The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) aims to provide nutritious meals to children and adults in care, fostering healthy eating habits and ensuring the wellness of participants. In response to challenges faced by childcare providers in adhering to updated USDA meal guidelines, the Iowa Department of Education sought to leverage technology to enhance the CACFP's efficiency and accuracy. GovWebworks was tasked with developing a mobile application to assist providers in making informed food purchases, utilizing open-source technologies for broad compatibility and accessibility.
The resulting CACFP Shopper mobile app significantly improves the process of selecting creditable food items by providing a built-in calculator and a wizard for evaluating food compliance and nutritional value at the point of purchase. This tool not only aids providers in adhering to USDA guidelines but also streamlines the food buying process, reducing errors and enhancing the quality of meals served to children and adults in care. The app's success demonstrates an effective use of technology in supporting the objectives of the CACFP and promoting healthier dietary practices.