Related Resources
Crediting Foods in Preschool Menus
Meals and snacks served to preschoolers (ages 1-5) in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) must comply with the preschool meal patterns, which consist of minimum servings of five meal components (milk, meats/meat alternates, vegetables, fruits, and grains). Foods and beverages served in preschool menus must meet specific requirements to credit toward each meal component. This webpage contains guidance and resources for meeting these requirements.
Effective with school year 2025-26 (beginning July 1, 2025), the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, changes the preschool meal pattern’s product-based limits for yogurt and breakfast cereals from total sugars to added sugars. For more information, visit the "Upcoming Meal Pattern Changes" section of the CSDE's Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 in School Nutrition Programs webpage.
General Crediting Guidance |
Crediting Commercial Processed Products
Crediting Foods Made from Scratch |
Crediting Guidance for Meal Components
General Crediting Guidance for Preschool Menus
Food Buying Guide | Meal Patterns and Crediting | Portion Control | Weights/Measures
Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG)
- Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA webpage)
- Grab and Go Lesson: Food Buying Guide Calculator (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- Training on FBG
- Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Training Resources (USDA webpage)
- FBG Training Modules (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- Food Buying Guide Goes Digital (USDA webinar)
- Exhibit A Grains Tool to the Rescue! (USDA webinar)
- How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool (USDA webinar)
- Navigating the Food Buying Guide Calculator (USDA webinar)
Meal Patterns and Crediting
- CACFP Training Tools (USDA webpage)
- Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA)
- Crediting Summary Charts for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Crediting Updates for Child Nutrition Programs: Be in the Know! Webinar Series (USDA webpage)
- CSDE Guide: Guide to Meeting the Preschool Meal Patterns and Crediting Requirements for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Meal Patterns for Preschoolers ("Overview" section)
- Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
- Noncreditable Foods in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks (USDA webpage)
- Resources for the Preschool Meal Patterns (CSDE)
- Snack Menu Ideas (“Documents/Forms” section of CSDE’s Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 08-2017: Questions and Answers on the Updated Meal Pattern Requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- USDA Memo SP 08-2019, CACFP 02-2019, and SFSP 02-2019: Update of Food Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs
Portion Control
- Basics at a Glance (Institute of Child Nutrition): Recipe abbreviations, measurement conversions, portioning tools, and steamtable pan capacity
- No Time to Train: How Foods Are Portioned (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- No Time to Train: Portioning Matters (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- On the Road to Professional Food Preparation eLearning: Portion Control (Institute of Child Nutrition)
Weights and Measures
- Weights and Measures (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- On the Road to Professional Food Preparation eLearning: Weights and Measures (Institute of Child Nutrition)
Crediting Commercial Processed Products
School food authorities (SFAs) must obtain appropriate documentation to indicate that commercial products credit toward the preschool meal patterns. For example, to credit a commercial breaded chicken patty as the meats/meat alternates component for ages 3-5 at lunch, the manufacturer’s documentation must indicate that the serving contains 1½ ounces of cooked chicken. Allowable documentation includes:
- the original Child Nutrition (CN) label from the product carton or a photocopy or photograph of the CN label shown attached to the original product carton; or
- a product formulation statement (PFS) signed by an official of the manufacturer stating the amount of each meal pattern component contained in one serving of the product.
These are the only acceptable records for documenting a commercial product’s meal pattern contribution. Without this documentation, commercial products cannot credit toward the preschool meal patterns.
