Meal Patterns
CACFP centers must be in compliance with the revised meal patterns by October 1, 2017.
USDA revised the CACFP meal patterns to ensure children and adults have access to healthy, balanced meals throughout the day. The changes made were based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, scientific recommendations from the National Academy of Medicine, stakeholder input, and cost and practical considerations. Under the revised meal patterns, meals served will include more whole grains, less saturated fat, a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, and less added sugar.
USDA has updated their CACFP Nutrition Standards web page with great resources on the revised meal pattern.
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Milk and Milk Substitutes
- Potentially Allowable Non-Dairy Beverages (PDF, 107 KB)
- CACFP Milk Calculator (XLSX, 29 KB)
- Non-Dairy Tool (XLSX, 41 KB)
USDA Policy Memos Related to the NEW Meal Patterns
- Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the CACFP
- Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the CACFP
- Grain Requirements in the CACFP
- Offer Versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the CACFP
- Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the CACFP (PDF, 252 KB)
- Transition Period for the Updated CACFP Meal Patterns
- Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the CACFP, Q&A (PDF, 91 KB)
New Meal Patterns (Effective October 1, 2017)
New Meal Pattern Menu Checklists
New Meal Pattern Tools
- Child Weekly Menu Planning Tool (DOCX, 27 KB)
- Infant Weekly Menu Planning Tool (DOCX, 28 KB)
- Adult Weekly Menu Planning Tool (DOCX, 25 KB)
New Meal Pattern Trainings
Resources
- Creditable Grains in CACFP (PDF, 121 KB)
- Early Implementation Tip Sheets
- Breastfeeding On-Site (PDF, 340 KB)
- Yogurt in Place of Milk for Adults (PDF, 335 KB)
- Food Buying Guide -- Web-Based and Interactive!
- Local Foods and Related Activities in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Meal Component Calculation Workbook (XLSX, 36 KB)
- NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care
- Substitute Meat for Grains - Adults (PDF, 130 KB)
- Substitute Meat for Grains - Children (PDF, 264 KB)
- USDA Meal Pattern Training Tools
- USDA Team Nutrition Training Tools and Posters
CACFP Meal Pattern Resources
The NC CACFP, along with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce the release of Team Nutrition CACFP Meal Pattern training tools and posters. Please see below for more details!
Training Tools
- Infographic titled Growing a Healthier Future with the CACFP
- Training Worksheets:
- Choose Yogurts That Are Lower in Added Sugars
- Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Added Sugars
- Serving Milk in the CACFP
Download the training tools listed above. Use these tools to train care providers, operators, menu planners, and others in meeting the updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns that take effect October 1, 2017.
Interested in ordering the print version FREE of charge?
- The training tools are available in English and in Spanish, and come packaged as 25 worksheets/infographics per pack.
- Order free copies using the online order form
Posters
In addition to the training tools listed above, Team Nutrition has also released the “Serve Tasty and Healthy Foods in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)” poster series. Display these to inform visitors to your program of the meal patterns! Using original photography taken especially for CACFP settings, these 11” by 17” posters support the implementation of the updated meal patterns by showing samples of a reimbursable breakfast, lunch/supper, and snack for each age group in the child and adult meal patterns. Currently the poster series is available online only in English. Spanish and print versions will be available soon!
Titles include:
- Sample Meals for Children Ages 1-2
- Sample Meals for Children Ages 3-5
- Sample Meals for Children Ages 6-12 and 13-18
- Sample Meals for Adults
- WIC Approved Cereals
- Wisconsin DPI: CACFP Tofu Recipe Guide
Recursos en Español
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is pleased to announce the release of CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools in Spanish.
¡Nuevos recursos para la capacitación en el patrón de alimentación del CACFP en español!
Infografía
- Desarrollando un futuro más saludable con el CACFP
Hojas de capacitación
- Elija yogures con bajo contenido de azúcares añadidas
- Elija cereales para el desayuno bajos en azúcares añadidas
- Servir leche en el CACFP
Estos recursos pueden usarse para capacitar proveedores, operadores, planificadores de menú y otros en el cumplimento con los patrones de alimentación actualizados del CACFP que entran en efecto el 1ro de octubre de 2017.
Revisa todos estos nuevos recursos. Disponibles en inglés y en español.
Last Modified: September 18, 2018