Child and Adult Care Food Program. Aligning Dietary Guidance for All

摘要

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) has the broadest scope of any of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food programs. It supports the nutrition and health of our nations most vulnerable populations infants and children (especially those in low-income households) and adults who require daily supervision or assistance. Many of these participants rely on CACFP for the majority of their food intake, so the quality of the foods provided has the potential to substantially improve the overall adequacy and healthfulness of their diets. Furthermore, the availability of affordable care that includes meals and snacks of high nutritional quality provides an invaluable form of support for parents, guardians, or caregivers who need to be employed. CACFP currently serves approximately 3.3 million children and 114,000 adults across the United States. Yet, in spite of the importance of this program to millions of American families, the key role of CACFP in the food assistance spectrum is under-appreciated by both nutrition professionals and the public. To ensure that the meals and snacks provided by this crucial food program are of the highest quality possible, the USDA asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review and recommend improvements, as necessary, to the Meal Requirements for CACFP.