Resources for Menu Planning Success!

USDA Food and Nutrition Service sent this bulletin at 02/25/2021 10:01 AM EST
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
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February 25, 2021

Resources for Menu Planning Success

The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

Team Nutrition has been working behind the scenes to make the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Interactive Web-based Tool and Mobile App even better! User feedback has driven recent updates to the Web-based Tool and Mobile App as part of the ongoing process aimed at improving the FBG.

Users now have the ability to:

  • Access their Favorite foods list from the Homepage
  • Create folders to organize Recipe Analysis Workbooks (RAW) on the Web-based Tool and view them on the Mobile App while logged in as a registered user
  • Select the desired Serving Size per Meal Contribution for fruits and vegetables using a drop-down menu on the Web-based Tool*

*Coming Soon to the Mobile App

FBG Resources

New to the FBG? Looking for FBG training? Check out the FBG Training Resources webpage where you will find:

  • A training module series hosted through the Institute of Child Nutrition’s eLearning portal
    • Module 1: Overview of the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
    • Module 2: Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW)
    • Module 3: Product Formulation Statements (PFS)
    • Stay tuned for two additional training modules featuring the FBG Calculator and the Exhibit A Grains Tool
  • Four recorded webinars to assist the user in utilizing the innovative features of the tool, including the Exhibit A Grains Tool and the FBG Calculator
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Team Nutrition - USDA Standardized Recipes

It’s always a good idea to change up the menu and try new recipes! Team Nutrition has a variety of standardized recipes for schools and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participants. All recipes include the meal pattern contribution and nutrient analysis to simply menu planning.

School Program operators: Available recipes for schools focus on tasty dishes that incorporate dark greens, legumes, and whole grains.

CACFP operators: Search over 40 recipes by category for main dishes, side dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches, and breakfasts. The recipes include both 6-serving for childcare and 25 and 50-servings for adult centers.

For even more USDA standardized recipes, check out the Institute of Child Nutrition’s Child Nutrition Recipe Box (CNRB)!
Fruits and Vegetables

In the works! Crediting Tip Sheets for Child Nutrition Programs

Team Nutrition has an exciting resource in the works! A series of seven tip sheets: three for grains, and one for each of the other meal components, will be available by the end of the year for Program operators, menu planners, and State agencies. The first two that will be released are: Crediting Fruits in Child Nutrition Programs and Crediting Vegetables in Child Nutrition Programs. The tip sheets are designed as an easy-to-use, handy reference in helping to plan for and adhere to meal pattern requirements in all Child Nutrition Programs. Stay tuned for more information!