CACFP Meal Patterns

Overview

On April 25, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Meal Pattern (MP) Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Final Rule. The MPs align with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reflect evidence-based nutrition science, and include stakeholder comments to the proposed rule. The MP standards became effective October 1, 2017.

The CACFP Meal Patterns

CACFP Operators participating in the CACFP, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), including CACFP centers and day care homes (DCH), school food authorities, and SFSP sites serving children under six years of age, must comply with the CACFP MP requirements. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has provided the following reference charts describing the CACFP MP requirements for infants, children, and adults respectively.

CACFP Meal Patterns Final Rule

On April 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service announced the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The menu planning and operational flexibilities summarized below are available to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Operators as of July 1, 2024, however, CACFP Operators are not required to change menus or operations because of these provisions. 

  • Nuts and Seeds: Allows nuts and seeds to credit for the full meats/meat alternates component in all meals, removing the 50 percent crediting limit for nuts and seeds at breakfast, lunch, and supper. The USDA expects this change to provide more menu planning options for program operators.
     
  • Geographic Preference: Expands the geographic preference option by allowing “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as procurement specifications for unprocessed or minimally processed food items. For additional information on Geographic Preference, please contact the Community Procurement Unit by email at procurementcacfp@dss.ca.gov.
     
  • Substituting Vegetables for Grains in Tribal Communities: Allows CACFP Operators serving primarily American Indian or Alaska Native participants to substitute vegetables to meet the grains requirement. Please note that CACFP Operators who choose to substitute vegetables for grains must maintain documentation demonstrating that the site serves primarily American Indian or Alaska Native participants (see below for examples of acceptable documentation). The following information provides additional guidance on implementing this flexibility:
     
    • CACFP Operators may use any creditable vegetable to substitute for the grains component.
       
    • CACFP Operators may substitute ½ cup of vegetables for 1 oz eq of grains, except when raw leafy greens are substituted for the grains component. Program operators must serve 1 cup of raw leafy greens for 1 oz eq of grains. When using this menu planning option, vegetables substituting for grains would only count toward the grains component. In other words, operators must offer another vegetable toward the vegetable component and may not use the same serving of vegetable to credit for both components.
       
    • The following examples of documentation may be used to demonstrate eligibility to use this menu planning option. This is not an exhaustive list:
       
      • Certifying statement: School Food Authorities (SFAs) that are tribally operated or operated by the Bureau of Indian Education could use a certifying statement indicating that the SFA is tribally operated or operated by the Bureau of Indian Education.
         
      • Aggregate data: SFAs, sponsors, institutions, or facilities that serve primarily American Indian or Alaska Native children could use aggregate data reporting student demographics, such as participant self-reporting, school data, or census data.
         
      • Certifying statement: For enrolled sites, the sponsor, institution, or facility provides a certifying statement indicating that the site primarily serves American Indian or Alaska Native participants.
         
      • School or census data: For non-enrolled sites, the sponsor, institution, or facility determines that American Indian or Alaska Native participants represent the largest demographic group of participants served by the site, based on school or census data. 
If the documentation above is not available, please contact your Field Services Representative (Child Nutrition Consultant or Associate Governmental Program Analyst) to determine documentation that most accurately represents eligibility to implement this menu planning option. A list of Field Services Representatives can be found at the CDSS CACFP Field Services Contact List
 

The provisions summarized below are required and must be implemented by October 1, 2025.

  • Added Sugars: Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce (instead of total sugars) and yogurt must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces). The current total sugar limits (no more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces for yogurt and no more than 6 grams of total sugars per dry ounce for breakfast cereals) are still in effect until September 30, 2025. For additional information on added sugar limits for breakfast cereals and yogurts, view the following USDA Training Worksheets (also linked below in the resources section):
     
  • Meal modifications: Along with State licensed healthcare professionals, USDA is authorizing registered dietitians (RD) to submit medical statements for meal modifications on behalf of participants with disabilities in the CACFP. Additionally, the update distinguishes between disability and non-disability requests more clearly and encourages institutions and facilities to meet participants’ non-disability dietary preferences when planning and preparing CACFP meals. CACFP Operators have the discretion to not accept medical statements written by an RD until October 1, 2025. Beginning October 1, 2025, CACFP Operators must accept medical statements written by an RD.
The final rule also made additional, technical changes that can be found on the USDA Implementation Timeline for Updated Nutrition Requirements in the CACFP web page.

