Teacher of the Year Ceremony
Due to inclement weather, the Teacher of the Year Ceremony has been postponed to December 16, 2025 from 5-7pm. Doors will open at 4pm. The Ceremony will take place at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, and the order of events will remain the same.

Meal Patterns for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Bite Size Meal Pattern Training


Bite Size: Meeting the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Meal Patterns 


Bite Size CACFP Child Care logo

The CSDE's Bite Size training program is a series of recorded modules that provide comprehensive guidance on complying with the CACFP meal patterns and crediting requirements for CACFP child care facilities (including child care and Head Start centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, emergency shelters, and family day care homes) and adult day care centers. 

  • Target audience: This training program is intended for the staff responsible for menu planning and ensuring that meals and snacks comply with the CACFP meal patterns.
  • Knowledge check and score: After viewing each module, participants will complete a brief knowledge check that will display a score after all questions are complete.
  • Training documentation: Participants may print their knowledge check score to document participation in each module.
  • Accessing the videos: The training module videos are housed in Qualtrics. Click on each module title below to register and view the video. 

The CSDE is currently updating the Bite Size training raining modules based on the meal pattern and crediting changes effective October 1, 2025, as required by the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For guidance on the final rule changes, visit the "CACFP Meal Pattern Updates" section of this webpage.


Coming Soon

  • Module 1: Introduction to Bite Size and Meal Pattern Overview
  • Module 2: Introduction to CACFP Patterns for Children
  • Module 3: Introduction to CACFP Adult Meal Patterns
  • Module 4: Meal Pattern Documentation
  • Module 5: Milk Component
  • Module 6: Meats/Meat Alternates Component
  • Module 7: Fruits Component
  • Module 8: Vegetables Component
  • Module 9: Grains Component Crediting Requirements
  • Module 10: Grains Component Whole Grain-rich (WGR) Requirement
  • Module 11: Grains Component Ounce Equivalents
  • Module 12: Menu Planning