Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins writes to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any USDA Child Nutrition Program, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option, of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in program meals.
This memorandum details the nutrition requirements for fluid milk and fluid milk substitutes in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and includes a series of frequently asked questions and answers. This memorandum supersedes CACFP 17-2016, Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Questions and Answers, July 14, 2016.
The purpose of this memorandum is to outline the use of Offer Versus Serve in the adult day care and at-risk afterschool settings, as well as the use of family style meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
The CACFP meal patterns lay the foundation for a healthy eating pattern for children and adults in care. USDA also developed optional best practices that build on the meal patterns and highlight areas where centers and day care homes may take additional steps to further improve the nutritional quality of the meals they serve.
Teach children and adults about healthy eating that will last them a lifetime. CACFP has resources and publications that will help you put together great tasting, nutritious meals and snacks that participants will enjoy.
This tip sheet was designed for school foodservice professionals to provide an overview of Offer versus Serve guidance for lunch meal service.
These materials can be used as tools to educate students and school nutrition professionals on Offer vs Serve.
Team Nutrition supports the CACFP by providing training for child care providers, nutrition education for children and families, and resources to support a healthier environment.
Team Nutrition supports the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs by providing training for school food service, nutrition education for children and families and resources to support a healthier school environment.