CN Labels | Product Formulation Statements | Documentation for Processed Foods
Child Nutrition (CN) Labels
- Authorized Manufacturers and Labels (USDA webpage)
- Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Manual (USDA)
- CN Labeling Program (USDA website)
- Using Child Nutrition (CN) Labels in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 11-2015v2, CACFP 10-2015, and SFSP 13-2015: CN Labels Copied with a Watermark Acceptable Documentation
- USDA Memo SP 27-2015, CACFP 09-2015, and SFSP 12-2015: Administrative Review Process Regarding the Child Nutrition (CN) Label, Watermarked CN Label and Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement
- Section 6 — Child Nutrition (CN) Labels: Guide to Menu Documentation for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Training on CN labels
- FBG Module 3: Product Formulation Statements (PFS) (ICN): Addresses CN labels and PFS
- Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement: Is it Acceptable? (Institute of Child Nutrition and USDA)
- Slides for Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement: Is it Acceptable? (Institute of Child Nutrition and USDA)
- What’s in a Meal Module 6: Meal Pattern Documentation (CSDE's Meal Pattern Training for School Nutrition Programs webpage)
Product Formulation Statements
- Section 7 — Product Formulation Statements: Guide to Menu Documentation for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Tips for Evaluating a Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement (USDA)
- Using Product Formulation Statements in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Training on PFS
- FBG Module 3: Product Formulation Statements (PFS) (ICN): Addresses CN labels and PFS
- Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement: Is it Acceptable? (Institute of Child Nutrition and USDA)
- Slides for Manufacturer's Product Formulation Statement: Is it Acceptable? (Institute of Child Nutrition and USDA)
- USDA PFS for Preschool Meal Patterns: USDA’s CN Labeling and PFS Guidance for Food Manufacturers/Industry webpage
- Grains: Product Formulation Statement for Documenting Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
- Completed Sample PFS: Product Formulation Statement for Documenting Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
- Meats/Meat Alternates: Product Formulation Statement (Product Analysis) for Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA) Products in Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
- Vegetables/Fruits: Product Formulation Statement for Documenting Vegetables and Fruits in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and NSLP Afterschool Snacks (USDA)
- Completed Sample PFS: Vegetables (USDA)
- Completed Sample PFS: Fruits (USDA)
- What’s in a Meal Module 6: Meal Pattern Documentation (CSDE's Meal Pattern Training for School Nutrition Programs webpage)
- Grains: Product Formulation Statement for Documenting Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
Required Documentation for Processed Foods
- Accepting Processed Product Documentation in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- CSDE Guide: Guide to Menu Documentation for the School Nutrition Programs
- CSDE Operational Memo No. 10-15: Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
- Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA webpage)
- USDA Memo TA-2010 (v.3): Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements
- When Commercial Grain Products Require a Product Formulation Statement to Credit in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Yield Study Form for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Crediting Foods Made from Scratch
Foods made from scratch require a standardized recipe that documents the preschool meal pattern crediting information per serving. For example, to credit macaroni and cheese as 1½ ounce equivalents (oz eq) of the MMA component and ½ oz eq of the grains component for ages 3-5 at lunch, the SFA's standardized recipe must indicate that each serving contains 1½ ounces of cheese and ¼ cup of whole-grain or enriched pasta.
Standardized Recipes
- Basics at a Glance Poster (Institute of Child Nutrition): Recipe abbreviations, measurement conversions, portioning tools, and steamtable pan capacity
- Chapter 4: Meal Preparation Documentation (USDA’s Menu Planner for School Meals)
- Manager’s Corner: Standardized Recipes (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- Measuring Success with Standardized Recipes (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- No Time to Train: Identifying the Parts of a USDA Quantity Recipe (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- Recipe Analysis Workbook (USDA's Food Buying Guide): Develops standardized recipes with meal pattern contribution per serving (users must create a free account)
- Recipes for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE's Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
- Section 2 — Menu Records: Guide to Menu Documentation for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Standardized Recipe Form for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Training on standardized recipes
- Basic Culinary Math for School Nutrition Professionals (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- On the Road to Professional Food Preparation eLearning: Recipe Adjustments (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- STAR Strategies for Utilizing Standardized Recipes (Institute of Child Nutrition
- USDA Guide: USDA Recipe Standardization Guide for School Nutrition Programs (Institute of Child Nutrition)
- What’s Standard about Standardized Recipes? (SNA)
- Why Use Standardized Recipes? Fact Sheet (Institute of Child Nutrition)
Crediting Guidance for the Meal Components
The resources below provide guidance on meeting the crediting requirements for the five meal components of the preschool meal patterns.
Milk | Meats/Meat Alternates | Vegetables | Fruits | Grains
Milk Component
The milk component requires fluid milk. Milk must be pasteurized, meet all state and local requirements, and contain vitamins A and D at levels specified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Training on the milk component is available in Module 4: Milk Component of the CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Fat content: The preschool meal patterns require unflavored whole milk for age 1 and unflavored low-fat milk or unflavored fat-free milk for ages 2-5. Flavored milk does not credit in the preschool meal patterns.
- Serving size: The minimum creditable amount is the full meal pattern serving, with an exception for milk in smoothies.
- Milk in smoothies: The minimum creditable amount of milk in a smoothie is ¼ cup. SFAs must have a standardized recipe or product formulation statement (PFS) to document the type and amount of milk in the smoothie serving. Refer to the CSDE's Crediting Smoothies in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Milk substitutes for children without a disability: SFAs may choose to offer one or more allowable fluid milk substitutes for children without a disability. The two allowable types of milk substitutes include 1) lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk with the appropriate fat content for each age group (unflavored whole milk for age 1; and unflavored low-fat or fat-free milk for ages 2-5); and 2) nondairy milk substitutes that meet the USDA’s nutrition standards for fluid milk substitutes, such as certain brands of soy milk. Nondairy milk substitutes require a written request from the parent or guardian indicating the medical or other special dietary need that restricts the child’s diet and requires the milk substitute. Refer to the CSDE's Allowable Milk Substitutes for Children without Disabilities in School Nutrition Programs.
- State beverage statute: Milk and nondairy milk substitutes in public schools must also meet the state beverage requirements of Section 10-221q of the Connecticut General Statutes. The state beverage statute applies to all beverages available for sale to students on school premises as part of and separately from reimbursable meals and ASP snacks. For a list of products that comply with the federal and state requirements, refer to list 16 (milk) and list 17 (nondairy milk substitutes) on the CSDE's List of Acceptable Foods and Beverages webpage.
General Crediting Guidance for Milk
- Crediting Fluid Milk in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- Comparison of the Milk Component Requirements in the Meal Patterns for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 06-19: Summary of Federal and State Milk Requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP, Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) of the NSLP, and Special Milk Program (SMP)
- CSDE Training: Module 4: Milk Component (CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs)
- Food Buying Guide Section 5 Milk: Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Milk Component (USDA) and Yield Table for Milk (USDA)
- Serving Milk in the CACFP: Handouts, training slides, and webinars in English and Spanish (USDA)
- USDA Memo SP 18-2018 and CACFP 13-2018: Child Nutrition Programs Flexibilities for School Year 2018-2019
Milk in Smoothies
- Crediting Smoothies in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019 and SFSP 17-2019: Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
Milk Substitutes
- Allowable Milk Substitutes for Children without Disabilities in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Determining if Nondairy Beverages Meet the USDA’s Nutrition Standards for Fluid Milk Substitutes in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 07-2010, CACFP 04-2010, and SFSP 05-2010: Questions and Answers: Fluid Milk Substitutions
- USDA Memo CACFP 17-2016: Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the CACFP, Q&As
Meats/Meat Alternates (MMA) Component
The MMA component includes fresh and frozen meats (e.g., lean beef, pork, poultry, fish, and shellfish), processed meats (e.g., chicken nuggets, deli meats, and fish sticks), canned meats (e.g., chicken, tuna, and salmon), and meat alternates (e.g., eggs, cheese, yogurt, nuts and seeds and their butters, beans, peas, and lentils, tofu, and tempeh). Beans, peas, and lentils credit as either MMA or vegetables but one serving cannot credit as both components in the same meal or snack. The USDA’s CACFP best practices recommend limiting processed meats to no more than one serving per week; and serving only lean meats, nuts, and legumes. Training on the MMA component is available in Module 5: Meats/Meat Alternates Component of the CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Serving size: MMA are measured in ounce equivalents (oz eq). The minimum creditable amount is ¼ oz eq.
- Required quantities for 1 oz eq: The required quantities depend on the type of meat or meat alternate and refer to the edible portion of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish (i.e., without bone, breading, binders, fillers, extenders, liquids, or other ingredients). A 1-oz eq serving of the MMA component equals 1 ounce of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish; 1 ounce of cheese (low-fat recommended); 2 ounces of cottage or ricotta cheese, cheese food/spread, or cheese substitute (low-fat recommended); ¼ cup of cooked beans and peas (legumes); ½ large egg; 2 tablespoons of nut or seed butters; 1 ounce of nuts or seeds; 1 ounce of commercial tofu (containing at least 5 grams of protein in 2.2 ounces); 1 ounce of tempeh; 3 ounces of surimi; ½ cup of yogurt or soy yogurt (containing no more than 3.83 grams of sugar per ounce); and 1 ounce of alternate protein products (APPs).
- Crediting MMA at breakfast: The MMA component is optional at breakfast. MMA may be offered as a substitute for grains up to three times per week.
- Main dish requirement for lunch: The MMA component at lunch must be served in a main dish, or in a main dish and only one other food item.
- Commerical processed products: Commercial processed products require a CN label or PFS to document their meal pattern contribution. Products without this documentation cannot credit in preschool meals and ASP snacks.
