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Running a Program
Food

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of child care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. Through CACFP, 2.6 million children and 62,500 adults receive nutritious meals and snacks, each day. Whether you are a provider in your home, at a child care center, in an after school care program, or in a shelter, you will find many useful hints, resources, and contacts at this site.

Child Care Meal Pattern--Breakfast
This chart lays out the USDA components for a healthy breakfast.

Child Care Meal Pattern--Lunch or Supper
This chart lays out the USDA components for a healthy lunch or supper.

Child Care Meal Pattern--Snack
This chart lays out the USDA components for a healthy snack.

Child Nutrition Home Page
The Child Nutrition Programs provide healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to the nation's children. Find out about the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program on this USDA site.

Child Care Recipes
From old favorites like pancakes and sloppy Joes, to popular new dishes like taco salad and Mexican pizza, Child Care Recipes will help you put together great tasting, nutritious meals that young children will love. Child Care Recipes is a new collection of recipes developed just for child care centers. Each recipe contributes to a reimbursable meal served to children enrolled in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Child Care Recipe Roundup
Need recipes for great foods that are good for kids and that kids will eat? The National Food Service Management Institute has some great recipes to help you meet both goals. You can download "Child Care Recipes/Food For Fun and Health" and get started right away!

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)
FAAN's mission is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Food and Drug Administration
FDA's mission is to promote and protect the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use. Their work is a blending of law and science aimed at protecting consumers.

Food and Nutrition Information Center
This site leads you to a wealth of helpful food and nutrition information

Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children
This is a daily food guide for 2-6 year olds. You can print the helpful poster and the chart to graph what kids eat!

FoodSafety.gov
This site is a gateway to government food safety information.

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
FSIS is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. Visit this site for Health Alerts and food safety information.

State Agencies Administering the Child Nutrition Programs
Contact your state to find out if you are eligible to participate in the snacks and meals programs.

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