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.
Child and Adult Meal Pattern Requirements Training
Title | Date added | Download |
---|---|---|
![]() | December 17, 2024 | Download |
![]() | December 17, 2024 | Download |
![]() | December 17, 2024 | Download |
![]() | December 17, 2024 | Download |
Optional Best Practices Training
Title | Date added | Date modified | Download |
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Optional Best Practices Assessments | April 04, 2018 | July 10, 2018 | Download |
![]() | April 28, 2025 | April 29, 2025 | Download |
![]() | March 06, 2025 | April 29, 2025 | Download |
![]() | March 04, 2025 | March 04, 2025 | Download |
Infant Meal Pattern Requirements Training
Title | Date added | Download |
---|---|---|
![]() | March 31, 2025 | Download |
![]() | March 31, 2025 | Download |
![]() | March 31, 2025 | Download |
![]() | March 31, 2025 | Download |
CACFP Meal Pattern Resources
Title | Date added | Download |
---|---|---|
![]() | October 31, 2024 | Download |
![]() | October 31, 2024 | Download |
CACFP Child Meal Pattern Poster | August 20, 2019 | Download |
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
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.
FACE TO FACE TRAININGS
- Family Child Care FUNdamentals (1 to 7 training hours)
- Food Purchasing for Child Care (7.5 training hours)
- Introduction to Happy Mealtimes in Child Care Settings (1 to 4 training hours)
- Healthy Me! The Preschoolers’ Guide to Nutrition and Wellness
- Norovirus for Child Care (2 training hours)
- Food Safety in Child Care (4 training hours)
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
Grab and Go Lessons are 2-3 page handouts that focus on one of the seven child nutrition categories. CACFP professionals can expect to learn about the benefits, good practices, and overall strategies for implementing the content of each lesson.
COMING SOON
i-Train Lessons are 30-minute or less training for on-the-go learning. Each lesson features learning objectives, a training script, activities, and a PowerPoint to accommodate the materials.
COMING SOON
- Administration
- Procurement
- Compliance
- Health and Safety
- Nutrition and Meal
- Management
- Education and Training
COMING SOON
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Mealtime Memos
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CACFP RESEARCH
articles and documents.