Food Buying Guide

The USDA's Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG) is the definitive resource for determining food yields and crediting information for the Child Nutrition Programs. The FBG provides yield information for common types and customary sizes of milk, meats/meat alternates (MMA), vegetables, fruits, and grains, including commercially available foods and USDA Foods. The FBG helps menu planners determine:

• a food’s specific contribution toward the meal pattern requirements;
• how many servings a specific quantity of food will provide;
• what quantity of raw product will provide the amount of ready-to-cook food in a recipe; and
• how much food to buy.

CNP sponsors should ensure that menu planners use the FBG to determine accurate crediting information for foods and beverages served in reimbursable meals and snacks.

Guidance and Resources 

• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA webpage)
• Grab and Go Lesson: Food Buying Guide Calculator (Institute of Child Nutrition)

Training

• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Training Resources (USDA webpage)
• FBG Training Modules (Institute of Child Nutrition)
  • Module 1: Overview of the FBG for CNPs 
  • Module 2: Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) 
  • Module 3: Product Formulation Statement (PFS)
  • Module 4: Exhibit A Grains Tool
  • Module 5: FBG Calculator
• USDA webinars
  • Food Buying Guide Goes Digital 
  • Exhibit A Grains Tool to the Rescue! 
  • How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool 
  • Navigating the Food Buying Guide Calculator