Meal Patterns
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.
Nuts and seeds may be used to meet this percentage of meat/meat alternate requirement for CACFP Lunch & Supper.
100% 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)
*Note in the past it was only creditable for 50% of M/MA
Cereal bars, granola bars, popcorn balls, rice pudding, rice Krispies treats are all not creditable because they are considered _____ _____ ________.
What are 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.
The abbreviation CACFP stands for
What is the Child and Adult Care Food Program?
The number of whole grain rich servings of grain required to 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.
The maximum grams of “added” sugar allowed per 6 ounces of commercial yogurt to credit in CACFP meal patterns.
What is no more than 12 grams of sugar?
Or 2 grams per 1 oz of “added” sugar you no longer need to focus on total sugar
This type of category known as _______ are either portions too small to credit towards the meal pattern or foods that do not fit into 1 of the 5 components.
What are Non-Creditable Foods or extras?
Condiments, seasonings, jam or toppings - foods that may still be served to help improve acceptability, but do not count toward meal pattern requirements.
The number of meals that can be claimed for each child per day?
What is 3?
The maximum allowable meals per child per day is 3. You can claim either 2 main meals and 1 snack, or 1 main and 2 snacks.
This component can be served in place of Fruit component 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.
These food items may count as the vegetable component OR the meat/meat alternate component.
What is Beans, Peas, Lentils (Legumes)?
Beans, peas, lentils may also count as a meat alternate, but not as both a vegetable and a meat alternate in the same meal
This milk type is not reimbursable in CACFP.
What is 2% milk?
Fluid milk served in CACFP to participants two years of age and older must be fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Whole milk can only be served to children 12-23 months old.
The number of years you need to keep CACFP records.
What is 4?
You must keep CACFP records for the current year as well as the past 3 years
Breakfast cereal must contain no more than this many grams of “added” sugar per dry ounce.
What is 6 grams?
In 2024 USDA made the change to focus on “added sugar” rather than “total sugar” for both cereal and yogurt.
This part of the egg is creditable for Meat/Meat Alternate.
What is the whole egg only.
Serving just the yolk or just the whites in not creditable in CACFP
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.
The required information that must be posted in the home care setting.
What is Building for the Future with CACFP poster?
The Building for the Future with CACFP poster need to be clearly posted at your care site at all times.