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As providers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), ensuring the snacks that you serve are nutritious and appealing is essential for promoting health and well-being of those in your care. Snack time is an excellent opportunity to introduce wholesome foods and create positive eating habits. In this article, you’ll find some valuable tips for making snack time enjoyable as well as CACFP approved recipes that include whole grain-rich items.
Tips for a Successful CACFP Snack Time
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Balance and Variety: Aim to provide a variety of foods during snack time, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and whole grains. This helps ensure a well-rounded and balanced intake of nutrients.
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Portion Control: Offer appropriate portion sizes to avoid overeating and food waste. Child and adult serving sizes may vary, so refer to CACFP guidelines for portion recommendations.
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Food Safety: Prioritize food safety by washing hands before handling food, keeping perishables refrigerated until snack time, and discarding any uneaten perishables promptly.
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Age-Appropriate Snacks: Tailor snacks to the age group you are serving. Younger children may prefer finger foods and bite-sized items, while older kids and adults might enjoy more complex flavors and textures.
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Respect Dietary Restrictions: Be mindful of any dietary restrictions or food allergies that individuals may have. Offer alternatives to accommodate their needs.
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Encourage Hydration: Include water or milk as part of the snack time routine to keep everyone well-hydrated.
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Engage in Food Activities: Involve the participants in snack preparation or activities related to food. This can increase their interest in trying new foods and create a positive and educational experience.
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Incorporate Whole Grains: Whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them an excellent addition to snack time. Look for snacks that include whole grain-rich items like whole wheat, oats, quinoa, or brown rice. Snack is a great time to ensure you’ve gotten your whole-grain rich item served for the day.
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CACFP snack time can be a wonderful opportunity to introduce wholesome and nutritious foods into the diet of those in your care. By incorporating whole grain rich items into your snack recipes, you can promote better health and well-being. Remember to follow CACFP guidelines, respect dietary restrictions, and make snack time an enjoyable and educational experience for all. Happy Snacking!
CACFP Snack Recipes and Ideas
Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffins
These delightful muffins combine the goodness of apples and oats to create a nutritious and tasty treat. Use whole wheat flour combined with the oats to create a whole-grain rich creditable item.
Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffin Recipe
Cheese and Whole Wheat Crackers
A simple yet delicious snack that pairs whole grain-rich crackers with slices of cheese for a calcium-packed treat.
Yogurt Parfait with Granola and Berries
Layer low-fat yogurt with whole grain granola and fresh berries for a colorful and nutritious parfait.
Very Berry Parfaits
Quinoa and Vegetable Salad
Mix cooked quinoa with colorful diced vegetables and a light vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing and wholesome snack.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Tortilla Chips with Fresh Corn Salsa
Combine fresh or frozen corn with vegetables, seasoning and light sour cream for a great dip to pair with whole grain tortilla chips for a fun and refreshing snack.
Corny Salsa with Tortilla Chips
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors must complete OSPI’s required training annually to continue participation in the Program.
Who Must Attend Annual Training?
- All institutions participating in the CACFP.
- All institutions planning to participate in the CACFP in Fiscal Year 2023–24 (FY24).
- At a minimum, the person responsible for oversight of the CACFP must attend. This training is intended for directors and administrators.
How Will Annual Training be Conducted for FY24?
CACFP required training will be provided as recorded training modules in Canvas, OSPI’s new learning platform. Please note, trainings assigned vary depending on Sponsor type.
Use the FY24 CACFP Training Checklist to help determine which training track is required for your organization. Training tracks are split up between community sponsors, Local Education Agency (LEA) At-Risk only, and LEA pre-K sponsor types. *Please note, the recorded CACFP Oversight Training for LEA Sponsors will not be available until late August.
Enroll in Canvas to view these trainings
How Will I Receive Certificates for Annual Training?
Once you complete all required training modules for your sponsor type, you will be able to access the self-certification survey that will generate your training certificate. Keep this required annual training certificate for your records.
More About Canvas
Canvas is OSPI’s new learning management system and is replacing Moodle. Many features in Canvas are similar to Moodle; however, Canvas will provide a broader range of functionality for all learning styles. You will no longer be able to access Moodle as of August 30th.
