November CACFP Team Nutrition Newsletter

November 2019

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

Facebook: @IowaCACFP Email: patti.delger@iowa.gov

Feeding Infants in CACFP Guide - Spanish Version

Now available in both English and Spanish, this resource helps CACFP operators implement the CACFP infant meal pattern requirements and best practices by providing information on:

CACFP infant meal pattern
Developmental readiness for solid foods
Hunger and fullness signs
Handling and storing breastmilk and infant formula
Creditable foods, and more!

Printed versions of the Spanish guide will be available at a later date.

In-Grained: Easy Tools to Determine Serving Amounts Webinar

Learn about tools to determine how much of a grain item is needed to meet CACFP meal pattern requirements.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

English: 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Spanish: 2 to 2:30 p.m.

Are you looking for ready-to-go presentation slides on the CACFP meal pattern? The CACFP Thirty on Thursdays slides are in English and Spanish, designed for an interactive 30-minute training, and include training worksheets. Topics include feeding infants, methods for healthy cooking, meal planning in CACFP, and many more!

NEW! Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in CACFP

This training resource reviews amounts of grain items needed at CACFP meals and snacks.

Over 40 common grain items listed in household measures - no food scales required!
Plain language instructions for determining ounce equivalents for grains.
Size guides for items like crackers and tortillas.

Currently available online in English. Print and Spanish versions coming soon!

Top Five Tips for Picky Eaters

Mary Davison, a childcare provider, says, "Getting kids to try new food is hard but I have found out that if you just keep serving it before you know it they are eating it."

Marie George responded, "As children see their peers eat certain foods they do not like, this may motivate them to eat foods they avoid and consequently eat and come to realize the food is good to eat. Reintroducing the food maybe in a soup, salad, sandwich or garnish may help the child to accept the food."

The National CACFP Association handout offers strategies that may help with picky eaters in your childcare.

Iowa Farm to Early Care & Education

The vision of Iowa Farm to ECE is that all Iowa children and their families actively thrive in healthy communities for a lifetime!

By providing provider education, family engagement, and local food access to young children, the benefits will:

Improve child health
Decrease obesity rates
Generate farmer income
Improve local economies
Improve our environment
Create sustainability

Even during the winter months, providers can utilize the "Tools for Early Childhood Educators" on the website to teach and show children where their food comes from. And check out the blog for personal, fun examples of Farm to ECE happening around the state.

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
Fax: (202) 690-7442
Email: program.intake@usda.gov

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/.