Meal Pattern Requirements for Infants

NC Department of Health and Human Services

Points to Remember

Keep menu production records
The required amount of each food must be served

Breakfast
Birth - 3 months	4 - 7 months	8 - 11 months
4-6 fl.oz. formula¹or breast milk^2,3	4-8 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3 0-3 Tbsp. infant cereal^1,4	6-8 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3 and 2-4 Tbsp. infant cereal¹ and 1-4 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable
Snack
Birth - 3 months	4 - 7 months	8 - 11 months
4-6 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3	4-6 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3	2-4 fl.oz. formula¹, breast milk^2,3, or fruit juice⁵ 0-½ bread^{4, 6} or 0-2 crackers^{4, 6}
Lunch and Supper
Birth - 3 months	4 - 7 months	8 - 11 months
4-6 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3	4-8 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3 0-3 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable⁴ 0-3 Tbsp. infant cereal^1,4	6-8 fl.oz. formula¹ or breast milk^2,3 and 1-4 Tbsp. fruit and/or vegetable and 2-4 Tbsp. infant cereal¹ and/or 1-4 Tbsp. meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, cooked dry beans or peas; or ½-2 oz. cheese; or 1-4 oz. cottage cheese, cheese food, or cheese spread
¹ Infant formula and dry infant cereal shall be iron-fortified. ² It is recommended that breast milk be served in place of formula from birth through 11 months. ³ For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breast milk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breast milk may be offered, with additional breast milk offered if the infant is still hungry. ⁴ A serving of this component shall be optional. ⁵ Fruit juice shall be full-strength. ⁶ Bread and bread alternates shall be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour.