OVERALL VISION
To make snack time the perfect time to increase children’s daily consumption of vegetables and fruits.
PROGRAM GOAL
To offer providers easy-to-use and easy-to-make snack recipes that incorporate a variety of vegetables and fruits.
ASPHN STRATEGY
To develop a snack menu featuring daily healthy snack recipes that can be downloaded and customized.
A RECIPE TOOL FOR PROVIDERS
The CACFP Vegetable and Fruit Snack Menu was developed by ASPHN’s Fruit & Vegetable Nutrition Council to help providers more easily plan, prepare and provide healthier snack options for children.
Snack time is the perfect time to offer vegetables and fruits to the children in your care! Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried — fruits and veggies add color, texture, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the menu. Including these nutritious gems at snack will help children develop healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
It’s a fact that most children in the United States do not eat enough vegetables and fruits. We all want our children to be healthy, and providers play an important role in helping children choose healthy foods. This menu provides a month’s worth of snack ideas featuring a variety of vegetables and fruits to make it easier for providers to serve more every day.
TIPS FOR USING THE SNACK MENU
Below you’ll find the CACFP Vegetable and Fruit Snack Menu. There are a lot of different ideas on the menu, but you don’t need to do a complete overhaul of your menus all at once. It’s OK to start slowly and gradually work towards adding more veggies and fruits at snack time. You can always make substitutions if you think a different vegetable or fruit would be a hit, or if you find a good deal on a different item. Use the menu as a springboard to make your snack menu colorful, creative, and healthy!
To use the menu, simply click on the calendar below to open the interactive menu containing links to the individual recipes. If you would like to download the interactive menu and the full 25 recipe collection, use the red buttons beneath the calendar!
References
- 2018 State Indicator Report of Fruits and Vegetables: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Achieving A State of Healthy Weigh 2019 Report: National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
- USDA CACFP Recipes: Recipes for Child Care Homes and Adult Day Care
- Snack Inspiration: A Wisconsin CACFP Product
- The Association for Child Development – Illinois & Michigan
- Child Nutrition Recipe Box: USDA Standardized Recipes
- USDA Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Child Care Centers
THINK SEASONAL!
When planning your snack menu, consider the following:
- Identify vegetables and fruits that are in season using the USDA’s Seasonal Produce Guide.
- Buy, prepare and serve local foods.
- Plant a garden at your childcare center or home!
Why purchase seasonal and local produce?
- It educates children about food and nutrition.
- It increases vegetable and fruit consumption – a CACFP Best Practice!
- It supports your community and local economy.
- It creates a more equitable food system.
- It’s fun and creative!
SPICE IT UP!
These recipes were reviewed for cultural diversity and inclusivity of foods and spices. Watch for recipes that include an optional “Spice It Up!” section to modify the recipes for different cultures and ethnicities. If you have any suggestions for incorporating cultural diversity into any of the recipes, let us know here!
SHARE YOUR STORY
Use this feedback form to share with us how you used these recipes, the modifications you have made or any suggestions or questions you may have about the menu and its recipes! Remember to include you contact information if you have questions.
BROWSE RESOURCES on Vegetables and Fruits in the CACFP
- Team Nutrition: Let’s Make a Snack! Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Snack Menu Planner for Children 3 Through 18 Years of Age
This menu planner will help child care centers and family child care operators understand CACFP meal pattern requirements and serve high-quality snacks - Serving Vegetables in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
A tip sheet from USDA’s Team Nutrition on adding vegetables to CACFP menus, including serving sizes for popular vegetables - Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care
Garden-based nutrition education kit for family childcare - Grow It, Try It, Like It! Nutrition Education Kit Featuring My Plate
Garden-based nutrition education kit for childcare centers - Child and Adult Care Food Program Best Practices
Optional best practices from USDA that highlight areas where centers and day care homes may further improve the nutritional quality of meals
Our Partners
The Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) is the administrative lead for this project and would like to thank the members of its National Fruit & Vegetable Nutrition Council. Council members associated with the following organizations volunteered their time, expertise, creativity and passion to support the organization and development of ASPHN’s CACFP Vegetable and Fruit Snack Menu.
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.