National Days in May

May 4: National Orange Juice Day

Read Each Orange Had 8 Slices (Giganti, 1992) and serve a variety of oranges to your child care children! Try navel oranges, Mandarin oranges, clementines, tangerines, tangelos, blood oranges ... to name a few!

If you serve orange juice, remember you may serve juice once per day, per family child care home, to children aged 1 year and older. Choose your juice from the list of foods in the drop-down menu in CACFP.Net so the program can keep track of how many times you serve juice each day. Only 100% fruit or vegetable juice in creditable on the Food Program.

A creditable juice product will state: Full-strength juice; single-strength juice; 100% juice; reconstituted juice; juice from concentrate or juice concentrate. Items named cocktail, beverage, or drink are not 100% juice and are not creditable.

Food Program Anniversaries in May

5 years: Kim Paulson

20 years: Carrie Immonen, Tanya Jolma

30 Years: Tamara Stevenson

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

Welcome to Our New Providers!

Moneisha in Stoughton

Tacoma, Naschae, and Sheykra in Milwaukee

 Desiree in Sheboygan

We welcome you and applaud this mark of professionalism!  

Components and Crediting 

Ask the Food Program

Question:

I sometimes find it tricky to get in touch with the Food Program staff, especially at the moment when I have a question. Any suggestions? 

Answer:

Food Program knows providers have questions that can’t all be answered in a format like “Ask the Food Program.” We are pleased to announce a new way to stay connected: Food Program Open Office Hours!

Food Program will have Open Office Hours the first two Wednesdays of each month beginning in May. Our first sessions will be held May 7 and May 14 from 1-2 p.m. Live Spanish interpretation in will be available the first Wednesday of each month. Providers will sign up for a date and time and meet virtually on Teams. Note, this will be a group meeting, but you will have the opportunity to ask individual questions.

Sign up here! Please note: The community will cover questions specific to CACFP participation. 

English with live Spanish interpretation

Offered in English

Recipes to Try! 

Looking for a quick, inexpensive dish that requires almost no cooking? Try this very simple recipe from MyPlate for 3-Can Chili. Check Out Recipe.

Too hot to cook? Try this recipe for Tofu Salad from MyPlate.

(Source: Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, p 43.)

NOTE: The cost analysis per recipe and per serving may not be accurate. 

Whole Grain-Rich Foods for the CACFP 

Consult this resource from United States Department of Agriculture to help you select whole grain-rich foods.

Monitoring and Oversight

Family Day Care Home CACFP Appeal Procedures

Apply for the Higher Tier Anytime

Has your household grown larger? Has your household income decreased? Do you now receive a qualifying service such as FoodShare? If so, you may qualify to receive the higher Tier 1 rates. You also may qualify to claim the residential children living in your home, if applicable. Applications and federal income guidelines are found here under Financial. 

Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guide

The FRPL guide for July 2025 to June 2026 is available here under Upcoming Guidelines.

Out and About? Update Us, Please

Be sure to report any days or times you will be closed or away from your child care during your business hours. Call or email your Area Coordinator before 7 a.m. to let them know. If your Area Coordinator shows up for a visit during a scheduled meal or snack service and you are gone, that meal will be deducted. This is a federal regulation.

State Attendance Records Do Not Substitute for Daily Meal Counts

Your menus and meal counts (including each child’s name or ID number) must be recorded online by the end of each business day. State attendance records will not be accepted by your Area Coordinator as a substitute for your daily meal counts. State attendance records will be used ONLY to compare with your Food Program records.

We Need Your Updated Regulation

Without a current regulation on file, the Food Program is unable to issue reimbursement for the nutritious meals and snacks you serve! Remember to mail, fax, or email a legible copy of your updated regulation as soon as you receive it. Send it to jgiles@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or fax it to 866-222-9520.

Is Your Contact Information Correct?

To keep you informed, the Food Program needs your correct contact information.

Changed your email?

Notify us here: Change in Email Address

If your name or address changed, you MUST submit a copy of your new cert or license. Email it to foodprogram@wisconsinearlychildhood.org or fax it to 866-222-9520.

WECA may send you updates about the Food Program through email and/or text message or voicemail – another reason to ensure your contact information is always up to date.

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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