Fernanda Brito began her career as a Field Monitor in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) department at The Planning Council in 2007 after 5 years as a childcare provider utilizing the Food Program. In her position, Fernanda promotes nutrition education and observes meals received by children to ensure providers are serving healthy snacks and meals according to USDA regulations. Childcare providers are reimbursed for the meal and snack components that meet USDA requirements.
Eating healthy meals is second nature to Fernanda as she grew up on not-processed, home-cooked meals. She understands that nutrition starts early and through her work, she is passing the practice onto our youth and impacting their brain health. Even childcare providers have adopted a habit of following the Food Program requirements in their personal lives, permitting them to lose weight and live healthier.
Fernanda should be proud of the accomplishment she has made at The Planning Council of increasing the positive impact the Food Program has had on Spanish-speaking childcare providers in Maryland and D.C. She puts her bilingual skills to work disseminating her knowledge to elevate the nutritional value of cultural cuisines served to children and their future families.
It is evident that for Fernanda “liking what you do is not just a job; it becomes who you are.” Outside of her passion for imparting the importance of nutrition, watching kids grow over the years and providers growing a successful business educating our children, Fernanda enjoys shooting pool, listening to music, dancing, watching movies, and reading. She also loves a spicy southwest chicken salad; she eats one for lunch every day.
Let us give a big muchas gracias to Fernanda for the authentic care and hard work she gives to her job and our communities – anticipating the needs of her providers, meeting them at an individual level, and approaching them with empathy!