Nourishing News
December 2023🌲
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Holiday Closure
Region 6 will be closed for the Holiday Season December 21, 2023-January 6, 2024. We will return on Monday, January 8th, 2024.
If you need assistance during that time, please send me a detailed email. I will have limited access to internet, but will get back to you as soon as possible.
Wishing you and yours a joyous and restful Holiday!
Dina
CACFP UPDATES
Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program (Revised November 2023)
Commercially prepared tofu and soy yogurt products are now creditable as meat alternates in the SFSP. Both have previously been creditable in the CACFP for children ages 1 and older, now it's been extended to infants as well. Read the memo update here.
Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game, and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs – REVISED.
FNS is updating questions six, seven, and eight on page eight (indicated with asterisks) to better reflect opportunities to access domesticated and wild game animals including buffalo as well as other minor technical updates throughout. The responses to these three questions remind Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local, (including Tribal) laws and regulations.
Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Game, and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs- REVISED
SFSP UPDATES
SFSP Application Updates
- SFSP training is required for everyone listed on the Contracting Entity Application that is noted as responsible for the food service and it must be complete BEFORE submitting the application. If the training cannot be verified by TDA upon application submittal, the application will be returned and will not be reviewed until the SFSP Annual Training has been verified.
- Private Non Profits who only offer SFSP will be required to submit a management plan. TDA will notify CEs who need to complete.
- SFSP Site Field Trip Plan-Includes public notification of closure date and alternate sites.
Important Renewal Application Deadlines:
DUE DATES:
- January 15, 2024 - Application Packets open in TX-UNPS.
- March 15, 2024 - Last day to submit Application Packets in TX-UNPS to TDA if CE is requesting advance payments. Application Packets submitted in TX-UNPS after this date will not be eligible to receive advance payments for summer 2023.
- April 15, 2024 - Last day to submit the SFSP Intake Form via squaremeals.org to initiate the potential applicant review process. Last day to submit the SFSP Application Packet in TX-UNPS for all renewing SFSP CEs that are Not in Good Standing.
- May 1, 2024 - Last day to submit Application Packets for all other renewing CEs.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
CACFP LIVE: Meal Production Records-Session 546746
This class teaches Contracting Entities (CEs) basic Meal Production Record (MPR) skills including how to fill out related forms, how to use meal documentation to support the MPR and how to use the MPR to improve forecasting, communication, organization and to demonstrate compliance. (4 hour course: 9am-11am and return 12:30pm-2:30pm. Must attend in entirety to receive credit)
Register HERE.
Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024, 09:00 AM
Online Zoom
National CACFP Sponsors Association- Free Webinar: Get the Scoop! Emerging CACFP Food Trends in 2024
Description
Out with the old, in with the new! We're dishing out recipe ideas to kickstart the new year. Get ready to tantalize taste buds and inspire young eaters with the latest trends and delicious dishes. Join us to explore what's on the plate for 2024!
This session will be held virtually on Zoom 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Registration for this event closes on the morning of December 14, 2023.
RESOURCES
Sample Menus
Do you have a busy few weeks leading up to the winter holidays and are running low on time for menu planning? NCA has sample menus to make the next few weeks a little easier on you. All you have to do is grab the groceries!
Menu Planners for Breakfast and Snack in the Child and Adult Food Care Program
Team Nutrition is excited to announce the release of these menu planners to help child care center and family day care home operators understand the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern requirements and serve high-quality breakfast meals and snacks. They include sample menus, checklists, menu planning activities, and recipes. Recipes included in these menu planners are standardized to meet minimum serving amounts of at least one meal component for children 3 through 5 and 6 through 18 and are available in yields of 6, 25, and 50 servings. All recipes are taste-tested and kid-approved! Select recipes have cooking videos that show how to prepare the recipes.
"It’s Breakfast Time! Child and Adult Care Food Program Breakfast Menu Planner for Children 3 Through 18 Years of Age" is now available in English and Spanish.
The revised version of "Let’s Make a Snack! Child and Adult Care Food Program Snack Menu Planner for Children 3 Through 18 Years of Age" is now available in English and for the first time in Spanish.
The cooking videos are available at the Team Nutrition's Child and Adult Care Food Program Cooking Videos webpage.
Huntsville, TX 77340
936-435-8244
This guidance is not considered all inclusive.
Please see www.squaremeals.org for further guidance.
Note: If TDA makes changes to the website, direct links in this announcement may become void.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This program is funded by USDA.