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Fluid Milk Exemption Report Process

CACFP Operators may request approval from the CDSS to serve meals without the fluid milk component or with an alternate form of fluid milk during temporary or continuing emergency conditions (such as supply chain disruptions) using the authority provided to the CDSS in Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 226.20(e)(1) and (2) and USDA Policy Memo SP01-2024, CACFP01-2024, SFSP01-2024 Clarification of Allowable Flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages.

CACFP Operators may report using the fluid milk exemption by emailing the CDSS CACFP Nutrition Team at CACFPMealPatterns@dss.ca.gov to:   

  1. Describe the emergency situation when CACFP meals were served without fluid milk or with an alternate form of fluid milk, and  
     
  2. List the exact date(s) of the emergency

For more information about the Fluid Milk Exemption Report Process, visit the CDSS CACFP Fluid Milk Exemption Report Process web page. 

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Training

The following Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) training can be accessed on the California Department of Social Services CACFP Training web page:

  • Annual mandatory training
  • Prospective CACFP Operator training
  • Optional online training
  • In-person training
  • Additional online training database

Resources

The following resources provide supplemental information for the CACFP Meal Patterns (MP). Materials include tip sheets, USDA training tools, and additional best practice resources for implementing the CACFP MP.

General Resources
Training Tools
Best Practices

General Resources

Resource Description
USDA Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks Includes extensive MP information, including fact sheets, the final rule, current policy, and much more.

USDA Team Nutrition (TN) Multicultural Child Care Recipes

Provides new recipes that are compliant with the CACFP MP, and includes crediting information. These recipes are culturally diverse. To accommodate all types of CACFP agencies, the recipes are portioned for family homes as well as larger agencies.

Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies How to Support Breastfeeding, Pumping, and Formula-Feeding Parents

This Georgetown University web page provides support and resources to families with infants on breastfeeding, pumping, and formula-feeding.

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Training Tools

Resource Description
California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Crediting Luncheon and Processed Meats/Meat Alternates (M/MA) in the CACFP Provides guidance for crediting luncheon and other processed M/MA in the CACFP.
CDSS Serving Cheese in the CACFP Provides guidance for serving creditable cheeses in the CACFP.
CDSS RTE Breakfast Cereal Categories: Flakes, Rounds, Puffed, and Granola Provides guidance on the amount of ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereal in each cereal category (flakes, rounds, puffed, and granola) that CACFP Operators must provide to meet the minimum serving size requirements for the grains components.
CDSS Crediting Grains Using Ounce Equivalents (oz eq) Provides guidance on determining the amount of creditable grains present in a food item, product, or recipe using oz eq. Additional guidance is available in the online USDA Food Buying Guide (FBG) Grains and in the Grains Oz Eq section of the USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets.
CDSS Determining Whole Grain-rich (WGR) Products in the CACFP Provides guidance for identifying creditable (WGR) items in the CACFP. Additional guidance is available in the USDA Policy Memorandum CACFP 09-2018, Grain Requirements in the CACFP; Questions and Answers and in the WGR section of the USDA. Adding Whole Grains to Your CACFP Menu Training Worksheet on the USDA Training Worksheets web page.
CDSS Determining Creditable Grain Products in the CACFP Provides guidance on crediting grain products in the CACFP. Additional guidance is available in the USDA Policy Memorandum CACFP 09-2018, Grain Requirements in the CACFP; Questions and Answers and in the Grains section of the USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets.
Flowchart for Determining Creditable Grains in the CACFP Provides flowcharts with guidance on how to determine if a grain product is creditable in the CACFP. Additional guidance is available in the USDA Policy Memorandum CACFP 09-2018, Grain Requirements in the CACFP; Questions and Answers.
CDSS Introducing Solids to Infants in the CACFP Provides guidance on assessing an infant's developmental readiness for solid foods, engaging communications with parents or guardians about offering solids, and understanding infant eating habits for all CNP operators. Additional guidance is available in the USDA Policy Memorandum CACFP 11-2023, Feeding Infants and MP Requirements in the CACFP; Questions and Answers, USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Infant Developmental Skills Job Aid, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Starting Solid Foods web page.
CDSS Serving Smoothies in the CACFP Provides smoothie recipes and guidance on crediting fruit, vegetable, milk, and yogurt smoothies served as part of reimbursable meals and snacks in the CACFP. Additional guidance is available in the USDA Policy Memorandum SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019, SFSP 17-2019, Smoothies Offered in CNPs, USDA Policy Memorandum CACFP 09-2017, Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the CACFP: Questions and Answers, and the CDSS MB CNP-04-2020, Smoothies Offered in the CNPs, on the CDSS CACFP Bulletins.
USDA Crediting Handbook for the CACFP (English) (Spanish) Supplement to the Food Buying Guide (FBG) for CNPs and contains additional information on creditable foods served in child and adult care centers.
USDA Team Nutrition (TN) CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools

