Child Care Centers

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Child Care Centers- Public or private non-profit child care centers, Head Start programs, and some for-profit centers which are licensed or approved to provide child care may serve meals and snacks to children through age 12 years.

General Information:

Menu Planning Tools:

Eight Weeks of Cycle Menus Available!
The cycle menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are designed using the "USDA Recipes for Child Care" resource. A great starter for centers and homes new to the CACFP, and for some new menu ideas. Menus meet the meal pattern requirements for 3-5 year olds and portion sizes can be adjusted for other age groups.
Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
Food Buying Guide Electronic Calculator

Sample Menu Form
Combination Food Recipe with Instructions
Combination Food Recipe no Instructions
Recipe Conversion Calculation Worksheet
Non-Creditable Foods in CACFP
New Mexico Food Purchasing and Production Guide
(2005 Edition)
Easy to Use Grains and Breads Chart
(November 2012)
Daily Vendor Receipt

Menu Evaluation Checklist

Manufacturers Product Analysis Sheet

MPAS Sample Letter of Request to the Manufacturer

What the CN Label Tells You
Standard of Identity

Infant Feeding:

Meal Service Requirements:

Food Chart - Ages One and Up

Food Chart - Infants

Building for the Future:

Brochure

Poster - Required to be posted in facility

Misc Documents:

Appeal Procedure

Other Resources:

The Child Care Nutrition Resource System
The Child Care Nutrition Resource System provides you with recipes, resources and information on preparing nutritious meals and food safety.
Team Nutrition
The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA/FNS) has a comprehensive listing of all the resources available through Team Nutrition for schools and child care facilities that participate in the Federal Child Nutrition Programs.

Contacts

Lynne Reinoso (503) 947-5892
Child Nutrition Program - Program Mrg, Community Nutrition Programs