Overview

The CACFP is a federal program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The CACFP provides nutritious meals and snacks to infants and children in child care centers, family day care homes, and emergency shelters; and snacks and suppers to children participating in eligible at-risk afterschool care programs. The CACFP also provides meals and snacks to adults who receive care in nonresidential adult day care centers.

• Adult Day Care Centers
• At-risk Afterschool Care
• Child Care Centers
• Emergency Shelters
• Family Day Care Homes

CACFP Meal Pattern Updates

On April 25, 2024, the USDA published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (89 FR 31962). This final rule implements gradual updates to the Child Nutrition Programs in several key areas, including the CACFP meal patterns. Some menu planning flexibilities are effective July 1, 2024. Changes to CACFP menus or operations are not required until program year 2025-26 (beginning October 1, 2025).

• Final Rule (89 FR 31962): Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 DGAs (USDA webpage)
• Summary of Final Rule Updates to the Meal Patterns for the CACFP (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 19-2024, CACFP 07-2024, and SFSP 12-2024: Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans