Food Program

[newtodaycare22]

I just joined the food program this week and was given a sample menu cycle for 6 weeks. Little was actually mentioned about the distribution of food (mostly just signing papers and going over procedure). I was just wondering if it matters that you repeat things. Like strawberries for snack two times a week or something. I'm sure it says something about repeats in the 9000 papers they gave me...but who feels like reading all that? Thanks!

[marniewon]

I serve cold cereal, banana and milk EVERY morning for breakfast. In the 5 or so months I've been on the food program, no one has ever said anything about it.

[melskids]

i was just coming here to ask the same thing....how funny

i have only been on the FP since the beginning of summer, and my first training was about as useful as...well...IDK

i am throwing out enormous amounts of food and it is driving me crazy. so what ive been doing is saving the leftovers (stuff that was absolutely not touched..) and mixing it together. not the main dish, but like the fruit and veggies. so say i cut up too many strawberries monday, and have extra melon tues. and grapes wed., then thurs it all goes in one bowl and becomes "fruit salad". same with veggies, by wed or thursday, i call it "vegetable melody". i suppose i could freeze extra of the main dish, and use it the next week....

but let me just say again, its extra that was never even put in front of a child, on their plate, or even at the table ...we've been down that thread before

[misol]

but let me just say again, its extra that was never even put in front of a child, on their plate, or even at the table ...we've been down that thread before

melskids I am cracking up and I am glad that you clarified that::

I know that every sponsor is different but in my paperwork I don't recall reading anything about repeats. I think it said that we have to serve a "variety" of foods - which is a loose way of saying don't serve the same foods for the same meal every single day. I try to follow weekly sales at our grocery stores and I offer 2 meals and 1 snack. So I may serve peaches 5 times in one week if they are on sale but since it's paired with a different main dish or other side I don't consider it a repeat. I usually go through the fridge at the end of every week and use up all the things that didn't get eaten earlier in the week so we eat a lot "medley" and "casserole" type stuff on Fridays.

This was discussed in a previous thread but one tip for cutting back on the amount food the kids waste is to serve it family style.

[kidkair]

This was discussed in a previous thread but one tip for cutting back on the amount food the kids waste is to serve it family style.

What exactly is family style?

[Michael]

I know "family style" from the Amish in PA. It means everyone eats from community portions and servings from the center of the table. Usually you sit at a restaurant and table with people you just met. You are not served separately. Everyone takes food from the main portions served at the center of the table. It's your community table buffet.

http://www.amishcountry.org/family.style.dining

[melskids]

I know "family style" from the Amish in PA. It means everyone eats from community portions and servings from the center of the table. Usually you sit at a restaurant and table with people you just met. You are not served separately. Everyone takes food from the main portions served at the center of the table. It's your community table buffet.

http://www.amishcountry.org/family.style.dining

my BIL is asian, and in his culture they eat communal like that as well. but i think "family style" is more like putting the food in serving dishes on the table and allowing the children to serve themselves exactly what/how much they want. (as opposed to fixing the plates at the counter, and then just placing it in front of them.) problem is, i do that, and they are putting heaps on their plates and then not eating it. and i still have tons of leftovers i;m not sure what to do with, hence the OP's original question of whether or not we can serve leftovers the next day.

[MarinaVanessa]

When I was on the food program I had to follow the guidelines which included portions too. I was wasting so much food because they weren't eating it all but I HAD to serve them that much and it was a waste. They always wanted more fruits, less veggies and ate only part of the main dish. Most didn't drink all their milk etc. Now that I'm not on the food program I serve what I know the child will eat and if they eat everything on their plate and ask for more of something I'll give them more of that only, even if it's just the fruit. MUCH less waste this way.

I also don't remember them ever having a problem with me serving something a couple of times a week as long as it wasn't the same entire meal. Like someone said earlier in the post Monday can be corndogs, apples, milk and carrots, Tuesday can be chicken, apples, milk and broccolli etc. And the end of the week it can be whatever you have left in the fridge. Also I LOVE preparing soups and meals ahead of time (chicken soup etc) and freezing it. That way if it doesn't get eaten all up whatever I didn't serve can be frozen and eaten the next week.

[newtodaycare22]

Thanks!

Thanks for the helpful responses!