The USDA TN developed materials for CACFP operators and sponsors to implement the CACFP MP. Some materials include, training worksheets, grains oz eq resources, posters, and webinar information.

USDA FBG The FBG for CNPs is now an online interactive tool. It was updated to reflect the MP. It can help with purchasing the required quantities of foods and determining the contribution each food makes toward the MP requirements.
USDA FBG Mobile App The FBG mobile app can be used to compare yield information or create a favorites list of the food items that are commonly purchased. The app is available on iOS and Android platforms.
CDSS FBG Yield Tables and In-House Study Instructions Provides guidance on how to conduct and submit to the CDSS an in-house yield study to verify the yield for a product when it differs from the yield, or is not included, in the FBG.
CDSS FBG Calculator Steps Provides the steps for using the USDA FBG Calculator to determine required quantities of foods to purchase to meet the meal pattern requirements.
USDA FBG - PDF Download The FBG is available to download and print as a PDF.
Exhibit A Grains Requirements for CNPs Chart in the Exhibit A: Grain Requirements for the CNPs tab on the USDA FBG Grains web page Provides a general guideline for crediting prepared grains items.
USDA TN Feeding Infants in the CACFP Guide web page The Feeding Infants Guide is a training tool for CACFP Operators with infants enrolled at their child care site. The guide covers topics such as the infant meal pattern, developmental readiness, hunger and fullness signs, handling and storing breastmilk and infant formula, solid foods, and much more.
Institute of Child Nutrition Education and Training Resources for CACFP Professionals The Institute of Child Nutrition developed resources for participants in the CACFP. Some useful resources include fact sheets, posters, sample menus, and much more.
USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Slides The USDA CACFP meal pattern training PowerPoint slides are ready to go and can be used to train staff working with the CACFP. These training slides are designed to be interactive 30-minute trainings, and are offered on topics, such as using ounce equivalents for grains, feeding infants, menu planning, serving milk, and choosing breakfast cereals and yogurt that are lower in added sugars. These training slides are offered in English and Spanish.
USDA Mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP USDA mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP resources assist CACFP Operators in meeting meal pattern requirements and creating positive mealtime environments for children one to two years old. Resources offered in English and Spanish.
USDA CACFP Grains Ounce Equivalents Resources These USDA training resources help CACFP Operators use ounce equivalents to determine the amount of grains for meals and snacks.
USDA Family Style Meal Service with Children in the CACFP Training Resources  The USDA created this web page which includes training slides, a CACFP Operator booklet, social media graphics, posters and additional resources to assist operators in implementing family-style meal service in the CACFP.
USDA Calculating the Added Sugars Limit for Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP The USDA updated this worksheet to align with the new added sugars limit for breakfast cereals as part of the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
USDA Choose Breakfast Cereals that are Lower in Added Sugars in the CACFP The USDA updated this worksheet to align with the new added sugars limit for breakfast cereals as part of the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
USDA Calculating the Added Sugars Limit for Yogurt in the CACFP The USDA updated this worksheet to align with the new added sugars limit for yogurt as part of the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
USDA Choose Yogurt that is Lower in Added Sugars in the CACFP The USDA updated this worksheet to align with the new added sugars limit for yogurt as part of the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Best Practices

Resource Description
USDA Team Nutrition Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! Resource The USDA TN developed downloadable materials that CACFP Operators can use to communicate ways that a child care site supports a mother’s decision to breastfeed her baby. Materials include a mother’s guide, poster, and a message graphic. The USDA TN will announce the availability of Spanish and printed versions at a later date.

