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Resource | Toolkits USDA Foods Toolkit for Child Nutrition Programs

The USDA Foods Toolkit is a collection of valuable resources to assist child nutrition professionals in effectively using their USDA Food entitlement and to help them educate students, staff, and the community about the healthy contributions that USDA Foods provide to their meal programs.

10/20/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance GS1 GDSN and the USDA Foods Database: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for States/School Districts

These questions and answers provide more information about the USDA Foods Database for states/school districts.

03/29/2023
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2007-0022 Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products

The term "Alternate Protein Product" is the name used by FNS to identify products meeting requirements set forth in Appendix A of the NSLP, SBP, SFSP, and the CACFP within the section entitled Alternate Protein Products.

10/04/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0060 Questions and Answers Regarding Child Nutrition Program Oversight, Administration, and Reporting During COVID-19

This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to child nutrition program oversight, monitoring, and administration. 

SP10 CACFP09 SFSP05-2021
04/29/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0083 Q&As related to Food Service Management Company Contracts and Allowable Costs during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This memorandum includes questions and answers for state agencies and local program operators on flexibilities available under the child nutrition programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

SP21 CACFP12 SFSP12-2020
06/03/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0039 Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks: Q&As #3

This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification to state agencies and program operators on the operation of the child nutrition programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.

SP14-2020
04/13/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0026 Q&As related to COVID-19: WIC and the Food Distribution Programs

With the recent passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to assist with the novel coronavirus public health emergency,  WIC received an increase in funding for the program as well as increased ability to provide states with the flexibilities they need to support mothers, infants and children that rely on WIC.

03/31/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0073 Q&As on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements

Attached are Q&As on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, Dec. 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the child nutrition programs beginning July 1, 2019.

SP37 CACFP16-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2019-0007 School Meals FAQs

School meals are required to meet specific nutrition standards to operate the school meals programs. The standards align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools. 

02/27/2019
Resource | Toolkits Verification Toolkit

School food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are required to verify income for a small percentage of households approved for free or reduced price meals each school year. However, getting households to respond to verification requests can be challenging for SFA staff. If households do not respond, they lose their benefits regardless of their actual eligibility.

12/08/2018
Page updated: October 14, 2021