The CACFP Team Nutrition monthly newsletter provides information on nutrition and physical activity for young children, trainings and funding opportunities, resources, and success stories from Iowa CACFP programs working to support healthy habits.
Stay Connected! Iowa Department of Education - Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services
Printed copies of the Feeding Infants in the CACFP guide are available to participating CACFP centers and homes. It covers topics such as handling and storing breastmilk and infant formula, developmental readiness, hunger and fullness cues, solid foods, and parent communication. Find child care provider handouts, practice scenarios, and check your knowledge questions in this guide as well. To inquire about bulk orders please send an email to teamnutrition@fns.usda.gov
Team Nutrition's USDA standardized recipes has moved to the Institute of Child Nutrition's Child Nutrition Recipe Box. It provides recipes to prepare healthy and delicious meals that meet meal pattern requirements. These recipes are standardized to provide meal pattern crediting information for all meal pattern components and include recipes made with legumes, whole grains, and vegetables from the vegetable subgroups. Browse recipes for CACFP centers (25-50 servings) and homes (6 servings).
The Healthiest State Walk is an opportunity for your childcare to join thousands of other Iowans statewide in walking for 30 minutes on October 2. #GetYourWalkOn2019
The Annual Walk is a kick-off to Healthiest State Month, happening throughout October, encouraging Iowans to “Live 5-2-1-0” and reminding them that “Healthy Choices Count!” Download Healthiest State Month toolkits(for child care centers) to get started. Includes parent newsletters, coloring pages, Stories in Motion, etc. Register today to attend the 5210 Healthy Choices Count! Summiton October 22nd at Des Moines University!
This year child care centers are invited to join the Iowa Local Food Day celebration on October 11th. To participate, your center must serve at least 2 items sourced from primarily local ingredients for either breakfast or lunch. Register today! Send local food day photos to patti.delger@iowa.gov.
When kids help grow their own produce, they are more likely to eat it! Farm to CACFP activities are a great way to get your kids invested in gardening and healthy eating. Find ideas on how to promote locally grown food to the children in your care, along with a Rainbow Garden coloring page!
Harvest for Healthy Kids offers free activity kits, recipes, picture cards, and family newsletters.
Team Up for CACFP Success
The Team Up for CACFP Success workshop provided by Team Nutrition on August 9th was full of sharing, support, and peer assistance. Mentors offered effective peer-to-peer mentoring in menu planning and CACFP administration. Each participant set a plan of action for moving forward in creating healthy and quality childcare. A second Team Up training will be offered in the future! Please contact patti.delger@iowa.govif you are interested in participating in the workshop.
The Healthier CACFP Award recognizes the wellness efforts of centers and home providers. Caregivers going above and beyond the program requirements by taking steps to improve the menus, physical activity, professional development, nutrition and wellness environment and/or infant care can apply for an award. Three award levels are offered: Honors, High Honors and Highest Honors. Apply today and let your parents know you offer the healthiest environment possible for their children!
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter ad- dressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the com- plaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone numbers 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
