Team Nutrition has been hard at work creating resources to help with training and practical use in CACFP programs for October 2021 when Grains Ounce Equivalents become part of the required meal pattern. We shared these in September but with all of the information we consume in relation to COVID-19, I thought it might be helpful to remind us all there are tools to help with the coming October 2021, Grain Ounce Equivalent meal pattern requirements.
The good news is, with these resources, nobody is going to have to weigh a piece of bread. You might have to grab a calculator every now and then or log in to Exhibit A of the food buying guide. You can access all of the below on Team Nutrition's CACFP Grains Ounce Equivalents Resources page.
With these training worksheets you'll see how to determine grains ounce equivalents and
even have some hands on opportunities to give it a try. There are charts and step by step directions for how to calculate or determine if/how/when to meet the grains ounce equivalent requirement. The training sheets are in English and Spanish.
Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP (i.e., the Grains Measuring Chart)
The Food Buying Guide now has an Exhibit A grains tool. Watch the webinars to understand how the Exhibit A grains tool will help you and then how to maximize it!
And Team Nutrition has even provided us with the powerpoint training tool that they use in their sessions teaching us how to do this. Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP [English PPT] [Spanish PPT].
Resources from other states include:
Video from the Virginia Department of Education "CACFP Grain Ounce Equivalents and Recipe Analysis Workbook Training Video"
Grains Ounce Calculator by Providers Choice (CACFP Sponsor) in Minnesota
California Department of Education explanation and steps for determining Ounce Equivalents
Sponsors, have you started training yet? Providers, have you practiced? How's it going? Has your training plan changed because of remote visits during COVID-19? Let us know in the comments below or email us coordinator@ccfproundtable.org.