Overview

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Meals and snacks served to children in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must comply with the CACFP meal patterns. The CACFP meal patterns for children apply to: 

• children ages 1-12; 
• children through age 18 in at-risk afterschool care centers and emergency shelters; 
• children of any age with disabilities; and 
• children ages 15 and younger of migrant workers. 

For information on the meal patterns for infants (birth through 11 months), visit the CSDE's Feeding Infants in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage.

CACFP Meal Patterns for Children 

• CACFP Meal Patterns for Children (CSDE)
• CACFP Meal Pattern Posters (USDA webpage)
• CACFP Meal Pattern Training Slides (USDA webpage)
• CSDE Training: Bite Size: Meeting the CACFP Meal Patterns for Children
• Guide to Meeting the Meal Pattern Requirements for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE)
• Grain Ounce Equivalents for the CACFP (CSDE) 
• Noncreditable Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (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

Meal Pattern Guidance

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