|
USDA CACFP MEAL PATTERN REQUIREMENTS
Meal | Food Served | Age 1 through 2 | Age 3 through 5 | Age 6 through 12 | Breakfast
| Juice1 or Fruit or Vegetable | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 
| Bread2 (whole grain or enriched) or
| 1/2 slice | 1/2 slice | 1 slice |
| Cereal or
| 1/4 cup | 1/3 cup | 3/4 cup |
| Hot Cereal or Grains or Pasta or
| 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Bread Alt., i.e., Biscuit, Muffin, Roll | 1/2 serving | 1/2 serving | 1 serving |
| Milk3 | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup | 1 cup | Snack
| Juice1 or Fruit or Vegetable | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup | | (Serve 2 of the 4 groups) | Bread2 (whole grain or enriched) or
| 1/2 slice | 1/2 slice | 1 slice | 
| Dry Cereal or | 1/4 cup | 1/3 cup | 3/4 cup |
| Hot Cereal or Grains or Pasta or
| 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Bread Alt., i.e., Biscuit, Muffin, Roll | 1/2 serving | 1/2 serving | 1 serving |
| Meat or Poultry or Fish or Cheese or
| 1/2 oz. | 1/2 oz. | 1 oz. |
| Eggs4 or
| 1/2 egg | 1/2 egg | 1/2 egg |
| Peanut Butter or
| 1 Tbsp. | 1 Tbsp. | 2 Tbsp. |
| Cooked Dry Beans or Dry Peas or
| 1/8 cup | 1/8 cup | 1/4 cup |
| Nuts and/or Seeds5 or
| 1/2 oz. | 1/2 oz. | 1 oz. |
| Yogurt | 2 oz. | 2 oz. | 4 oz. |
| Milk3 | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 1 cup | Lunch/Supper
| Meat or Poultry or Fish or Cheese or
| 1 oz. | 1-1/2 oz. | 2 oz. | 
| Eggs or
| 1/2 egg | 3/4 egg | 1 egg |
| Peanut Butter or
| 2 Tbsp. | 3 Tbsp. | 4 Tbsp. |
| Cooked Dry Beans or Dry Peas or
| 1/4 cup | 3/8 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Nuts and/or Seeds5 or
| 1/2 oz. | 3/4 oz. | 1 oz. |
| Yogurt | 4 oz. | 6 oz. | 8 oz. |
| Choose two different vegetables and/or
fruits to equal the following portions... | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup |
| Bread2 (whole grain or enriched) or
| 1/2 slice | 1/2 slice | 1 slice |
| Cooked Grains or Bread or
| 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Bread Alt., i.e., Biscuit, Muffin, Roll | 1/2 serving | 1/2 serving | 1 serving |
| Milk3 | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup | 1 cup |
1 Fruit or vegetable juice must be 100% juice. Juice cannot be served when milk is the only other component for snack. 2 Grains/Bread Groups: USDA recommends that at least half your grains be whole grains. 3 Milk for 1 Year Olds: Children at this age may need the additional fat which whole or 2% milk provides for optimal growth and brain development. Heartland Child Nutrition recommends that providers discuss with parents of one-year olds, what form of milk they prefer their child be served. While all forms of fluid cow’s milk are creditable in the CACFP, serving skim milk to 1-year-olds is not recommended. Milk for 2 through 12 Year Olds: Fluid milk served in the CACFP to participants two years of age and older must be fat-free (skim) or low fat (1%) milk. Also allowed are fat-free or low-fat versions of lactose reduced milk, lactose free milk, buttermilk, or acidified milk. Any milk served must be pasteurized fluid milk and may be plain or flavored. Whole milk and reduced-fat (such as 2%) milk is not creditable for CACFP purposes for children over 2 years old. 4 One-half egg meets the required minimum amount (1 oz. or less) of meat alternate for snack. 5 Nuts and seeds may meet only one-half of the total meat/meat alternate serving and must be combined with another meat/meat alternate to fulfill the lunch or dinner requirement.
Learn about MyPlate & Incorporate these Guidelines in Your Child Care! |
Choose My Plate 
|