Central Kitchen

Healthy Eating Standards

As part of the Central Kitchen initiative started in 2009, Utah Community Action established its own best practices for healthy eating, requiring meals catered through the Central Kitchen to meet or exceed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards.

Our best practices for healthy eating:
• Foods prepared from scratch ingredients; minimal use of pre-packaged foods
• Fresh fruit and vegetables served with every meal
• Access to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
• 100% fruit juice
• Locally grown and, when possible, organically grown foods
• Whole grain products, including pasta
• Lean protein choices
• White milk (whole milk for children aged 1–2 years and nonfat milk for children aged 2–5)
• Low-fat and nonfat dairy foods
• Foods low in fat, sugar, and salt

Implications

The Head Start Central Kitchen initiative focuses on the individual/interpersonal level of the socio-ecologic model (children and their teachers and parents), with a secondary focus on the organizational level (preschools).

UCA’s Central Kitchen initiative is an emerging intervention based on its use of evidence-based strategies. The initiative shows promise, but evidence in support of effectiveness is not yet available.

Equal Opportunity Provider

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax:

(202) 690-7442;

email:

program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.