CACFP Team Nutrition Newsletter

January, 2021

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

"Local Food Makes Cents: For Iowa Kids and Farmers" Grant Application

Application is now open- Apply Here!

The "Local Food Makes Cents" grant application is open January 4 - January 31. The application will close at 8pm on January 31st, 2021. The Local Food Makes Cents: For Iowa Kids and Farmers grant will offer $43,000 to eligible early care and education centers and home providers participating in the CACFP to purchase local foods from Iowa farmers, food hubs, and farmers markets. Review information about the program, the application, and a recording of an informational webinar online here. Apply here by January 31!

CACFP Ambassador Stipends

To help increase CACFP participation, a child care center or home provider currently participating in the CACFP can apply to receive an Ambassador Stipend ($300 for centers or $150 for home providers) by mentoring a center or home provider who does not participate in CACFP and assisting them with applying for the food program.

Visit the Iowa Department of Education webpage and see details located in the green section. The Ambassador Stipend application due date has been extended to June 30, 2021.

Application materials:

Just Released - Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 is now available and is the first set of guidelines that provide guidance for healthy dietary patterns by life stage, from birth through older adulthood, including pregnant and lactating women.

Follow these simple steps and get started with these MyPlate resources:

Find your starting point: Take the quick MyPlate Quiz to see how your eating habits stack up against the MyPlate recommendations.
Set simple goals based on your personal needs: Use the Start Simple with MyPlate app to help you set daily meal and snack based goals to help you eat healthier.
Learn how much you should eat: To find out what and how much to eat from each of the food groups, get your own personalized MyPlate Plan.
Put your plan into action: Discover recipes on MyPlate Kitchen. Check out hundreds of healthy, budget-friendly recipes that provide detailed nutrition and food group information to help you choose recipes that fit your needs.
Save money and eat healthy: Use Healthy Eating on a Budget to help you save money at the store by making a shopping plan, shopping smart, and preparing healthy meals to stretch food dollars.

New Videos: Mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP

Learn more about providing meals and snacks for toddlers by watching these new videos from USDA’s Team Nutrition. The 2-3 minute videos are available in English and Spanish on the following hot topics:

Assist toddlers in learning how to feed themselves
Encourage toddlers to try new foods
Choose the right type of milk to serve children in the CACFP

The videos, along with the Mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP Operator Booklet and Family Handout are available on the Team Nutrition web site.

Tune Into CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays

Three upcoming webinars in English and Spanish. Registration for the January webinar is open, register here!

January 21, 2021: Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP
March 18, 2021: Crediting Store-Bought Combination Baby Foods in the CACFP
June 17, 2021: Serving Snacks in the CACFP

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/.