Education and Training Resources for CACFP Professionals

ICN’s research-based education and training resources are designed to support CACFP professionals in successfully implementing the program’s requirements.

CACFP MEAL PATTERN RESOURCES

Through USDA FNS guidance and collaboration, ICN developed the CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements training materials. This webpage features training materials and additional resources for implementing the updated meal pattern requirements.

Recipes for Healthy Kids – The 30 winning recipes from the Recipes for Healthy Kids (R4HK) competition are credited to support the whole grain-rich, red/orange, dark green, and beans/peas (legumes) vegetable subgroups for the meal patterns as part of the Nutrition Standards in School Meal Programs. Find these recipes in the Team Nutrition Resource Library

Recipe Standardization Guide

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ONLINE COURSES

Child and Adult Meal Pattern Requirements

CACFP Optional Best Practices

CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements

This course is designed to provide the end user with key practices for planning cycle menus for child care settings.

 

This course consists of three lessons that are designed to help you, the child care professional, make nutrition education a part of snack time.

 

This course features key information for serving nutritious foods while in child care settings.

 

The Step-by-Step Menu Planning for Child Care online course is based on the Grab and Go Lesson

 

The Family Child Care FUNdamentals online course is based on the face-to-face training, Family Child Care FUNdamentals.

 

Food Safety in Child Care, formerly known as Serving Safe Food

 

FACE TO FACE TRAININGS

How To Request Training?

After you have entered the information on the Training Request Form, scroll to the bottom and press “Submit.” If your request is successfully transmitted to ICN, you will receive an electronic reply. If you do not receive a reply, please contact ICN.

Three Things to Remember:

  • ICN requires at least 8-10 weeks’ advance notice before the training date to schedule and plan a training session.
  • ICN Consultant Trainers must train a minimum of 4 hours in a single day.
  • A minimum of 25-30 participants is required for ICN to provide a training session.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

 These trainings cover a range of topics to assist CACFP professionals in meeting program requirements. These 15–30 minute lessons are designed for CACFP professionals with limited training.

Mealtime Memos

The Mealtime Memos can be accessed here.

Subscribe to the Mealtime Memos e-newsletter.

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The Grab in 5 handouts feature five ways to incorporate healthy practices within the home and community. Families may find these handouts useful when seeking strategies for incorporating gardening, recycling, good nutrition, physical activity, and more.

Grab and Go Lessons feature user-friendly, research-based best practices. These 2-3 page handouts are designed specifically for operators of the Child and Adult Care Food Program with limited time.

Food preparation is a fundamental factor for providing nutritious meals and snacks in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Having the right tools, such as pots, pans, and knives, can make food prep simpler and faster. Here are some tools to consider when equipping your meal preparation area.

The Child Care Center Food Safety Guide provides guidelines and tips on how to safely prepare food in child care settings. This resource guide features the latest good food safety practices for personal hygiene; time and temperature control of food; cleaning and sanitizing; and safely preparing food for infants and young children. Use this guide to train new center staff in food safety and as a reference for food safety questions for child care centers.

CACFP RESEARCH

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Search and download a wide range of CACFP releated research
articles and documents.
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