---
title: Make Your Plans to Join The Crunch
description: Child Care Aware® of Missouri collaborates with 15 centers to boost nutrition and physical activity in early childhood programs across 14 counties, fostering healthier environments for children.
---

[Partner Publication | Child Care Aware of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication)

# [Make Your Plans to Join The Crunch](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cchaw-make-your-plans-to-join-the-crunch)

 Written by [Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/author/child-care-aware-of-missouri) | Jul 21, 2025, 8:57:27 PM

Join us in the Missouri Crunch Off, a statewide event celebrating Farm to School Month that tracks how much locally-grown produce a state can "crunch" per capita. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Crunch Off takes place throughout October. What's your program planning to do to get in on the fun?

Last year Lisa’s Kids in Warsaw (Benton County) planned activities for a whole week that focused on apples, including lunch and snacks. Each day they tried a new type of apple prepared in a variety of ways. They had:

- Grilled apple and cheese sandwiches
- Apple cider stew
- Chocolate-covered apples with pretzels
- Apples with cheese

On Friday, the families were challenged at morning drop-off to crunch a variety of apples. Other programs have done similar taste tests, voting on their favorite. Lisa plans to participate in the Apple Crunch again this year, stating, “It was so much fun!”

Updated resources to plan your Crunch event will be available on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. Watch the Partner Publication for updates.Have a specific question? Contact Lisa Lauer at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. She can be reached at [Lisa.Lauer@health.mo.gov](mailto:Lisa.Lauer@health.mo.gov).

Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources:

[FREE Clock Hour Training](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/free-clock-hour-training)  
[Scholarships for Educators](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/scholarships-for-educators)  
[Child Care Health and Wellness](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/child-care-nutrition-and-physical-activity)  
[Family Child Care Network](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/family-child-care-network)  
[Leadership Development Opportunities](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/leadership-development-opportunities)  
[Missouri Office of Childhood Updates](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/missouri-office-of-childhood-updates)  
[Show Me Child Care Resources](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/show-me-child-care-resources)  
[Support Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/support-child-care-aware)  
[Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data)   
[Join Our Team](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/join-our-team)  
[Resources to Build Your Business ](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/resources-to-build-your-business)

 

 

[View full post](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cchaw-make-your-plans-to-join-the-crunch)

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