Crediting Guidance for MMA
- Crediting Meats/Meat Alternates in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- CSDE Training: Module 5: Meats/Meat Alternates Component (CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs)
- Food Buying Guide Section 1 Meats/Meat Alternates: Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Meats/Meat Alternates Component and Yield Table for Meats/Meat Alternates (USDA)
- Serving Meats and Meat Alternates at Lunch and Supper in the USDA CACFP USDA)
Alternate Protein Products (APPs)
- Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products (USDA)
- Requirements for Alternate Protein Products in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Beans, Peas, and Lentils
- "Beans, Peas and Lentils" in CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
- Crediting Beans, Peas, and Lentils in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 26-2019, CACFP 13-2019, and SFSP 12-2019: Crediting Pasta Products Made of Vegetable Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs
Breakfast: Serving Meats and Meat Alternates at Breakfast (USDA webpage)
Commercial Products
- Crediting Commercial Meat/Meat Alternate Products in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Crediting Deli Meats in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 01-2016, SFSP 01-2016, and CACFP 01-2016: Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Game, and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs
Dried Meats
- USDA Memo SP 21-2019, CACFP 08-2019, and SFSP 07-2019: Crediting Shelf-Stable, Dried and Semi-Dried Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Products in the Child Nutrition Programs
- USDA Webinar: Moving Forward: Update on Food Crediting in Child Nutrition Programs with Guidance for Dried Meat Products (April 24, 2019)
Nuts and Seeds: Crediting Nuts and Seeds in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Tempeh and Surimi
- USDA Memo SP 25-2019, CACFP 12-2019, and SFSP 11-2019: Crediting Tempeh in the Child Nutrition Programs
- USDA Memo SP 24-2019, CACFP 11-2019, and SFSP10-2019: Crediting Surimi Seafood in the Child Nutrition Programs
- USDA Webinar: Additional Meat/Meat Alternates Options for CNPs: Crediting Tempeh and Surimi (May 8, 2019)
Tofu and Tofu Products
- Crediting Tofu and Tofu Products in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, and SFSP 02-2024: Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, CACFP, and SFSP
Yogurt and Soy Yogurt
Yogurt and soy yogurt cannot contain more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces (no more than 3.83 grams per ounce). Note: Effective with school year 2025-26 (July 1, 2025), the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, changes the product-based limit from total sugars to added sugars. Yogurt cannot exceed 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces (2 grams of added sugars per ounce).
- Calculating Sugar Limits for Yogurt in the CACFP (USDA)
- Choose Yogurts that are Lower in Sugar (USDA webpage)
- Crediting Yogurt in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, and SFSP 02-2024: Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, CACFP, and SFSP
Vegetables Component
The vegetables component includes fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables, rehydrated dried vegetables (PFS required), and pasteurized 100 percent full-strength vegetable juice. Beans, peas, and lentils credit as either vegetables or MMA but one serving cannot credit as both components in the same meal or snack. Training on the vegetables component is available in Module 6: Fruits Component and Vegetables Component of the CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Serving size: Vegetables are measured by volume (cups). Raw leafy green such as lettuce and spinach credit as half the volume served, e.g., 1 cup of leafy greens credits as ½ cup of the vegetables component. The minimum creditable amount is ⅛ cup.
- Canned vegetables: The serving of canned vegetables must be drained.
- Dried vegetables: Dried vegetables (such as potato flakes and dried soup mix) credit based on their rehydrated volume and require a PFS. Dried vegetables used for seasonings do not credit.
- Juice limit: Pasteurized full-strength juice credits as either the vegetables component or fruits component at only one meal or snack per day. Juice includes fruit and vegetable juice, frozen pops made from 100 percent juice, pureed fruits and vegetables in smoothies, and juice from canned fruit in 100 percent juice.
- Best practices: The USDA’s CACFP best practices recommend serving whole fruits (fresh, frozen, canned, and dried) more often than juice; making at least one of the two required snack components a vegetable or fruit; and providing at least one serving per week of the five vegetable subgroups: dark green; red/orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy; and other vegetables (refer to the CSDE's Vegetable Subgroups in the CACFP).