Progressing Through a Canvas Module
Content is organized into "Modules" in Canvas.
- To move forward in a module, you can use the "Next" button in the lower right.
- To go back a page, use the "Back" button in the lower left.
- You can also click the "Modules" item in the sidebar on the left, and then click individual items in a module.
- Required modules are set up to unlock sequentially. To proceed to the next training in a series, you must complete the previous training.
Canvas Support
Canvas has a robust support system. Select the "Help" icon and navigate to the topic area where support is needed. Alternatively, please feel free to post in the Canvas Technical Troubleshooting forum and CNS’s Canvas specialist will provide assistance.
Questions about Annual Training Requirements? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Questions about Canvas? Please email Ben Brown, Professional Learning Specialist.
It's time to start gathering your items for Fiscal Year 2023–24 (FY24) program renewal!
Applications are due by Friday, September 1, 2023. The Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) application and required training opened on July 15.
New for FY 24 Renewal!
Only Sponsoring Organizations (Sponsors with multiple sites) are required to submit a Budget in WINS for FY24 renewal. Independent Sponsors (Sponsors with only 1 site) and LEAs do not need to submit a budget with annual renewal.
Application Reminders
All costs, including food, require prior approval before the cost is incurred. Therefore, budget submissions for Sponsoring Organizations must be approved prior to the start of the fiscal year, no later than September 30, 2023. It may take up to 30 days to process and approve a complete application.
Sponsors may choose to submit their application for approval past the September 1 deadline but may not be approved in time to receive reimbursement for meals served during October 2023.
 Required in WINS
- Update Sponsor Profile
- Sponsor Application
- Site Application(s)
- Site Calendar(s)
- Budget (multi-site sponsors)
- Management Plan (multi-site sponsors)
- Contract Fact Sheet (for sponsors using a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) or Vended Meal Agreement)
Resources
Recorded Training and tutorials are now in our new learning management system, Canvas!
- CACFP Renewal in WINS Recorded Training
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WINS Information Sheets are located in WINS. To locate these resources, log into your profile and select the “Info” tab, then click on the “WINS Documentation and Job Aids” option. Information Sheets that may help you with renewal include:
- Completing Sponsor Applications
- Updating Sponsor Contacts In WINS
- Completing Site Applications
- Entering Management Plans
- Entering Site Calendars
- Entering Study Months
- Submitting Budgets
- FDCH Carry Over
- Completing Contract Fact Sheets in WINS
Sponsors who have had a gap in CACFP operation of a year or longer must reactivate their CACFP application. This is in addition to the renewal requirements to operate in FY24. Contact your Program Specialist for details on this process.
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist or join us for Office Hours!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs are available for preschool-age children that attend a local pre-K community program, Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP), Head Start and/or a Transitional Kindergarten program. These programs operate in classrooms located in Education Service Districts (ESD), community organizations, and Local Education Agencies (LEAs). ESDs and community organizations must operate the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). LEAs may choose to operate either the CACFP or the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs (NSLP/SBP).
Requirements
- ESDs or Community Organizations receiving funds for preschool programs must be the CACFP sponsor when children are NOT enrolled in the public school district.
- ESDs and Community organizations operating classrooms on public school district campuses must establish an interagency agreement to receive meals and snacks from the public school district.
- Two different sponsors cannot claim meals or snacks served to the same group of students (i.e., the School District claims breakfast and lunch, while the ESD claims Snack).
- Meals or Snacks cannot be served under two different programs (i.e., Breakfast and Lunch under NSLP/SBP, while Snack is under CACFP). To claim snacks, CACFP must be operated for all meals and snacks.
Resources
Questions? Contact your CACFP or School Meals Program Specialist.
Monthly claims are due by the 15th of each month following the claim period. All claims entered in WINS and in OK to Pay status will process for payment at the end of the month.
WINS will be available to input claims until 5:00 pm PT, Tuesday, August 15. At 5 pm, WINS will log sponsors out of the system in order to run the monthly payment process.
Best Practice - Submit claims early in case an error comes up and you need assistance.
New Email!
