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Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2018-0001 Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs has all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s), and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Nationwide Waivers of Child Nutrition Monitoring

FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals. 

11/12/2021
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2019-0007 School Meals FAQs

School meals are required to meet specific nutrition standards to operate the school meals programs. The standards align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools. 

02/27/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0049 Update of Food Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum informs stakeholders on the progress made by FNS in updating the food crediting system for all child nutrition programs. This is a first step towards improving the crediting system to best address today’s evolving food and nutrition environment and meet the needs of those operating and benefiting from the CNPs.

SP08 CACFP02 SFSP02-2019
12/04/2018
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance CACFP Meal Pattern Posters

These colorful posters use photography shot specifically for settings participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

02/12/2018
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Afiches del patrón de comidas del Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos

Estos afiches coloridos usan fotografías específicas para sitios que participan en el Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos (CACFP, por sus siglas en inglés) y miden 11” x 17”. Estos afiches se pueden usar para fortalecer el conocimiento, las habilidades y la experiencia de los proveedores y operadores del CACFP para implementar los requisitos del patrón de comidas del CACFP.

02/12/2018
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2013-0063 Smart Snacks in Schools Nutrition Standards - Interim Final Rule Q&As

The new standards will allow schools to offer healthier snack foods for our children, while limiting junk food served to students. Students will still be able to buy snacks that meet common-sense standards for fat, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium, while promoting products that have whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as their main ingredients.

08/01/2013
Resource | Flyers Healthier Middle Schools Every student can help

In middle school, you have more say in deciding things for yourself. You can also help to make your school healthier. There’s a lot you can do to get more healthy food choices and more opportunities for physical activity for everyone.

08/02/2012
Resource | Flyers Healthier Middle Schools Every teacher can help

There are short-term and long-term advantages to making healthier foods and regular physical activity priorities at your school.

08/02/2012
Resource | Guidance Documents | FNS-GD-2005-0051 FNS 113-1: Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement

The purpose of this Instruction is to establish and convey policy and provide guidance and direction to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and its recipients and customers, and ensure compliance with and enforcement of the prohibition against discrimination in all FNS nutrition programs and activities, whether federally funded in whole or not. 

FNS Instruction 113-1
11/08/2005
Page updated: October 14, 2021