[Crystal]

I have been participating in the Food Program for 13 years. I LOVE it. I am able to feed the children nutritious meals and snacks, and reclaim nearly 100% of my food expenses.

You don't have to measure out exact quantities of food - estimate it, be fairly accurate, and you're fine. On the rare occasion that you get an unnanounced visit from your monitor, she is not going to measure the amounts you give the children, but you need to be fairly close and make sure it's available. You can prepare food, serve small portions onto the children's plates, and offer/provide more if they want it. The foods don't have to be actually served and eaten, they just need to be offered. Any left over foods, even from your own families' meals, as long as they have not been actually served on a plate or directly eaten from, can be covered and served to the children at another time. Practice proper food handling and you're good!

[juliebug]

I know with my food program that if i serve the same food more than 2 times in one week a get a letter telling me that i served it to many time in one week. i still get paid and nothing happens i just get the letter. so i guess each company that does it must be diffrent some.

I serve family style and offer the kids the food but they don't have to take it that meets the requirements for the food program and i am not wasting tons of food! I hate hate wasting food majior pet peve of mine.

[caitlin]

I had a big issue with the portions when it came to my little ones just starting to eat table food. They wouldn't eat it all, ever! So, I dipped out what they are supposed to have and then I would spoon some of this onto a smaller plate using a clean spoon. If they wanted more, they could have more off of that plate and what they didn't eat could be saved as leftovers because they weren't touching it.

I have a rule with older children that they can't have seconds on the main dish, but they are welcome to as much fruit and vegetables as they would like. Also, I only give one serving of milk and if they want more to drink I give water.

I've never had trouble with serving foods more than once a week. Something I try to do is incorporate leftovers into something else. For example we had mixed veggies on Wednesday, and Thursday we had "chicken chunks" (basically a chicken nugget without breading) so Thursday evening I used the leftovers to make a chicken pot pie. I used all of the left over chicken (plus a little extra) and all of the left over veggies (plus a little extra that we will have to lunch on Monday).

[Charity]

App for food program??

I have been looking online for the application for the food program. I love in Louisiana and can not find it. Can someone please help??

[Michael]

louisiana food program

I have been looking online for the application for the food program. I love in Louisiana and can not find it. Can someone please help??

Here you go: https://www.daycare.com/louisiana/lo...d-program.html


Who Is Eligible For CACFP Meals?

• Children age 12 and under
• Migrant children age 15 and younger
• Functionally impaired adult participants or adults age 60 and older enrolled in an adult day care center
• Youths through age 18 in afterschool programs in needy areas

What Type Of Facilities Participate In CACFP?

• Child Care Centers-licensed or approved public or private nonprofit child care centers, head start programs, and for-profit centers serve meals to large numbers of children.
• Family Day Care Homes-small groups of children ( 6 or less) receive nonresidential day care in approved private homes.
• Afterschool Care Programs-centers in low-income areas provide free snacks to school-age children and youth.
• Homeless Shelters-emergency shelters provide residential and food services to homeless children.
• Adult Day Care Centers-public, private non-profit, and some for-profit adult day care facilities provide structured, comprehensive services to functionally impaired nonresident adults.

Ways To Obtain Additional Information About This Program!



Websites

• Child Nutrition Programs: http://cnp.doe.state.la.us
• USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/CACFP/cacfphome.htm
• USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program Federal Regulations: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/7cfr226_03.html

Contact Information

• Center-Based-Connie Clark** 225-342-3680 or 1-877-453-2721 (toll-free)** connie.clark@la.gov
• Home-Based-Linda Lambert** 225-342-3997 or 1-877-453-2721 (toll-free)** lindab.lambert@la.gov

[QualiTcare]

What exactly is family style?

michael is correct about what family style is. it's sort of like what everyone does "at least here" at thanksgiving or christmas. everything is on the table, and everyone gets what they want - or doesn't get what they don't want.

it's great for preschoolers bc they learn manners, "could you pass me the carrots..." etc.

but you have to make sure the kids know that they MUST put a little of everything on their plate - even if they don't want it (if you're on the food program). otherwise, you can't count that child as having a meal. it's good to make sure they do that from the start. otherwise, you'll be embarrassed when a kid says, "you never made me do that before!" when the state is there.