Developing a Menu with Serving Sizes
Background
Options for Documenting a Menu with Serving Sizes
Developing a Menu with Serving Sizes
Sample Menu
Background
Per CACFP 01-2020 Documentation Requirements for the CACFP Meal Patterns, child and adult care centers operating the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must post dated, daily menus with serving sizes per age group for every meal and snack claimed. This requirement replaced the previous requirement that centers complete Menu Production Records (MPR).
Note: At-risk programs, emergency shelters, and day care home providers are not required to document serving sizes on their menus or maintain MPRs.
The menu with serving sizes is typically different than the menus referenced in California licensing regulations that are developed for parents and guardians. In the CACFP, a menu with serving sizes is used to document that the CACFP operator has met meal pattern requirements and as a communication tool for kitchen staff.
Options for Documenting a Menu with Serving Sizes
Per CACFP 01-2020 Documentation Requirements for the CACFP Meal Patterns, child and adult care centers operating the CACFP must use one of the four following options when documenting a menu with serving sizes:
- CDSS-developed menu with serving sizes templates, accessible in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). The two templates listed below include instructions, a completed sample menu with serving sizes, and a template for agencies to complete electronically.
- Form ID CACFP 89: Daily Menu with Serving Sizes for Multiple Age Groups
- Form ID CACFP 90: Weekly Menu with Serving Sizes for One Age Group
- CACFP Operator-developed menus with serving sizes. CACFP Operators who choose to develop their own template must document the menu for each meal and snack served and the serving size of each food item for each age group served. Use the guidance on this web page, under Developing a Menu with Serving Sizes, to understand how to create an acceptable menu with serving sizes.
- MPRs. CACFP Operators that choose to continue to use an MPR to meet the requirement for a menu with serving sizes are only required to complete the two columns titled Name and Form of Food Used and Serving Size (for each age group served). All other columns on the MPR are optional. The CNIPS includes the following MPR templates and instructions; however, CACFP Operators can also develop their own MPRs:
- MPR—Child Care Centers: Form ID CACFP 28 (template) and 28A (instructions)
- MPR—Adult Day Care Centers: Form ID CACFP 78 (template) and 78A (instructions)
- Transport Records. CACFP Operators who receive vended meals can continue to use the Sample Transport Record template (Form ID CACFP 66 in the CNIPS) or their own transport record template to fulfill the requirement for a menu with serving sizes. As a reminder, all fields must be completed, including the serving size for each food item served or the scoop number sizes for bulk foods.
Developing a Menu with Serving Sizes
The following guidance is for CACFP Operators who choose to develop their own menu with serving sizes.