Crediting Foods in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Overview

CACFP  |   Program Guidance Adult Centers
Program Guidance Child Care  |    Operational Memos  |   Resources



Creditable Foods  |   Noncreditable Foods
Required Crediting Documentation  |   Crediting Worksheets
Upcoming Crediting Changes


Creditable Foods

Creditable foods are foods and beverages that count toward the CACFP meal pattern requirements for reimbursable meals and snacks. The five meal components include meats/meat alternates, grains, vegetables, fruits, and milk. Foods and beverages must meet specific requirements to credit toward each meal component. 

Noncreditable Foods

Noncreditable foods are foods and beverages that do not count toward the meal components. They include foods and beverages in amounts too small to credit, and foods and beverages that do not belong to the meal components. Some examples include reduced-fat (2%) milk, water, potato chips, pudding, ice cream, gelatin, cream cheese, butter, bacon, and condiments, e.g., syrup, jam, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

Required Crediting Documentation

CACFP facilities must maintain crediting documentation to indicate the meal pattern contribution of foods and beverages served in reimbursable meals and snacks. Commercial processed products require a Child Nutrition (CN) label or product formulation statement (PFS). Commercial processed products without this documentation cannot credit in the CACFP meal patterns. Foods made from scratch require a recipe (preferably a standardized recipe). Crediting for all foods and beverages must be based on the yields in the USDA's Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs. 

Crediting Worksheets

 The CSDE recommends that CACFP sponsors maintain completed crediting worksheets as electronic files in a folder on the computer, instead of printing copies. The CSDE’s CACFP staff will accept electronic copies as appropriate crediting documentation during the Administrative Review of the CACFP.

Worksheets for CACFP Meal Patterns for Children

Worksheets 1-6 evaluate foods for compliance with the CACFP meal patterns for children. Worksheets 7-9 evaluate foods for compliance with the CSDE’s recommended nutrition standards for child care (Connecticut Child Care Nutrition Standards (CCCNS)), but not for compliance with the CACFP meal patterns for children.

Worksheets for CACFP Adult Meal Patterns

Worksheets 1-6 evaluate foods for compliance with the CACFP adult meal patterns.  Worksheets 7-9 evaluate foods for compliance with the CSDE’s recommended nutrition standards for adult day care centers, but not for compliance with the CACFP adult meal patterns.

Upcoming Crediting Changes

Effective with program year 2025-26 (beginning July 1, 2025), the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, changes the current product-based limits for yogurt and breakfast cereals from total sugars to added sugars. Yogurt cannot exceed 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces (2 grams of added sugars per ounce). Breakfast cereals cannot exceed 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce. For more information, visit the "CACFP Meal Pattern Updates" section of the CSDE's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) webpage.