We’re excited to share that our fiscal team has a new email! Here you can send us messages, ask questions, and get a faster response from our team. Next time you’re ready to send us a message, please email cnsfiscalservices@k12.wa.us, we’re excited to hear from you!
Meet Your CNS Fiscal Team!
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Debbie Libra, CNS Claims & Fiscal Manager
My name is Debbie Libra, and I am the new Fiscal Supervisor with Child Nutrition Services. I am a well-tenured accounting professional having worked in the accounting field the last twenty years at various small- and medium-sized businesses. Most recently, I worked for the Department of Children, Youth and Families in Capital Assets. After years of bookkeeping work and raising two kids, I decided to go back to school and earned my bachelor's in accounting from WGU in 2016.
In my time off, I enjoy gardening and antiquing (I love a good Estate sale!). My husband and I own a small Lavender farm in rural Oregon that keeps us busy in the summer months. I am excited to be part of the team at CNS and looking forward to meeting everyone!
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Trisha Santee, Fiscal Specialist ll
Hello! I have worked for OSPI for 5 years, almost all of which has been with Child Nutrition Services. I love working with numbers and using Excel which explains my pursuit of an accounting degree. I support all our programs and our sponsors with their fiscal needs and questions.
My husband and I own a farm where we raise cattle, chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl. We are very passionate on our journey to become self-sufficient and are grateful our land can nourish our family and friends.
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Josh Thompson, Fiscal Analyst
Hello, I am the new Fiscal Analyst with Child Nutrition Services. I am coming to OSPI after 3.5 years with Educational Service District 113 where I got my introduction to accounting and education. I graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's in business economics in 2019.
In my free time I love watching Seattle sports and spending time with my wife Hannah, and one year old daughter Elsie. We also have two golden retrievers named Oaklee and Benji who are crazy and help get us outside and stay active.
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Each month, your regional staff will be holding office hours. Specialists will start office hours by providing important CACFP updates and reminders. During the remainder of the session, specialists will provide technical assistance and training around specific CACFP topics. If a specialist outside of your region is hosting office hours with a topic of interest to you, please feel free to join! |
Upcoming Budget Renewal Office Hours
Multi-site Sponsors are invited to attend CACFP Budget Renewal Office Hours. Office hours provide an opportunity for sponsors to ask general budget related questions.
ZOOM link for Budget Office Hours
- Thursday, August 17, 9–10 am
- Tuesday, August 29, 3–4 pm
Have budget questions? Please email Samantha Evans, CACFP Budget Specialist.
Upcoming August Office Hours Schedule
Specialist: Samantha Evans, Region 2
Topic: Participant Eligibility
Date: 8/16/2023 Time: 10:30 am Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Sandra Goodman, Region 5
Topic: Renewal
Date: 8/17/2023 Time: 10:00 am Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Eddie Griffin, Region 7
Topic: Family Style Meal Service
Date: 8/21/2023 Time: 11:00 am Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Teresa Diaz, Region 1
Topic: Study Month
Date: 8/21/2023 Time: 2:00 pm Click here to join the meeting
Specialist: Jeannette Green, Region 3
Topic: Renewal Q&A
Date: 8/24/2023 Time: 2:00 pm Click here to join the meeting
CACFP Office Hours Feedback Survey
Complete this short Office Hours Feedback Survey to let us know how we can best meet your needs and continue our efforts in program improvement.
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The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Farm to School Purchasing Grant is a competitive grant available to schools and childcare centers for the purchase and use of Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs.
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Who Can Apply
- Active program operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP - childcare), and school districts who operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO).
- Tribal Schools and Tribal Early Learning Centers.
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Timeline
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Grant Period: November 2023–June 30, 2025
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Application opens: August 9, 2023
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Applications closes: Monday, September 25, 2023, at 5 pm PT
To apply or for more information, visit the WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant webpage or contact Claire Finnerty at 360-974-9752 or farmtoschool@agr.wa.gov.
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“CACFP Basics to Advanced Training” will be offered in person the weeks of September 11 and September 18. This training will be offered regionally throughout the state and will offer two learning tracks based on experience.
- Track 1: CACFP Basics- Intended for new staff/new sponsors
- Track 2: CACFP Advanced- Intended for experienced sponsors
Please limit registration to 1-2 participants from your organization. We encourage you to register early as these trainings are expected to fill up.
