Three CACFP leaders turn meal service into nutrition education

The National CACFP Association is spotlighting three child care leaders in Washington, D.C., Nevada and Washington state who use the federal food program to do more than serve meals. Their programs pair scratch cooking, gardening and family engagement to build healthier habits for children and families.

Why it matters: - The Child and Adult Care Food Program is being used as a tool for nutrition education, not just meal reimbursement. - The three programs highlighted by the National CACFP Association show how scratch cooking, family-style dining and gardening can shape children’s eating habits at home and in care settings. - The examples span a large after-school network, an early childhood center and a family child care home, showing the model can scale in different settings.

What happened: - The National CACFP Association highlighted three members whose nutrition practices are changing how children experience food in care programs. - Mark Jacoby, vice president of business operations at Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, shifted the organization away from heat-and-serve meals and toward mostly scratch-cooked food and fresh seasonal produce. - Enrique Viejon Jr., comprehensive services manager at Educare of Washington DC, expanded nutrition and gardening activities for six CACFP sites serving about 375 children a day. - Bhavini Patel, owner of Kirkland Child Care in Washington, applies her nutrition background to serve homemade meals and lead nutrition education in a home-based child care setting.

The details: - Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows serves about 750,000 meals a year to 14,000 children across 27 sites through CACFP, the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program. - The organization operates three commercial kitchens and uses a dedicated culinary team to prepare meals that fit CACFP reimbursement rules. - Jacoby said the change to scratch cooking reduced waste, increased how much children ate and improved engagement and behavior. - Jacoby also said the organization replaced fruit cups with fresh fruit. - Educare of Washington DC uses family-style dining, classroom nutrition education, gardening and family engagement to reinforce healthy habits. - Children at Educare set tables, serve themselves and plant, harvest and taste produce in the garden. - Viejon expanded parent participation in the garden after ideas shared at the National Child Nutrition Conference. - Patel begins meal prep before sunrise for breakfasts, lunches and snacks before welcoming 10 children into her home-based program each day. - Patel’s daily routine includes menu planning with children, discussions about balanced meals and lessons on how food supports growth. - Families report that children carry those lessons home and encourage healthier eating outside the child care setting.

Between the lines: - The examples suggest CACFP works best when meals are paired with hands-on learning and repeated exposure to healthy foods. - The programs also show that child nutrition efforts can involve staff, children and parents at the same time, which may strengthen behavior change beyond the classroom. - Each leader is adapting the same federal program to a different environment, which points to flexibility as one of CACFP’s biggest strengths.

What's next: - The National CACFP Association will continue highlighting member programs that use food service to support child development and family engagement. - The three featured programs are likely to remain models for other CACFP sponsors and child care providers looking to expand nutrition education.

The bottom line: - CACFP can do more than feed children. When programs pair meals with cooking, gardening and family involvement, they can help build healthier habits that last beyond the meal.