Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of July 1, 2019

department of education

July 1, 2019

Nutrition Program Updates for the Week of July 1, 2019

Each section contains updates relevant to those nutrition programs. You can jump to the section you're interested in by clicking the link.


Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

USDA Resource on Serving Fruits and Vegetables in Family Child Care Now Available in Print

The USDA Team Nutrition initiative is pleased to announce the availability of printed copies of Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care. This booklet is designed to help Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators provide garden-based nutrition education for children ages 3 through 5 years old in family child care settings.

Materials include:

  • A booklet featuring lesson plans for six featured fruits and vegetables
  • MyPlate Poster
  • Tasty Acres Farm Map
  • Fruit and Vegetable Cards

CACFP operators may request free printed copies on the USDA Team Nutrition website. For assistance with bulk ordering, please email TeamNutrition@usda.gov. Materials are also available for download on the USDA website

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Upcoming CACFP Trainings

CACFP Infant Meal Pattern Webinar – July 17, 2019, from 1 to 2 p.m.

This live webinar provides sponsors information about the Infant Meal Pattern and how to credit offered infant meals and snacks. 

Feeding Infants in the CACFP Webinar – August 7, 2019, from 1 to 2 p.m.

This live webinar provides sponsors with documentation tools to meet CACFP requirements and have effective conversations with staff and parents about infant feeding. 

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School Nutrition Program

2019-20 Application for Educational Benefits Packet

The SY 2019-20 Application for Educational Benefits packet for households to apply for free and reduced-price meals for school year (SY) 2019-20 is now available on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) School Meal Application page. School food authorities (SFA) must provide application packets to all households prior to the start of SY 2019-20. The earliest date that application packets can be distributed is July 1, 2019.

For more details, including other documents to distribute with the packet and translated versions, see the Special Bulletin on the Application for Educational Benefits packet that was sent last week.

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Adult Meal Pricing Requirements for SY 2019-20

The required minimum meal prices for adults for SY 2019-20 will remain the same as SY 2018-19. The calculation is based on the previous year’s state and federal reimbursement rates, plus the national average per meal value of USDA Foods.

Minimum Adult Prices for School Year 2019-20:

  • Breakfast: $1.80
  • Lunch: $3.75

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Summer Food Service Program

Farm to Summer Week in Minnesota is July 15-18!

Farm to Summer week in Minnesota is a time to celebrate the connections happening all over the state between youth and local food. Learn how your sponsor and sites can participate using the Farm to Summer Week Fact Sheet!

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Opportunities from Our Partners

USDA Webinar Recordings

Two webinar recordings which provide updates and technical assistance on recent food crediting changes are now available on the USDA website:

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