Center Resources

Various Resources to Keep You Informed

Children develop lifelong eating habits, likes, and dislikes in the first 5 years of life. As a child care provider you will play a big role in helping children develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime. We want to help! That is why keeping you informed with recent child nutrition information and resources is important to us. Not only will you find this information useful but you can also share it with parents who have questions or concerns about their child’s eating habits.

Latest CACFP Training Spotlight:

Newsletter Archive

Handbooks

• Horizons Center Handbook
• Feeding Infants in the CACFP-Team Nutrition
  • Wisconsin Infant foods on the CACFP
•  Crediting Handbook for the CACFP-USDA
• Food Buying Guide

Meal Components and Meal Patterns

• CACFP Training Spotlights
  • Product Labels for Cereals and Yogurt Sugar Limits
  • Documentation for Whole Grain Rich (WGR) Foods
  • Recipes for Foods Prepared from Scratch
  • Rule of 3 for Determining Whole Grain Rich (WGR)
  • Serving Milk
  • Vegetarian Meals in the CACFP
• Meal Pattern For Children
  • Milk Component
    • Creditable Non-Dairy Milk Substitutes
  • Grain Component
    • • CACFP Resource Guide — ID whole grains and determining sugar content
      • WIC approved Whole Grains
      • Determining if homemade items are whole grain
      • Bread and Grain Chart
      • Cereal Types and Serving Sizes
      • WIC approved Cereals
      • Ounce Equivalent Handout
      • Ounce Equivalent in Homemade recipes
      • Grain-Based Desserts-Perception Counts
      • CN Labels for Grain Items
  • Fruit and Vegetable Components
    • Vegetable Sub Groups
    • Fruit and Vegetable Preparation
    • Smoothies
  • Meat and Meat Alternate Component
    • Creditable Cheeses
    • Common Fillers and Binders found in Processed Meats
    • How to serve Tofu and Soy Yogurt
    • Store-Bought Combination Foods-CN Labels and PF Statements
    • Cheese Slices and Nut and Seed Butters
    • Local Meat, Poultry, and Eggs
• Drinking Water
• Meal Pattern For Infants 
  • Feeding Infants
  • Infant Feeding Guidelines
  • Infant Developmental Readiness
  • Foods for Infants in the CACFP
  • Infant Grain Chart
  • Ounce Equivalent for Infants
  • Make your Own Infant Food
  • Infant Claiming Requirements for Centers
    • Infant Meal Component Form 
    • Meal Pattern For Infants
    • Infant Foods Parental Notification 
• Special Dietary Needs and the CACFP
  • Determining if Meal Modifications are Required
  • Diet/Medical Statement form for Children with Special Dietary Needs
  • Creditable Non-Dairy Milk Substitutes
  • Special Dietary Needs Tracking Form with a Disability
  • Special Dietary Needs Tracking  Form without a Disability

Nutrition Resources

• CACFP – Supporting Good Nutrition & Quality Child Care
• Eating Behaviors of Toddlers
• Eating Habits of Young Children
• Fight Childhood Obesity
• Eat Right – Get Your Plate In Shape
• Meal Pattern For Children
• Meal Pattern For Infants
• Parents…Be Your Child’s Partner in Breakfast
• Parents…Get Straight A’s With A Healthy Breakfast
• The Picky Eater – Mealtime Memo for Child Care
• Start Children Early With Whole Grains
• The Strawberry Patch – Preschool Fun with Fruits & Vegetables
• Whole Grain Recipes–GRAIN BASED DESSERTS ARE NOT CREDITABLE

Production Records

• USDA Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

Meal Planning

• Recipes
  • Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Child Care Centers
  • Snack Inspiration
  • CACFP Menu Planning Guide–Healthy Recipes
  • Multicultural Recipes
  • What’s Cooking: USDA Mixing Bowl–USDA standardized recipes
  • Training Recipes 2018
  • Tofu
• Family Style Serving
• 1-12 year Meal Pattern
• Creditable Cheese Training
• Child Nutrition Label Training
• Common Fillers and Binders in Processed Meats
• Bread and Grain Chart
• How to serve Tofu and Soy Yogurt

Civil Rights, Parental Notification Handouts, Household Size Income Statement, Direct Deposit and Enrollment form

• Civil Rights Training Handout 2022
  • Civil Rights Attendance Sheet
• USDA Non-Discrimination Statement and Complaint Procedures FY 2023
• WIC 
• CACFP Center Handout
• Building for the Future
• Household Size Income Statement FY 2023 with Parent Letter FY 2023
• Income Scale FY 2023
• CACFP Enrollment form
• Direct Deposit Form

Vendor Agreement and Direct Deposit Application

• Vendor Agreement
  • Record of Potential Vendors Contacted
• Direct Deposit of Payment application

Food Safety

• Hand-washing and Cross-Contamination
• Staying out of the Food Danger Zone
• Clean-Cook-Chill-Separate
• The Glove Debate
• Safe Food Storage
• Safe Foods Dates
• Food Safety and Sanitation
  • Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting in Child Care Settings
  • CACFP Food Storage Charts

Labor Tally Sheet

• Monthly Labor Tally sheet