Policy Guidance

CACFP Bulletins

The CDSS published the CACFP Bulletin: CACFP-01-2020 Documentation Requirements for the CACFP, which provides guidance on documentation requirements for the meal patterns. Additional CACFP Bulletins can be found on CDSS CACFP Bulletins.

USDA Policy Memoranda

The USDA has issued the following policy memoranda related to the CACFP MP and they can be found on USDA FNS Documents & Resources.

Release Date

Subject

Reference Number

November 2024 Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements  SP 05-2025, CACFP 04-2025, SFSP 02-2025
October 2024 Substituting Vegetables for Grains in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tribal Communities  SP 03-2025, CACFP 03-2025, SFSP 01-2025
October 2024 Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP (Revised)  CACFP 01-2025
October 2024 Offer versus Serve and Family Style Meals in the CACFP (Revised)  CACFP 02-2025
May 2024 Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans  SP-2024, CACFP 07-2024, SFSP 12-2024
November 2023 Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, CACFP, and Summer Food Service Program (Revised)   SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, SFSP 02-2024
September 2023 Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements (Revised) CACFP 11-2023
October 2022 Creditability of Imported Infant Formula CACFP 01-2023
June 2022 Questions and Answers Regarding the 2022 Infant Formula Shortage CACFP 10-2022
March 2, 2022 Guidance on the Final Rule: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium (Questions and Answers) SP 04-2022, CACFP 04-2022
September 2019 Smoothies Offered in CNPs SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019, SFSP 17-2019
April 2019 Crediting Tempeh in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 25-2019, CACFP 12-2019, SFSP 11-2019
April 2019 Crediting Surimi Seafood in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 24-2019, CACFP 11-2019, SFSP 10-2019
August 2019 Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Masa Harina in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 34-2019, CACFP 15-2019, SFSP 15-2019
April 2019 Crediting Pasta Products Made of Vegetable Flour in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 26-2019, CACFP 13-2019, SFSP 12-2019
April 2019 Crediting Popcorn in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 23-2019, CACFP 10-2019, SFSP 09-2019
April 2019 Crediting Shelf-Stable, Dried and Semi-Dried Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Products in the CNPs USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 21-2019, CACFP 08-2019, SFSP 07-2019
April 2018 Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 09-2018
June 2017 Grain-Based Desserts in the Child and Adult Care Food Program USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 16-2017
June 2017 Flexibility for Co-Mingled Preschool Meals: Questions and Answers USDA Policy Memorandum: SP 37-2017
March 2017 Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the CACFP; Q&As USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 09-2017
March 2017 Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the CACFP USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 08-2017
August 2016 Water Availability in the CACFP USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 20-2016
June 2016 Optional Best Practices to Further Promote Nutrition in the CACFP Meal Pattern USDA Policy Memorandum: CACFP 15-2016

Compliance

The CDSS monitors compliance with the meal pattern during the Administrative Review (AR). ARs occur approximately every three years. The CDSS provides technical assistance when the standards are not met.

  • Meal Pattern Documentation Checklist

    The CDSS developed the Checklist of Requirements by Timeframe for Centers form to help CACFP Operators assess whether they are maintaining sufficient documentation to demonstration compliance with program requirements. To download the Checklist of Requirements by Timeframe from Centers form located in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System, select CACFP, Applications, Download Forms, and Form ID CACFP 8982.
  • CDSS CACFP Administrative Manual

    The CDSS CACFP Administrative Manual is a guide to the CACFP critical compliance standards for centers and DCH sponsors.

 

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Contact Us

For questions about the CACFP Meal Patterns, please contact the CDSS CACFP Branch Nutrition Team by email at CACFPMealPatterns@dss.ca.gov.

For questions about annual mandatory and prospective CACFP Operator training requirements, optional online training, and in-person training, please contact the CDSS CACFP Branch Training team by email at CACFPTraining@dss.ca.gov.

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Last Updated: January 2025