The Lunchbox Letter: Plates & Possibilities
November Holidays Open/Close
CBS will be closed in observance of Veterans Day (November 11th), Thanksgiving Day (November 26th), and Black Friday (November 27th). CBS will be open on Election Day (November 3rd).
We are now abiding by our new Open/Close policy. If your center has not given CBS your closure dates, we are assuming you are closed on the days listed above and you will not receive meals for these dates. Want to confirm if you’ve given your closure dates? Email Amara Downey, Program Director at amara@cbsfoodprogram.com.
Extra Meals, Field Trips, Infant Forms/Orders, and Medical Form Policies
Beginning October 28, CBS will be instituting new policies for requests for extra meals, field trips, infant forms/orders, and medical forms. To read the full policies, visit our new Policies page on our website!
Infant Forms/Orders: Infants under 1 year of age are required to complete an Infant Enrollment Form. This form should be downloaded, printed, completed, and sent back to CBS at info@cbsfoodprogram.com. Infants will not be eligible for infant orders and will not be active in KidKare until CBS receives this form. Centers should submit an Infant Order at a minimum of two weeks prior to the product(s) being needed.
Medical Form: Any child with a food allergy or medical disability that impacts diet must complete the Medical Plan of Care Form. This can be downloaded, printed, completed, and sent back to CBS at info@cbsfoodprogram.com.
- Milk: If a child is lactose intolerant and needs lactose free or soy milk, a signed parent request from the parent requesting these milk alternatives will suffice, instead of the medical form. If the child needs a more specific type of milk, the parent will need to complete the medical form. Note: CBS is 100% nut free and cannot accommodate requests for almond milk.
- Infant: If an infant requires a specific formula brand, outside of what CBS offers (Member’s Mark Advantage Premium), the medical form will be required. For alternative milks and formulas that CBS does not provide, the center/parent will be responsible for the purchase of the required product listed on the medical form and should submit the receipt to CBS for reimbursement.
- Other Allergies: CBS will provide alternative meals that fit the medical needs of a child, if the medical form is completed. Centers with complex allergy cases may receive a bulk supply of food product that the center can put together as a creditable meal.
Extra Meals: CBS can offer eligible centers extra meals for school aged children on days when school is closed/during school breaks/summer when children would typically get their meals at school. A center must request the number of extra meals, the date the meals are needed, and the meal types by Wednesday at 12pm for any days extra meals are needed the following week.
Field Trips: Centers must notify CBS Food Program of field trip dates and locations, as a requirement of the CACFP. CBS is able to provide bagged lunches for field trips, if requested at minimum three business days before the trip date. Note: Centers must bring a cooler with ice to store and keep the milk, required for lunch, at temperature.
Follow CBS on Social Media!
We’re back on social media- including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! Follow our pages to stay up-to-date on what CBS is up to.
News & Reminders for Participating Centers!
Reminder! Emergency POS Meal Count Forms
Emergency meal count forms can be downloaded from KidKare! Log in to KidKare, click “Reports,” then “Regular,” then “Meals & Attendance.” Select “Daily Attendance + Meal Count Report” and choose a single day. Click the green “Run” button and the form will automatically download. Print and complete the form, and send back to CBS up to one business day after the meal service.
NEW! Policies Page
CBS is working to standardize operations and ensure centers know how internal operations work! Visit our new Policies Page on CBS’s website to check out the finalized policies CBS has announced. Check back often, as more policies are on the horizon and will be posted here!
NEW! Canned Drive Contest
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Does your center want to support local families and communities with canned goods to distribute this season?
Centers who complete POS Meal Counts every business day in the entire month of November (excluding Holidays) will be entered into a raffle to receive a bulk supply of canned goods to distribute! A winner will be announced in the December newsletter!
NEW! Scholarships for the National Child Nutrition Conference
The National CACFP Association (NCA) is offering seven in-person scholarships to attend the National Child Nutrition Conference in Chicago from March 29-April 2. Each scholarship includes conference registration fees, four nights lodging at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, and up to $450 towards transportation costs. NCA is also awarding eight additional scholarships to attend the conference’s virtual option!
Interested? Apply for a scholarship before the December 1 deadline.
Advocacy Spotlight
The CACFP is one of the nation’s most effective investments in child nutrition, food security, quality child care and support for working families. The National CACFP Association’s FY27-28 Advocacy Agenda focuses on practical CACFP reforms that will improve program sustainability, reduce barriers, expand participation, and ensure children and adults continue to receive nutritious meals in supportive care settings.
Discover how the National CACFP Association is working to strengthen CACFP through strategic advocacy by attending the webinar NCA Advocacy: Shaping the Future of CACFP. This free webinar will take place November 12 from 2pm-2:30pm and will explore key policy priorities, learn about NCA’s ongoing efforts, and identify meaningful ways to engage in advocacy that supports children, families, and providers.
CACFP Resources
November Activity Pages | Parts of a Plant
Teach children about the parts of a plant, with these fun activity pages. Children can play Pass the Veggies and do a fun craft called Bubble Vegetables.
Farm to Basket Activity
Continue the Farm to CACFP celebrations with this easy, fun activity to do with children in your centers. Color, cut, and glue local foods into the farmer’s basket to create your own harvest (in English & Spanish).
CACFP Autumn Activity Page
Check out this fun resource for directions on Apple-themed crafts, games, and recipe ideas. Happy Fall Y’all!
WIC 101: How WIC Works and How You Can Work to Support WIC | November 2 | 2pm-3pm
WIC staff, participants, and advocates will share key information you need to know about WIC and strategies you can use to ensure WIC reaches more eligible people in your community.
Harvest of the Month!
November’s Harvest of the Month is Winter Squash!
Winter squash includes dozens of varieties of squash, including acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and pumpkin! Compared to summer squashes, winter squashes have a denser texture and flavor and thicker skin that allows for a longer storage life.
Check out the PA Harvest of the Month’s Website to explore fact sheets, recipes, posters, and activity sheets exploring winter squash this season!
November Menus are Live!
November Hot and Box menus are ready!
Visit our CBS Food Program website and click on Menus (on the top right corner) to view and print menu(s) for your center.
As a reminder, menu(s) must be posted in a communal and visible area for all staff,
parents, and children to see. This is a requirement of the CACFP and something your monitors will look for during their visits.
Share Your Center’s News!
Any news to share from your center? This newsletter is meant to be interactive! If your center is hosting an event, looking for donations/volunteers, or has a fun or exciting story to highlight, we would love to include it here! Email amara@cbsfoodprogram.com with any content you’d like us to include in future newsletter editions!
