CACFP Updates for 2/15/2018: Training Worksheets; State Agency Reviews; Infant Feeding Updates; Whole Grain Lists; CACFP Facebook Page; National CACFP Week; CACFP Conference; Food Safety News

Iowa Department of Education Banner with Mission Statement

 FY 2018 Bureau Updates - February 15, 2018

Bureau updates will be posted here. This may take a few days.

 

USDA News

CACFP New Meal Pattern Training Worksheets
Four new worksheets are available here (identified below).

  • Choose Breakfast Cereal Lower in Added Sugar
  • Choose Yogurts Lower in Added Sugar
  • Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP (New)
  • Methods for Healthy Cooking - with Recipes (New)
  • Serving Meat and Meat Alternates at Breakfast (New)
  • Offer Versus Serve in the CACFP - for Adult Care and At-Risk ONLY (New)
  • Serving Milk in the CACFP

Methods for Healthy Cooking includes these recipes: 

  • 15-Minute Enchiladas
  • Baked Tortilla Chips
  • Bean and Rice Burritos
  • Chicken Fiesta Taco Bake
  • Corn Toasties
  • Delicious Oven French Fries
  • Delicious Tacos
  • Eagle Pizza
  • Italian Garden Salsa with Crunchy Chicken Tenders
  • Oven-Fried Chicken
  • Oven-Fried Fish
  • Roasted Fish Crispy Slaw Wrap
  • Tasty Tots
  • Turkey Tostadas

 

Bureau of Nutrition and Health News

State Agency Reviews
Click here to watch a video on how to prepare for a State Agency review.  
Click here to watch a video with instructions on how to respond to a State Agency review. 

Homemade pureed infant food is encouraged in CACFP, but infant child care providers in Iowa are no longer allowed to puree canned foods to make it for the following reasons:

  • Most canned foods do not puree well and produce a grainy and runny product. 
  • Cans may be lined with a coating that may leach BPA or other harmful substances. 
  • Canned foods usually contain added sugars and salt that are not needed for infants and may influence their development of a preference for sweet and salty foods.

Adding this requirement is in agreement with the USDA Feeding Infants Guide that states to start with good quality, fresh food when making homemade baby food. Acceptable sources for home-made pureed baby food are fresh or frozen foods without added sugar, salt, and sauces. As infants progress to table food, canned foods can be served to older infants.

Processed meats and poultry items that were previously not creditable for infants continue to be non-creditable in Iowa. These include cured meats, fried meats, breaded chicken products including chicken nuggets, hot dogs, infant meat and poultry sticks, breaded fish products including fish sticks, and sausage. The restriction is intended to limit infant’s exposure to processed foods to reduce their preference for these foods, and improve the quality of infant diets by limiting sodium, trans and saturated fats, and additives, including nitrates. These foods are not recommended for infants by USDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends they be limited as well. Some of these foods can also be a choking risk.

Lists of Whole Grain-Rich Foods
Published lists identifying whole grain-rich items can be helpful when deciding what foods to purchase for CACFP meals.  However, they can't take the place of reading labels since products often change.  The Whole Grains Council website identifies items that contain 50% or more whole grains.  This does not guarantee the product meets the USDA definition of whole grain-rich, but can steer you to products to consider. The Aldi Shopping Guide, developed by Providers's Choice, lists products that meet the New Meal Pattern requirements as of 10/1/2017. Whole grain-rich items are identified with a wheat symbol. National CACFP Association (NCA) has also developed an "Identifying Whole Grain-Rich" resource that includes product examples. Packaging and product formulation changes frequently, so again, always verify products are creditable before purchasing and serving.

Iowa CACFP is​ Going​​ Social!​ ​
Iowa Department of Education’s Team Nutrition has a new CACFP Facebook page, 
"Like Us" and "Follow Us" to find out about the latest​ CACFP success stories across the state, and for resources to support the wellness environment at your child care. Use #IowaCACFP to "share" information to your followers and promote child care wellness. Please tag us in any posts you make!

March 11-17, 2018 is National CACFP Week!
Thank you for participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Iowa. We appreciate your commitment to provide quality child care and healthy meals.

The goals of National CACFP Week are to:

  • Educate parents and the community about how CACFP helps child care providers serve well balanced, nutritious meals.
  • Promote proper nutrition for growing children.
  • Ensure long-term health benefits by creating healthy eating habits. 

Celebrate and promote National CACFP Week in your community, home or center together with the children you serve! The NCA has some great marketing resources as well as celebration ideas!

What Can You Do?

  • Go Social to share ​your CACFP program​ - Follow Iowa CACFP on Facebook! Tag us in your posts. Tweet or post on Facebook each day about the Program and what it means to you. Use #CACFPWeek and #IowaCACFP with social media posts! 
  • Have children color a coloring page and send it home to families to promote CACFP. 
  • Promote proper nutrition for growing children using MyPlate Tip Sheets. 
  • Try a new recipe and share it with parents to try at home!
  • Talk about the lunch menu each day and compare it to MyPlate.
  • Accept a Provider Challenge every day of CACFP week by choosing from 20 different challenges to help spread the word​, such as sharing the CACFP minute video or have children complete the CACFP week activity booklet. ​
  • Plan nutrition education and physical activity each day during the week. Check out​ ​MyPlate for Preschoolers, Look and Cook Recipes and Move for Thought, Did you Say Hop Like a Frog?​, ​Go Noodle​, or Joy of Moving.​
  • Share your plans and photos with ​#IowaCACFP.​

CACFP Conference: Leading the Way - Healthy Habits for a New Generation (Formerly CACFP Short Course)
Date: April 25-26, 2018
Location: Hope Lutheran Church, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines
Agenda: The agenda is focused on topics and resources for continued implementation of the new meal pattern, including infants, and creating a healthy mealtime environment. We have invited the USDA regional office nutritionists to be guest speakers for several sessions. Try USDA recipes for lunch on both days, learn about the new interactive Food Buying Guide, and network with your colleagues from around the State.

Pre-conference: CACFP Basics for new center directors and other interested staff. April 24, 1-4 pm, Grimes State Office Building, Room B-100.

Registration: Information will be provided in March.

 

Iowa State Uuniversity Extension Food Safety Resources

1. Free streaming educational videos to enhance your food safety training for staff who work with food: 

  • Temperature controls
  • Health and hygiene
  • Cleaning and sanitizing

2. ServeSafe scholarships for staff in programs working toward the Quality Rating System (QRS) or already QRS rated. Participants sign up on DHS Child Care Registry. Contact the DHS training registry helpdesk if you have questions. 

3. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Child Care Centers.  Click here for modifiable templates for establishing food safety and sanitation SOPs at your center. 

 

Robin Holz, MS, RDN
CACFP Lead Consultant, Centers
Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services
400 E 14th St
Des Moines 50319
Phone: 515-281-3484
Fax: 515-242-5988
Iowa Department of Education Website

CACFP logo