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Registration Information
Important Note: This is an optional training for CACFP sponsors. It does not fulfill your Annual Training requirements for application renewal. Use the FY24 CACFP Training Checklist for details on Annual Training requirements.
Questions? Please email the CACFP Team inbox.
The National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) provides education, information on legislation, regulation and advocacy issues, and resources to support the essential work of the CACFP community who ensure that every child has access to nutritious food year-round.
Register for a Webinar
Policy is a major determinant of health among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Explore the complex factors that have contributed to high rates of obesity and diabetes among Indigenous Peoples in the United States, including, but not limited to, the disruption of Indigenous knowledge systems, commodity food offerings, displacement, and federal funding shortfalls. Identify best practices for engaging with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Villages and learn how food commodity programs can advance food sovereignty efforts.
Earn 1.0 CEU for attending this webinar, brought to you by the National CACFP Sponsors Association
Register for the Advancing Indigenous Health Equity and Food Security Webinar
Date: Thursday, August 24
Time: 12–1 pm PT
Advancing Indigenous Health Equity and Food Security will be held virtually on Zoom, you will receive a link directly from Zoom the morning of the event with access instructions.
Please be sure to add Zoom no-reply@zoom.us to your approved sender list to avoid emails being sent to junk/spam.
New yields are now available in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-based (FBG) Tool and FBG Mobile App! New yield data is available for:
- Individually quick-frozen red beans
- Frozen diced potatoes
- Frozen cubed sweet potatoes
- Brown lentils
- Canned black turtle beans
Stay tuned for additional yield data releases coming soon. Explore the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs today!
The Crediting Fruits, Meats/Meat Alternates, and Milk in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheets are now available in Spanish. These are the first three in the Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs tip sheet series in Spanish. These simple tip sheets highlight the basics of crediting for these three meal components across all Child Nutrition Programs.
Access the three tip sheets in Spanish today.
Stay tuned for the Vegetables and Grains tip sheets and printed versions of the entire tip sheets series that will be available at a later date!
Are you interested in increasing the number of local foods served as part of your meal program? The whole plate doesn’t have to be local; you can start small by implementing a Harvest of the Month program. OSPI will feature a Harvest of the Month section once a month highlighting one local food that will be in season the following month. We will highlight the following foods during SY 2023–24:
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September – Peaches
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February – Yogurt
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October – Carrots
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March – Wheat
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November – Delicata Squash
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April – Spinach
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December – Lentils
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May – Beets
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January – Apples
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June – Apricots
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September – Peaches
Fun Facts
- About 7,240 tons of peaches were produced in Washington in 2022.
- Available fresh in Washington from July to September.
- A member of the rose family and are closely related to almonds.
- Over 700 varieties including Nectarines whose smooth skin are caused by a genetic mutation.
- Peaches originally came from China. Portuguese and Spanish explorers brought peaches to the Americas.
- Two main types: Freestone, where the flesh does not stick to the pit, and Clingstone, where the flesh sticks to the pit.
- Their skin color is yellow or cream, sometimes blushed with red depending on the variety. The skin is slightly fuzzy. The flesh inside is usually yellow, but depending on the variety may also be white. An oval pit in the center needs to be removed before eating.
Peaches are high in fiber, contain vitamins A, B3, C, potassium, and antioxidants!
Selection and Storage
- Choose firm fruit with firm skins that yield to gentle pressure when ripe.
- Avoid blemishes and handle gently.
- Ripen peaches at room temperature, stem-end down. Store unripe fruit at room temperature in a paper bag until ripe.
- Fragrance is a sign of ripeness.
- Ripe peaches will last 1–5 days in the refrigerator.
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Congratulations to Ecotrust who was awarded the 2023 USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant. OSPI CNS is excited to partner with Ecotrust, to offer Farm to School and Farm to Early Learning Institutes in WA and OR, coming Summer 2024.
Does your Center have a Farm to CACFP project idea that you are looking to fund? Every year USDA awards competitive Farm to School grants that support planning, developing, and implementing farm to CACFP programs.
Learn more about the Farm to School Grant Program here!
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