General Crediting Guidance for Vegetables
- Crediting Vegetables in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- CSDE Training: Module 6: Fruits Component and Vegetables Component (CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs)
- Food Buying Guide Section 2 Vegetables: Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Vegetables Component and Yield Table for Vegetables (USDA)
- Serving Vegetables in the CACFP (USDA)
- Start with Half a Cup: Fresh Vegetable Portioning Guide for Schools (CSDE's Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 09-2017: Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers
Beans, Peas, and Lentils
- "Beans, Peas, and Lentils" in the CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
- Crediting Beans, Peas, and Lentils in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 26-2019, CACFP 13-2019, and SFSP 12-2019: Crediting Pasta Products Made of Vegetable Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs
Juice: Crediting Juice in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Soups: Crediting Soups in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Vegetable Subgroups: Vegetable Subgroups in the CACFP (CSDE)
Vegetables in Smoothies
- Crediting Smoothies in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019, and SFSP 17-2019: Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
Fruits Component
The fruits component includes fresh fruit, frozen fruit, canned fruit (packed in water, full-strength juice, or light syrup), dried fruit, and pasteurized 100 percent full-strength fruit juice. The creditable serving of canned fruit in 100 percent juice may include the juice but cannot include water or syrup. Training on the fruits component is available in Module 6: Fruits Component and Vegetables Component of the CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Serving size: Fruits are measured by volume (cups). Dried fruits credit as twice the volume served, e.g., ¼ cup of raisins credits as ½ cup of the fruits component. The minimum creditable amount is ⅛ cup.
- Juice limit: Pasteurized full-strength juice credits as either the vegetables component or fruits component at only one meal or snack per day. Juice includes fruit and vegetable juice, frozen pops made from 100 percent juice, pureed fruits and vegetables in smoothies, and juice from canned fruit in 100 percent juice. The USDA’s CACFP best practices recommend serving whole fruits (fresh, canned, dried, and frozen) more often than juice; and making at least one of the two required snack components a vegetable or fruit.
- Vegetable substitutions at lunch: Vegetables may substitute for the fruits components at any lunch, but the two servings must be different vegetables.
General Crediting Guidance for Fruits
- Crediting Fruits in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- CSDE Training: Module 6: Fruits Component and Vegetables Component (CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs)
- Food Buying Guide Section 3 Fruits: Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Fruits Component and Yield Table for Fruits (USDA)
- Start with Half a Cup: Fresh Fruits Portioning Guide for Schools (CSDE's Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 09-2017: Vegetable and Fruit Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers
Fruit in Smoothies
- Crediting Smoothies in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo SP 40-2019, CACFP 17-2019, and SFSP 17-2019: Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs
Juice: Crediting Juice in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Grains Component
The grains component includes whole grain-rich (WGR) and enriched breads and bread products (e.g., biscuits, bagels, rolls, tortillas, and muffins), snack products (e.g., crackers, animal crackers, graham crackers, hard pretzels, tortilla chips, and popcorn), cereal grains (e.g. buckwheat, brown rice, bulgur, and quinoa), pasta, ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals, cooked breakfast cereals like oatmeal), and bread products used as an ingredient in another menu item such as combination foods (e.g., breading on fish or poultry and pizza crust in pizza). Training on the grains component is available in Module 7: Grains Component of the CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs.
- Creditable grains: Grain products and recipes must be made with creditable grains (whole grains, enriched grains, bran, and germ). Cooked and ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals must be whole grain, enriched, or fortified, and cannot contain more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce. Note: Effective with school year 2025-26 (July 1, 2025), the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, changes the product-based limit for breakfast cereals from total sugars to added sugars. Breakfast cereals cannot exceed 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce.
- Serving size: Grains are measured in ounce equivalents (oz eq). The serving must meet the required weight (groups A-G) or volume (groups H-I) in the USDA’s Exhibit A chart (refer to the CSDE's Grain Ounce Equivalents for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs) or provide the minimum creditable grains (refer to the CSDE's Calculation Methods for Grain Ounce Equivalents for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs). The minimum creditable amount is ¼ oz eq. If a food item provides less than the full-required meal pattern serving, the CACFP menu must include the additional amount from other grains.
- WGR requirement: Preschool menus must include at least one WGR serving per day, between all meals and snacks served to preschoolers. The USDA’s CACFP best practices recommend at least two WGR servings per day. WGR foods for the CACFP contain at least 50 percent whole grains and the remaining grain ingredients are enriched, bran, or germ. A grain food meets the WGR criteria if a whole grain is the first ingredient (or second after water), and the next two grain ingredients (if any) are creditable grains. A combination food meets the WGR criteria if the first grain ingredient (or second after water) is a whole grain, and the next two grain ingredients (if any) are creditable grains.
- Grain-based desserts: Grain-based desserts do not credit. Examples include cookies, piecrusts in sweet pies, doughnuts, cereal bars, granola bars, sweet rolls, pastries, toaster pastries, cake, and brownies. Sweet crackers such as graham crackers and animal crackers are not grain-based desserts. However, sweet crackers should be limited to no more than twice per week between all meals and snacks.
