1. Food Purchasing for Child Care National Food Service Management Institute The University of Mississippi

2. Lesson 1: Working With the Menu

3. Menus help you to estimate the amount of food to purchase,
create a grocery list,
purchase food,
prepare meals, and
receive and store food.

4. Lesson Objectives State the benefits of using cycle menus
Identify strategies for planning nutritious and appealing meals
State the benefits of reviewing menus prior to purchasing foods

5. Cycle Menus Series of planned menus
A different menu is served each day
After the cycle is complete, the menus are repeated

6. Advantages of Using Cycle Menus
Cycle menus allow flexibility.
Cycle menus save time.
Cycle menus make food shopping easier.

7. Menu Planning Process Always plan menus before purchasing food
Identify the CACFP Meal Pattern requirements
Select the main dish first
Add the remaining food components

8. Planning Nutritious Meals
Serve a variety of foods
Ensure foods are not repeated more than once
Increase fiber
Limit the number of fried and high-fat foods

9. Planning Nutritious Meals (cont.)
Limit sweetened foods
Serve fewer high-salt (sodium foods)
Include foods that provide vitamin A & C
Include iron-rich foods

10. Planning Appealing Meals
Include different shapes, colors, textures, & tastes
Incorporate herbs and spices
Think about culture
Plan new foods with familiar favorites

11. Question?
Did you know children under the age of four pose the highest risk for choking?

12. Age 4 and Under Tend to explore using the mouth
Higher risk for choking
Tend to explore using the mouth
Developing new skills i.e. chewing

13. Foods to Avoid Round Sticky Hard Smooth Small Slippery Thick
Larger than ½ inch

14. Reviewing Menus Foods are in compliance with CACFP Meal Patterns
Within budget
Appropriate for the children

15. Lesson Recap Planning menus is the first step Benefits of cycle menus
Ensure menus
healthy
appealing
appropriate
meet the CACFP Meal Pattern requirements

16. Questions?

17. National Food Service Management Institute
Mission: To provide information and services that promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs.
Vision: To be the leader in providing education, research, and resources to promote excellence in child nutrition programs.