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

Meal Service


Eating Environment  |   Family Style  |   Field Trip Meals  |   OVS  |   Water Availability


Eating Environment

Family Style Meal Service

Family-style meal service allows children to serve themselves from communal platters or bowls of food with assistance, if needed, from supervising adults who sit with the children. This approach allows children to identify and be introduced to new foods, new tastes, and new menus, while developing a positive attitude toward healthy foods, sharing in group eating situations, and developing good eating habits. Family-style meal service also helps young children develop motor skills and the dexterity and hand strength needed to serve foods. The USDA recommends using family-style meal service for ages 3-5.

Field Trip Meals for Child Care Programs

Field trip meals are an allowable exception to the congregate meals requirement for the CACFP and are reimbursable if they:

  • meet the CACFP meal patterns for children;
  • are served and consumed as part of a program-related function; 
  • follow the appropriate procedures for point-of-service meal counts; and
  • meet all food safety requirements.

For detailed guidance on the requirements for field trip meals, refer to section 5 of the CSDE's Guide to Meal Service Requirements for CACFP Child Care Programs.

Offer versus Serve (OVS) for Adult Day Care Centers and At-risk Afterschool Programs 

OVS is an optional approach to menu planning and meal service that applies only to CACFP at-risk afterschool programs and adult day care centers. OVS cannot be implemented in any other CACFP child care centers, institutions, or family day care homes.

OVS allows participants to decline some of the foods offered in a reimbursable breakfast, lunch, or supper. OVS cannot be implemented at snack. Adult day care centers and at-risk afterschool programs that choose to implement OVS must notify the CSDE and receive approval prior to beginning implementation.

Water Availability for Child Care Programs

Section 7 CFR 226.25(i) of CACFP regulations requires that child care institutions and facilities must make potable drinking water available to children throughout the day. This requirement does not apply to adult day care centers.