional needs, ensuring meals that are both satisfying and health-supportive for our revered community members.
Watch On DemandLooking for new ideas for your CACFP lunch menu? Why not try brunch for lunch?! Hear about endless possibilities when combining breakfast food favorites and lunch classics. Learn how to navigate brunch related food components in the CACFP and get recipe ideas to use in your child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers.
Watch On DemandSunny days with a refreshing breeze are a perfect time to take dining outdoors. Learn from our about how to create and safely serve CACFP meals picnic style, with or without a classic checkered blanket. Get new ideas on how to use portable foods for picnicking that meet the CACFP meal pattern.
Watch On DemandPower of the Food Program
Learn how the CACFP contributes to nutrition security and why you should participate. Get practical training on serving healthy meals. Discover ideas and resources you can use in your program immediately.
Centers, family child care homes, and afterschool care play a critical role in serving nutritious foods to those they serve. The CACFP guides you on how to provide healthy meals using five food components which make up the meal service requirements: grains, fruits, vegetables, meats/meat alternates and milk. Learn when these are required and how they fit into the CACFP meal pattern.
Watch On DemandAre you convinced and ready to join the CACFP, but not sure where to get started? Learn how to successfully launch the program at your center, home or afterschool site. Find out how to work with a sponsor who will provide you training, technical assistance, monitoring, and administrative support or how to work with a state agency directly. Start getting financial reimbursement for meals you are already serving.
Watch On DemandServing those in our care safely is our top priority! Learn about the nine major food allergens and how to recognize what food products contain these. Get a better understanding of how to read the food label to identify and avoid food allergens.
Watch On DemandReimbursement rates for CACFP participants are dependent upon a variety of factors, such as whether you operate a family home child care, center, or afterschool program. Learn how to determine what the amount of reimbursement would be based on your enrollment, meal service, and rates of reimbursement. Discover how to qualify and how to receive financial reimbursement once you join the CACFP.
Watch On DemandBeing healthy is not only based on the foods we serve but also how we stay moving throughout the day. Learn why keeping children active should be an important part in everyday activities and how essential physical activity is to child development. Get ideas on how to incorporate new, fun, physical activity games into your program.
Watch On Demand2023 National Child Nutrition Conference
Originally held April 10-14, 2023 - watch the virtual sessions from the 2023 National Child Nutrition Conference in San Diego.
Ready to advocate for a reimbursement of a third meal but unsure of where to start? Explore the importance of advocating at the state and local levels in early childhood nutrition and how to secure legislation and funding.
Watch On DemandOur relationship with food develops at an early age. Labeling certain foods as “bad” or calling someone a “good eater” or “picky eater” can create unintended harmful effects that can follow kids through life. Learn how to help kids cultivate a good relationship with food from the start.
Watch On DemandYou’re new-ish to the CACFP, working in it daily, and you’ve got the big picture. It’s been one or two years since you’ve started working in CACFP, so concepts aren’t new or foreign to you, but you’d love to really explore the important areas with your peers. Attend this structured learning institute to review the meal patterns, discuss basic program administration and get a requirements refresher while also sharing in some table talk.
Watch On DemandReady to grow? Explore the many benefits of gardening with the children in your care. Learn about indoor and outdoor gardening activities to try in your classrooms. A love of gardening and dirt are not required.
Watch On DemandEstablishing healthy habits and routines during early childhood can set the stage for lifelong wellbeing. The 5-2-1-0 framework encourages children to develop positive habits through nutrition and physical activity. Learn how 5-2-1-0 reinforces CACFP meal patterns and best practices to help kids thrive.
Watch On DemandLearn creative ways to maximize your labor and food resources to ensure great participation in your Summer Food Program. Get great ideas on how to package individual items, an entire meal or create a weekly meal box. Take home creative menu ideas requiring minimal labor and suggestions to resolve supply chain issues.
Watch On DemandDon’t know what SFSP even means? Are you brand new to child nutrition food programs? Do you run one program and are thinking about sponsoring another? Learn how this food program provides healthy food access for children in child care, afterschool, out-of-school time and during summer.
Watch On DemandAre you feeling burnt out or unmotivated? Learn skills to reframe your mindset to create your best self and get strategies to help you find success. Whatever your roles and responsibilities entail, these best practices will help you level up and prepare for the future.
Watch On DemandUnsure of how to plan menus for children with special dietary needs? Explore the key considerations to remember when planning and sourcing CACFP creditable substitutions for special diets such as food allergies, gluten-free, and preparing texture-modified diets.
Watch On Demand2022 National Child Nutrition Conference
Originally held April 19-21, 2022 - watch the virtual sessions from the 2022 National Child Nutrition Conference in New Orleans.
Learn tips and best practices on the preparation of an acceptable administrative budget. Topics will include the importance of strategic planning, using historical financial information to develop the budget, determining what expenses are allowable/ unallowable, identifying staffing requirements, how excess administrative funds affect the budget and updating the budget throughout the year.
