Snacks and Meals
We recognize that our lack of a commercial kitchen places an additional responsibility on families to provide meals for their children. We truly understand how this can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to deciding on the right amounts and variety of food. To alleviate this stress, we are committed to supporting all our families in every possible way. Here you may find helpful resources on nutritious toddler and preschool snacks and meals, ensuring you have the guidance you need. Thank you for being an essential part of our community; together, we create a nurturing environment for our children to thrive.
The nutrition standards for meals and snacks served in the CACFP are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, science-based recommendations made by the National Academy of Medicine, cost and practical considerations, and stakeholder input. The standards support the service of a greater variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, lean meats/meat alternative, and low-fat and fat-free dairy while minimizing added sugar and saturated fat. In addition, the standards encourage breastfeeding to align the CACFP with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Lunches should be balanced, bite-sized, and varied, featuring a mix of proteins, whole grains, fruits, and veggies, like bento box combos (cheese, crackers, turkey, berries), mini pizzas on English muffins, egg muffins, quesadillas, or pasta with hidden veggies, focusing on whole foods and avoiding added sugars for healthy development. A well balanced lunch should have 5 components, some great lunch ideas are:
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pasta, peas, pepper slices, strawberries and cheese
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avocado bread, steamed carrots, yogurt and blueberries
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beans, cheese, cornbread, apple slices, steamed peppers
When preparing a snack for your child, it is best to keep things straightforward and to emphasize texture and variety in addition to flavor. Healthy snacks balance protein, healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients, focusing on whole foods like fruits (berries, banana, apple slices), veggies (cucumber, bell peppers with hummus/guacamole), dairy/alternatives (yogurt, cheese sticks), lean protein (hard-boiled eggs, shredded chicken), and whole grains (crackers, whole-wheat toast), while keeping added sugars and salt low and avoiding choking hazards like whole nuts or popcorn. A "snack plate" with 2-3 small items offers choices and keeps bellies full. Here are some other excellent snack suggestions:
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baked/steamed sweet potato wedges
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thinly sliced steamed (or raw if very thinly sliced) bell peppers
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avocado wedges
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banana spears
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baked tofu strips/pieces
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steamed apple wedges
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bowtie or rigatoni pasta
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braised/stewed shredded beef, pork, or chicken
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scrambled egg, or omelet cut into strips