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January 2025


Stay connected: Check out our current staff directory here.

Food Program Staff Directory

Your Monthly News & Updates

National Days in January

Jan. 1: National Popcorn Day  



Read Popcorn (Asch, 1979) and The Popcorn Book, (dePaola, 1978) and serve popcorn! 


Popcorn is “100 percent whole grain... Whole grain foods...tend to contain more fiber than refined grain foods... Fiber has long been considered a food component of public health concern in the U.S., because most Americans do not get enough of it in their diets.” Low intakes of dietary fiber are associated with health issues. 

(Source: https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/popcorn-a-healthy-whole-grain-snack#:~:text=One%20serving%20of%20air%2Dpopped,important%20consideration%20for%20many%20people.

(Source: Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, p 105) 

https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/crediting-handbook.pdf

Food Program Anniversaries in January

5 years:  Darlene Tanck; Kerrie Diepenbrock 

10 years: Christine Miller 

15 Years: Vera McGlaston 

25 Years: Amy Nogar; Suanne Ebert 

 30 years:  Bonnie Pfeiffer 


We applaud your commitment to serving nutritious meals and snacks to the children in your care!  

Welcome to Our New Providers!

Rosie in Cottage Grove 

Karen in Milwaukee 


We welcome you and applaud this mark of professionalism!  

Components and Crediting 

Recipes to Try! 

Looking for something warm to serve on a wintry day? Try this recipe for Three Sisters Soup from MyPlate: Three Sisters Soup


Try this recipe for Bean and Rice Burritos from MyPlate. Use brown rice and whole wheat tortillas for a whole-grain boost: Bean and Rice Burritos


Ask the Food Program

Question:

What is “Missing Regular Menu Items?” in CACFP.Net?  


Answer:

“Missing Regular Menu Items?” appears to the right of the calendar in CACFP.Net, as shown here, and was designed to draw provider’s attention to meals or snacks they claimed for children aged 1 – 12 in care that are missing required components: 

On Nov. 1 at breakfast, the provider’s recorded menu is missing FV, a serving of fruit or vegetable; and a serving of milk of the appropriate fat content for the age(s) of children served. These are required components of a creditable breakfast for children aged 1 to 12. 


At lunch, the provider is missing a serving of bread/bread alternate; a serving of meat/meat alternate; and two servings of FV, (which can be satisfied by offering one serving of fruit and one serving of vegetable OR by offering two servings of vegetables.) 


If the provider did not serve the missing components, this serves as a reminder of what is required to meet the CACFP guidelines for subsequent meals of that type. 


If the provider did serve but did not record the missing components, this should trigger them to review and correct the menus for breakfast and for lunch on Nov. 1. 


In both situations, the provider would not be reimbursed for either meal as recorded. 



Note: There is no comparable tool for infant meal patterns. 


Note: “Missing Regular Menu Items?” does not alert providers to failure to serve a whole grain-rich source at least once per day on their regular menus. 


If the menus were properly updated, “Missing Regular Items?” would also update and no longer show missing components on that date. 


Used effectively, “Missing Regular Menu Items?” is designed to give feedback to review, and when appropriate, make regular menu corrections, helping providers to minimize their errors and maximize their Food Program payments! 

Confused About Whole Grains?

Do you need a helping hand – or a handy tool – to understand whether a product meets the Whole Grain-Rich Criteria for CACFP? Look here for the Interactive Flow Chart provided by USDA:

https://foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov/FoodComponents/ResourceGrains

Take a product in your pantry or from your grocery cart and use the step-by-step Flow Chart to determine whether it credits as whole grain-rich – OR NOT. If it does and it becomes one you choose to serve frequently, be sure you keep the packaging in your Food Program binder for review during Home Visits.

 

Providers must serve a whole grain-rich component at least once daily or they will be deducted. Be sure to click the whole grain box in CACFP.Net to be credited for whole grain products: 

Grain Ounce Equivalents

Wondering how many fish-shaped crackers to serve to each child at snack? This resource lists commonly served grain products and their recommended serving sizes.

Grain Ounce Equivalents

CACFP Portion Sizes for Children and Infants

How much fruit or vegetable should be served at lunch or dinner to a 3-year-old? Look here for answers to your portion size questions:

CACFP Infant Meal Pattern
CACFP Child Meal Pattern

Monitoring and Oversight

DPI Translated Forms

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has many forms available in Spanish and Hmong on its website. 

Translated Documents & Forms

Download Your 2024 Food Program Earnings

Preparing for tax time? Download your Food Program earnings. Log into CACFP.Net. Under My CACFP Info, select Checks Received:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.


The Provider Connection is published by the WECA Food Program.


Any Questions: Call 608-240-9880 or visit our website.

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