Overview

CACFP | Adult Day Care Centers | Program Guidance | Forms | Operational Memos | Resources

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) CACFP adult meal patterns are designed to meet participant's calorie needs, provide key nutrients, and align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These meal patterns require minimum servings of specific meal components for breakfast, lunch/supper, and snack. Meals and snacks served to participants in CACFP adult day care centers are eligible for USDA reimbursement when they contain the minimum portion of each required meal component.

A meal component is one of the five food groups that comprise reimbursable meals and snacks in the CACFP adult meal patterns, including milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats/meat alternates. Each meal component has specific crediting requirements to count as a meal component of reimbursable meals and snacks. For more information, visit the CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage.

CACFP Adult Meal Patterns  |   CSDE Menu Planning Guidance Series
Meal Pattern Guidance  |   CACFP Meal Pattern Updates

CACFP Adult Meal Patterns

• CACFP Adult Meal Patterns
  • Breakfast: CACFP Breakfast Meal Pattern for Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE)
  • Lunch/Supper: CACFP Lunch/Supper Meal Pattern for Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE)
  • Snack: CACFP Snack Meal Pattern for Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE)
• CACFP Meal Pattern Poster: Serve Tasty and Healthy Foods in the CACFP Sample Meals for Adults (USDA)
• CACFP Meal Pattern Training Slides (USDA webpage)
• Grain Ounce Equivalents for the CACFP (CSDE)
• Noncreditable Foods for Adult Day Care Centers in the CACFP (CSDE)
• Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks (USDA webpage)
• Resources for the CACFP Meal Patterns (CSDE)
• USDA Memo CACFP 08-2017: Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

CSDE Menu Planning Guidance Series

• Guide to Meeting the CACFP Adult Meal Patterns and Crediting Requirements (CSDE)
• Guide to Menu Documentation for the CACFP (CSDE)
• Guide to Meal Service Requirements for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE)

Meal Pattern Guidance

• Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("How To" section)
• Meal Service in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("How To" section)
• Menu Forms for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("Documents/Forms" section)
• Menu Planning for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("How To" section)
• Production Records for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("Documents/Forms" section)
• Sample Menus for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers ("Documents/Forms" section)

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 are not required until program year 2025-26 (beginning October 1, 2025). For more information, visit the "CACFP Meal Pattern Updates" section of the CSDE's CACFP webpage.