Preschool Meal Pattern Training
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Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs
The CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs consists of 10 recorded modules that provide comprehensive guidance on complying with the preschool meal patterns for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) of the NSLP, and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP. This training program applies to all sponsors of the school nutrition programs that serve meals and snacks to preschoolers, including public schools, private schools, and residential child care institutions (RCCIs).
- Target audience: School food service staff and other school staff who plan, prepare, and serve preschool meals and snacks.
- Accessing the modules: The training module videos are housed in Qualtrics. Click on each module below to register and view the video.
- Navigating the modules: The videos include a toolbar that can be used to pause, rewind, and resume the video, adjust the sound, turn on closed captioning, and search for topics. Use the chapters feature (the icon with three dots and three lines on the far right of the toolbar) for easy navigation to each topic. To access the toolbar during the video, move the mouse to the green bar at the bottom of the video.
- Knowledge check and training documentation: After viewing each module, participants will complete a brief knowledge check. The score will display after all questions are complete. Participants may print their knowledge check score to document participation in each module. Note: Scores below 80 percent indicate that certain topics require additional review. Participants should review the relevant materials and retake the assessments.
- Professional development training hours: School nutrition personnel may use this training program to count toward the annual training hours required by the USDA’s Professional Standards for School Nutrition Program Professionals. For more information, refer to the CSDE’s Professional Standards Topics and Training Hours for the Preschool Meal Pattern Training.
Preschool Meal Pattern Training for School Year 2025-26
The Preschool Meal Pattern Training for school year 2025-26 reflects the current preschool meal pattern requirements and nutrition standards for the NSLP, SBP, and ASP, including the updates required by the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
1: Introduction to Training |
2: Introduction to School Meal Patterns
3: Meal Pattern Comparison of Preschool and Grades K-12
4: Milk |
5: MMA |
6: Vegetables |
7: Fruits |
8: Grains
9: Meal Service for Preschoolers |
10: Co-mingled Meal Service
Module 1: Introduction to Training (length 15:09)
This module introduces the Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs, provides an overview of the modules and training objectives, identifies common acronyms and abbreviations, and describes key resources for guidance and training.
- Handout of Slides for Module 1: Introduction to Training
- Resource List for Module 1: Introduction to Training
Module 2: Preschool Meal Patterns (length 35:24)
This module reviews the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include an overview of the federal preschool meal pattern legislation, the requirements for food-based menu planning (including meal components, servings, and meal pattern requirements), menu planning considerations for breakfast, lunch, and snack, and resources for guidance and training on the preschool meal patterns.
- Handout of Slides for Module 2: Preschool Meal Patterns
- Resource List for Module 2: Preschool Meal Patterns
Module 3: Meal Pattern Comparison of Preschool and Grades K-12 (length 37:55)
This module compares the preschool meal patterns to the meal patterns for grades K-12, highlights the differences for the meal pattern components, servings, and crediting requirements, and identifies resources for guidance and training.
- Handout of Slides for Module 3: Meal Pattern Comparison of Preschool and Grades K-12
- Resource List for Module 3: Meal Pattern Comparison of Preschool and Grades K-12
Module 4: Milk Component (length 30:18)
This module reviews the requirements and crediting information for the milk component in the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include the required meal pattern servings, allowable types of milk, the menu documentation requirement for milk, the requirements for fluid milk substitutes in preschool meals, noncreditable milk, a knowledge check about crediting milk and fluid milk substitutes, and resources for guidance and training on the milk component.
- Handout of Slides for Module 4: Milk Component
- Resource List for Module 4: Milk Component
- Module 4 Worksheet: Crediting Milk
- Answer Key for Module 4 Worksheet: Crediting Milk
Module 5: Meats/Meat Alternates (MMA) Component (length 46:26)
This module reviews the requirements and crediting information for the MMA component in the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include an overview of the MMA requirements, the required meal pattern servings, crediting requirements for different types of MMA (commercial processed products, cheeses, beans, peas, and lentils (including roasted beans, peas, and lentils and pasta made of 100 percent bean, pea, or lentil flour), nuts and seeds, nut and seed butters, yogurt and soy yogurt, tofu, tempeh, surimi, and alternate protein products (APPs)), noncreditable MMA, and resources for guidance and training on the MMA component.
Module 6: Vegetables Component (length 30:25)
This module reviews the requirements and crediting information for the vegetables component in the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include the required meal pattern servings, crediting requirements for different types of vegetables (raw leafy greens, canned vegetables, beans, peas, and lentils (including roasted beans, peas, and lentils), pureed vegetables (including pureed vegetables in smoothies), pastas made of 100 percent vegetable flours, dried vegetables, and soups), noncreditable vegetables, the USDA’s best practices for vegetables in preschool meals and snacks, and resources for guidance and training on the vegetables component.
- Handout of Slides for Module 6: Vegetables Component
- Resource List for Module 6: Vegetables Component
Module 7: Fruits Component (length 21:01)
This module reviews the requirements and crediting information for the fruits component in the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include the required meal pattern servings, the juice limit, crediting requirements for different types of fruits (fresh fruits, frozen fruits, canned fruits, dried fruits, pureed fruits, smoothies made with pureed fruits and vegetables, and coconut), noncreditable fruits, the USDA’s best practices for fruits in preschool meals and snacks, and resources for guidance and training on the fruits component.
Module 8: Grains Component (length 37:54)
This module reviews the requirements and crediting information for the grains component in the NSLP, SBP, and ASP preschool meal patterns. Topics include the required meal pattern servings, allowable grains and grain products, the preschool WGR requirement and menu planning considerations, the preschool WGR criteria and methods to determine if foods are WGR, the restrictions for grain-based desserts including a knowledge check on grain-based desserts, serving the same grain foods to preschool and grades K-12, methods for determining a grain food’s oz eq contribution, and resources for guidance and training on the grains component.
- Handout of Slides for Module 8: Grains Component
- Resource List for Module 8: Grains Component
- Module 8 Worksheet: Grain-based Desserts
- Answer Key for Module 8 Worksheet: Grain-based Desserts
Module 9: Meal Service for Preschoolers (length 31:04)
This module reviews the requirements and considerations for the preschool meal service options. Topics include the allowable types of meal service (pre-plated meal service, cafeteria-style meal service, family-style meal service, and combination-style meal service), the requirements for classroom meals, considerations for offer versus serve (OVS) with co-mingled meal service, the USDA’s requirement for making potable water available to students during the meal service, and resources for guidance and training on meal service.
- Handout of Slides for Module 9: Meal Service for Preschoolers
- Resource List for Module 9: Meal Service for Preschoolers
Module 10: Co-mingled Meal Service (length 22:27)
This module reviews the requirements and considerations for co-mingled meals in the NSLP and SBP and co-mingled snacks in the ASP. Topics include how the meal pattern for the older grades applies to co-mingled meals or snacks, reasons to avoid co-mingled meal service, how to avoid co-mingled meal service, when the preschool meal patterns apply, a knowledge check about co-mingled meal service, and resources for guidance and training.