Meal Pattern Compliance
The 3 required components of a CACFP Breakfast Meal.
What is Grains, Fruit/Veg (or both) and Milk?
Meat and meat alternates may be used to meet the entire grains requirement a maximum of 3 times a week. One ounce of meat and meat alternates is equal to 1 ounce equivalent (oz eq) of grains.
Three entrée items that may have a CN Label.
What is any main dish product from a manufacturer that contains meat/meat alternate? (beef, cheese, meat pizzas, bean burritos, egg rolls, breaded fish/chicken)
The number of servings of grain oz. equivalents required to be whole grain rich during each day (excluding infants).
What is at least one?
At least 1 serving per day, across all eating occasions, must be whole grain-rich (at least half the grain ingredients are whole grain and the remaining ingredients are enriched). Grain-based desserts do not count towards meeting the grains requirement.
This meal item must be pasteurized and can only be counted as a component at one meal per day.
What is pasteurized, full strength juice?
Pasteurized full-strength juice may only be used to meet the vegetable or fruit requirement at 1 meal, including snack, per day
The age where non-fat and 1% flavored milk is allowed in CACFP.
What is children 6 years and older and adults?
Breakfast cereal must contain no more than this many grams of sugar per dry ounce.
What is 6 grams?
No more than 21.2 grams sucrose and other sugars per 100 grams of dry cereal.
Amount of commercially prepared Tofu needed to credit as 1 ounce equivalent meat alternate.
What is 2.2 ounces (1/4 cup) of commercially prepared tofu?
Must contain at least 5 grams of protein to credit!
Cookies, sweet pie crusts, doughnuts, cereal bars, breakfast bars, granola bars, sweet rolls, toaster pastries, cakes and brownies are all not creditable because they are considered _____ _____ ________.
What is Grain Based Desserts?
Grain-based desserts may be served as an additional food item that does not contribute to meal components, however, food items that do not contribute to the CACFP meal pattern are not allowable costs and must be purchased using non-program funds.
These food items may count as the vegetable component OR the meat/meat alternate component.
What is Beans and Peas (Legumes)?
Beans and peas may also count as a meat alternate, but not as both a vegetable and a meat alternate in the same meal (black beans, fresh edamame, garbanzo beans, lentils, kidney beans, mature lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, split peas).
Another name for foods that are in the "Other Foods" section of the FBG and are either portions too small to credit toward meal pattern or foods that do not fit into 1 of the 5 components.
What are Non-Creditable Foods?
Condiments, seasonings, jam, bacon bits - foods that may still be served to help improve acceptability, but do not count toward meal pattern requirements.
These 5 components must be offered at all CACFP lunch meals.
What is Meat/Meat Alt, Fruit, Veg, Grain, Fluid Milk?
Nuts and seeds may be used to meet this percentage of meat/meat alternate requirement for CACFP Lunch & Supper.
What is 50%?
Peanuts, soy nuts, tree nuts, or seeds, as listed in program guidance, or an equivalent quantity of any combination of the above meat/meat alternates (1 oz of nuts/seeds = 1 oz of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish)
Nut/Seed Butters may credit toward the entire MMA component.
Three acceptable forms of documentation for whole grain-rich products. (6 possible)
What is: 1) a product package showing the product is labeled as whole wheat? 2) package showing the ingredient list? 3) manufacturer documentation (PFS) showing whole grains at least 50% + WG rich ingredient? 4) a standardized recipe? 5) a product package showing FDA approved whole grain health claims? 6) CN Label item that includes grains?
The minimum creditable serving size is allowed for fruit and vegetables in CACFP meals (not including infant meal patterns).
What is 1/8 cup (2 Tablespoons)?
For raw, leafy greens the minimum serving is a ¼ cup and for dried fruit the minimum serving is an ⅛ cup (2 tablespoons). This amount may not meet the required serving for the meal pattern.
This is required for meal reimbursement when a parent/guardian requests a nondairy beverage that is not nutritionally equivalent to milk.
What is a signed medical statement?
If a parent/ guardian requests a nutritionally equivalent non-dairy beverage in writing, a medical statement is NOT required.
This is required to calculate meal pattern when a food item is not listed in the Food Buying Guide and does not have a Child Nutrition label.
What is a Product Formulation Statement?
PFS is from a manufacturer and states how a product contributes to the meal pattern requirements.
The maximum grams of sugar allowed per 6 ounces of commercial yogurt to credit in CACFP meal patterns.
What is no more than 23 grams of sugar?
<3.833 g per oz
Example: 4 oz yogurt contains 16 grams sugar.
Divide: Total Sugars by Serving Size
16/4 = 4.0 g sugar per oz = NOT CREDITABLE!
4g x 6oz = 24g which is greater than 23
The Rule of Three criteria when determining if a product is whole grain-rich.
What is the first ingredient (or the second ingredient after water) must be whole grain, and the next 2 grain ingredients (if any) must be whole grains, enriched grains, bran, or germ?
If a product does not meet the Rule of Three criteria for whole grain-rich, check to see if the product is creditable as enriched.
This component can be served to meet the entire requirement of Fruit at CACFP Lunch and Supper as long as two different types are offered.
What is two different Vegetables?
A vegetable may be used to meet the entire fruit requirement. When two vegetables are served at lunch or supper, two different kinds of vegetables must be served.
The only time milk is creditable as fluid milk when added to a recipe.
What is in a smoothie?
The volume of fluid milk in each portion of smoothie is creditable if the smoothie contains at least ¼ cup (2 ounces), and meets the fat standards. When a smoothie contains less than the amount of milk required in the meal pattern, additional fluid milk must be offered. Smoothies are the only example of a recipe that can credit as fluid milk in the recipe.