- Grains component changes for school year 2025-26: Effective July 1, 2025, the USDA final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, changes the preschool meal pattern’s product-based limits for yogurt and breakfast cereals from total sugars to added sugars. Yogurt cannot exceed 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces (2 grams of added sugars per ounce). Breakfast cereals cannot exceed 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce.
General Crediting Guidance for Grains
- Child Care Worksheet 1: Crediting Commercial Grains in the CACFP (CSDE)
- Comparison of Meal Pattern Requirements for the Grains Component in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Crediting Enriched Grains in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Crediting Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheets (USDA): Part 1: Creditable Grains in Child Nutrition Programs; Part 2: Identifying Grain Products that are Whole Grain-Rich; and Part 3: Program Requirements
- Crediting Whole Grains in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- CSDE Training: Module 7: Grains Component (CSDE's Preschool Meal Pattern Training for the School Nutrition Programs)
- Food Buying Guide Section 4 Grains: Overview of Crediting Requirements for the Grains Component and Yield Table for Grains (USDA)
- How to Identify Creditable Grains for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- USDA Memo CACFP 09-2018: Grain Requirements in the CACFP: Q&As
- USDA Memo SP 26-2019, CACFP 13-2019, and SFSP 12-2019: Crediting Pasta Products Made of Vegetable Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs
- USDA Memo SP 34-2019, CACFP 15-2019, and SFSP 15-2019: Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Masa Harina in the Child Nutrition Programs
- Using the WIC Food Lists to Identify Grains for the CACFP (USDA webpage)
Breakfast Cereals
- Calculating Sugar Limits for Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP (USDA webpage)
- Child Care Worksheet 2: Crediting Ready-to-eat (RTE) Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP (CSDE)
- Child Care Worksheet 3: Crediting Cooked Breakfast Cereals in the CACFP (CSDE)
- Choose Breakfast Cereals that are Lower in Sugar (USDA webpage)
- Crediting Breakfast Cereals in the Preschool Meal Patterns for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Crediting Grain Recipes
- Child Care Worksheet 4: Crediting Family-size Recipes for Grains in the CACFP (CSDE)
- Child Care Worksheet 5: Crediting Quantity Recipes for Grains in the CACFP (CSDE)
- Determining Ounce Equivalents of Grains in CACFP Recipes (USDA )
- How to Identify Creditable Grains for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Recipe Analysis Workbook (USDA's Food Buying Guide): Develops standardized recipes with meal pattern contribution per serving (users must create a free account)
Grain-based Desserts
- Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP (USDA webpage)
- USDA Memo CACFP 16-2017: Grain-Based Desserts in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
Ounce Equivalents
- CACFP Grains Ounce Equivalents Resources (USDA webpage)
- Calculation Methods for Grain Ounce Equivalents for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
- Chart: Grain Ounce Equivalents for the Preschool Meal Patterns of the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE) Contains the Exhibit A requirements for ounce equivalents
- Crediting Single-Serving Packages of Grains in the CACFP (USDA webpage)
- CSDE Crediting Worksheets 1-5: CSDE Crediting Worksheets for CACFP Child Care Programs ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
- Determining Ounce Equivalents of Grains in CACFP Recipes (USDA)
- Exhibit A: Refers to USDA’s Exhibit A: Grain Requirements for Child Nutrition Programs, which includes grain servings and grain ounce equivalents.
- Exhibit A Grains Tool (USDA's Food Buying Guide): Determines ounce equivalents of commercial products and the required amount to obtain a specific meal pattern contribution
- Exhibit A Grains Tool to the Rescue (USDA webinar)
- How to Maximize the Exhibit A Grains Tool (USDA webinar)
- How to Use the Grain Ounce Equivalents Chart for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program (CSDE)
- Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP (USDA)
- When Commercial Grain Products Require a Product Formulation Statement to Credit in the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
Popcorn: USDA Memo SP 23-2019, CACFP 10-2019, and SFSP 09-2019: Crediting Popcorn in the Child Nutrition Programs
Whole Grain-rich Requirement
- Guide to Meeting the Whole Grain-rich Requirement for the CACFP (CSDE)
- How to Spot Whole Grain-Rich Foods for the CACFP (USDA webpage)
- Identifying Whole Grain-rich Foods for the CACFP (USDA webpage)
- Is My Recipe Whole Grain-Rich in the CACFP? (USDA webpage)
- Tools for Schools: Serving Whole Grain-rich (USDA webpage)
Whole Grains