"Food For Thought "
Child and Adult Care Food Program Newsletter
Child Care Connection is your CACFP Sponsor
May 2005
THE CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM
WHERE HEALTHY EATING BECOMES A HABIT
The Child Care Food Program began in 1968 as an extension of the National School Lunch Program to address the nutritional needs of children in child care homes and centers. Ever since, CACFP has reimbursed millions of child care providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care.
The CACFP is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Education regulates this program.
Child Care Connection sponsors this program and is happy to give you more information to you if you are a family child care provider.
PROVIDER CORNER :
Minute Menu Computer Program & Child Care Connection
The Minute Menu Computer Program is up and running at Child Care Connection, a sponsor for the C.A.C.F.P.
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Minute Menu is a computer program designed for family child care providers enrolled in the C.A.C.F.P.
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Minute Menu allows providers to record menus and attendance online.
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The Minute Menu program requires a computer link to Internet Explorer 6.0 or (XP. Adobe Reader is also used and can be down loaded easily.
Child Care Connection is offering Minute Menu to family child care providers enrolled in its sponsorship.
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One advantage for providers is that they are be able to enter meals in advance.
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Another advantage is that they can enter attendance after the meal or at the end of the day. At the end of the month providers can submit their claim online to Child Care Connection. This eliminates mailing in menus on a monthly basis. Child enrollments are updated annually and are part of the Minute Menu program.
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If a provider's computer crashes, the provider can access the Minute Menu program from another computer at the library or another location.
Minute Menu operates on a server system and stores all data that is entered by providers. Providers can access their information from any computer with a valid ID and Password.
Child Care Connection has the ability to provide technical assistance to providers for any computer related problems with Minute Menu.
Interested? Contact Child Care Connection
1-800-407-5437
Ask for a Food Program specialist.
Join us at Child Care Connection's CACFP for a simpler and quicker way to do your menus in the food program!
Attention! Attention
Child Care Centers and
Family Child Care Homes
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
Are now available!
The Bureau of Child Care and Development, in partnership with
Ohio Community Development Finance Fund, is pleased to announce the availability of
Ohio Quality Improvement Grants. The purpose of these grants is to enhance the quality of the physical environment and to promote school readiness.
The Ohio Quality Improvement Grants are available to
* Professional certified family child care homes,
* Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) licensed full-time
child care centers
* ODJFS licensed Type A homes.
Check out the following website:
http://www.jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/providers.stm
Certified Family Child Care Businesses
* click to download the application, application instructions and
Ohio Quality Improvement Grant policy and guidelines for which you may apply.
ODJFS licensed full-time centers and type A homes:
* click to download the application, application instructions and
Ohio Quality Improvement Grant Playground policy and guidelines
for which you may apply.
Applicants can download hard copies of the Family Child Care and Playground applications, or use the online application system at
http://www.financefund.org .
Centers involved in The Step Up To Quality Pilot Program will work
with their local Resource and Referral Agency for the grant application process.
HELPFUL WEBSITES
Call Child Care Connection, 1-800-497-KIDS for a list of more child care related website addresses.
http://www.iamyourchild.org/ I Am Your Child
http://teachmorelovemore.org Teach More, Love More
http://www.pbs.org/wholechild/index.html The Whole Child website from the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
www.OAEYC.org The Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children
www.NAEYC.org The National Association for the Education of Young Children
www.NACCRRA.org The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
NUTRITION CORNER
RECIPES
Make your own granola. It’s much healthier and can be used as a gift.
Granola Recipe:
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup chopped walnuts or slivered almonds
½ cup sesame seeds (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup water
1 (t-oz) pkg dried sweetened cranberries or other dried fruits (cherries, raisins)
Heat the oven to 300. In a large mixing bowl stir together the oats, germ, nuts, seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey and water. Toss until well combined and spread evenly on a cookie sheet. Bake for 40 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes to keep the mixture from sticking. Let it cool completely, and then stir in dried fruit.
FAILPROOF MUFFIN MIXES from Family Fun
These are healthy treats you can give as a gift for the holidays.
Cranberry Pecan Muffin Mix
2 ½ cups flour
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ tsp cinnamon
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ cup chopped pecans
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, slat and cinnamon into a large bowl (a great job for kids). Carefully pour the mixture into a clear cellophane bag big enough to hold about 5 cups. Next, top the mixture with the dried cranberries followed by the pecans to create a layered look. Seal the top of the bag with clear packing tape. Then tie on a ribbon and a card with the instructions below printed inside.
1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and butter the bottoms only of 12 regular-size or 6 jumbo muffin cups.
2. Pour the muffin mix into a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. In another bowl, whisk 1 large egg. Then blend in 1 ½ cups of milk and 1/3 cup of vegetable oil.
3. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in the liquid mixture and stir just until smooth. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups.
4. Bake the muffins on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes for regular muffins or 20 to25 minutes for jumbo muffins. Serve warm and enjoy!
Updated December 2004
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