Watch On DemandJoin the USDA for this interactive session on the new Crediting Handbook for CACFP. We will review the ins and outs of each of the five required meal components, discuss both creditable and non-creditable food items, and engage the audience in hands-on crediting exercises. You won’t want to miss it!
Watch On DemandLearn the differences between various types of mechanical diets and how to prepare these foods to meet CACFP guidelines.
Watch On DemandCome learn ideas and tools providers can use to implement positive mealtimes. Topics include Smarter Mealtimes, examining picky eater’s behaviors while identifying tips for creating adventurous eaters and engaging child participation in the kitchen. Leave with strategies, recipes and activities that engage children of any age!
Watch On DemandReady to reignite your passion? Become motivated around the fact that you matter, and what you do is important. Learn who you are at your best, and what helps you to operate at optimal potency. Leave understanding what your best ability is, and why it is important to stay encouraged even in the tough times.
Watch On Demand2021 Virtual National Child Nutrition Conference
Originally held April 19-22, 2021 - watch the 2021 Virtual National Child Nutrition Conference on demand.
Explore Start Simple with MyPlate and the new digital tools and resources which offer free, personalized resources based on eating needs and habits. Discover resources for every life stage that can help you live healthfully.
Watch On DemandGet an overview of USDA’s campaign, which supports breastfeeding moms with comprehensive, current and culturally appropriate messaging, materials, and a website. Campaign goals encourage initiation and continuation of breastfeeding; increase knowledge and ability to breastfeed; increase referrals to WIC; and provide technical assistance in the promotion of breastfeeding.
Watch On DemandFollow along this step-by-step process to using the USDA Food Buying Guide (FBG) in order to calculate grain ounce equivalents. Learn how to use both the website and the FBG app for your mobile device.
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Saturday Summit
Watch sessions from past Child Nutrition Saturday Summits on demand.
Whole grain-rich baking can be a signature part of your program that benefits menus, snacks, and acceptance while also helping your bottom-line. Learn how to choose a few signature favorite foods and align them with baking activities to involve children and parents in the science, literacy, art, food safety and math to boost benefits beyond the plate. Take home whole grain-rich baking resources.
Watch On DemandWhen should you request a CN Label or PFS? Is the crediting documentation for your product acceptable? Get clarity on common issues related to inaccurate or misleading product documentation. USDA will provide guidance on accepting documentation for meal pattern requirements and share sample Product Formulation Statements and CN Labels. Learn how to assess crediting documentation using sample CN Labels and Product Formulation Statements.
Watch On DemandAmericans of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by many chronic diseases, highlighting the need for more inclusive dietary messaging. Explore cultural models of healthy eating from around the world, with practical tips, insight, and recipes for diverse populations, with a special focus on Gen Z, and a cooking demonstration.
Watch On DemandLearn how to implement a Garden to Early Childhood program model in your curriculum. Hear about suggested best practices, fundamentals of teaching gardening to young children, planning year-round gardening activities, and incorporating a garden-to-table element for a healthy and fresh food program.
Watch On DemandWe know that children are more likely to try a new food when they are involved in creating a meal or snack. But how do you set up a safe environment at your family child care home that allows children to do this? Learn different strategies on how your kitchen helpers can assist you in making food with age-appropriate tasks, whether it is in the kitchen or eating area. Receive easy recipes to hone their fine motor skills while handling food.
Watch On DemandBoot Camp
Take a deep dive into specialized topics. Past boot camps include Special Diets in the CACFP and CACFP Head Start.
Sodium plays an essential role in our body but consuming too much can cause us harm over time. In the CACFP, it is recommended to serve foods low in sodium. Learn about the the impacts of sodium and how to reduce sodium while still retaining flavor in the meals you serve.
Watch On DemandObtain a broad overview about dietary needs of individuals with swallowing impairment. Receive information on the various types of texture-modified diets to safely feed individuals.
Watch On DemandMaybe you are new or have been working in the CACFP for quite some time. But are you a CACFP Infant Meal Pattern Superstar? This fun, interactive session will test your knowledge in the CACFP meal patterns specific to infants and fill in the details of what you may not know!
Watch On DemandOperating CACFP in Head Start is a requirement, but do you know the differences between what’s a CACFP regulation and what is mandated by Head Start? Learn what the Head Start performance standards that govern child nutrition are and how they align with the CACFP to provide good nutrition to children. Gain an understanding of the requirements and hear about the latest updates in Head Start performance standards for child nutrition.
Watch On DemandIt’s a requirement for operators of CACFP to ensure non-discrimination in the administration of the program and knowing how to establish a written procedure for handling civil rights complaints related to discrimination is important. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Civil Rights Complaint Procedures and learn how to develop a Self-Assessment Checklist, essential components for compliance. Enhance your knowledge, strengthen your agency’s commitment to civil rights in the CACFP, and be inspired by a real-life example showcasing the successful execution of these procedures.
Watch On Demand