The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program that provides meal reimbursement to child care centers, adult day care centers, emergency shelters, before and afterschool programs, and child development homes for serving nutritious meals. The objectives of CACFP are to:
- Provide a subsidy to eligible child and adult care institutions for serving nutritious meals
- Serve nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in care
- Foster lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits
This Program serves:
- Children age 0 through 12 years in child care centers.
- Children through age 18 in at risk afterschool programs and emergency shelters.
- Children of migrant workers, through age 15.
- Functionally impaired disabled persons receiving care in a center or home where most children are 18 years old and younger.
- Adults age 60 or older or impaired adults of any age in non-residential day care settings.
The funds provided for this Program are from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Program is operated in Iowa through the Bureau of Nutrition and Health in the Department of Education.
Spend Smart Eat Smart in Childcare Webinar
The Spend Smart Eat Smart in Childcare webinar was presented on September 13, 2012, by Iowa Team Nutrition and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The webinar offers many useful ways to save money yet provide healthy meals in the childcare setting.
Sign up at the SpendSmart.EatSmart blog to receive one email each week with tips for saving money at the grocery store.