Related Resources

Meal Pattern Requirements and Crediting Foods

The resources below provide guidance on the USDA meal pattern and crediting requirements for schools and institutions participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs.

Meal Patterns  |   Meal Pattern Components
Crediting Foods  |   Meal Modifications for Special Diets

Meal Patterns

• Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
  • Afterschool Snack Program Meal Pattern for Grades K-12 (CSDE)
  • Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) Preschool Meal Pattern (Ages 1-5) (CSDE)
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
  • Meal Pattern Requirements for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE webpage)
  • Meal Pattern Requirements for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
• School Nutrition Programs
  • Meal Patterns for Grades K-12 in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
  • Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
  • Meal Pattern for the Summer Food Service Program (CSDE)
  • SFSP Meal Patterns ("How To" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)   

Meal Pattern Components

• Fruits Component 
  • CACFP
    • Adult Day Care Centers: Fruits Component for CACFP Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage)
    • Child Care Programs: Fruits Component for CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP
    • NSLP and SBP Grades K-12: Fruits Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
    • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Fruits Component ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs)
    • ASP Grades K-12: Vegetables/Fruits Component ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's ASP webpage)
  • SFSP: Vegetables/Fruits Component for the SFSP ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
  • Portion Guide for Fresh Fruits (Start with Half a Cup)
    • 8 1/2 by 14 inches
    • 11 by 17 inches
    • 24 by 36 inches
  • More resources:  "Fruits Component" in CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
• Grains Component 
  • CACFP
    
    • Adult Day Care Centers: Grains Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage)
    • Child Care Programs: Grains Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP
    • NSLP and SBP Grades K-12: Grains Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
    • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Grains Component ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs)
    • ASP Grades K-12: Grains/Breads Component ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's ASP webpage)
  • SFSP: Grains/Breads Component ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
  • More resources: "Grains Component" in CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
• Meats/Meat Alternates Component 
  • CACFP
    • Adult Day Care Centers: Meats/Meat Alternates Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers)
    • Child Care Programs: Meats/Meat Alternates Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP
    • NSLP and SBP Grades K-12: Meats/Meat Alternates Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
    • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Meats/Meat Alternates Component ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs)
    • ASP Grades K-12: Meats/Meat Alternates Component ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's ASP webpage) 
  • SFSP: Meat/Meat Alternates Component for the SFSP ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)
  • More resources: Refer to "Meats/Meat Alternates Component" in the CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
• Milk Component 
  • CACFP
    • Adult Day Care Centers:Milk Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage)
    • Child Care Programs: Milk Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP
    • NSLP and SBP Grades K-12: Milk Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
    • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Milk Component ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs)
    • ASP Grades K-12: Milk Component ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's ASP webpage) 
  • SFSP: Milk Component for the SFSP ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage
  • More resources: Refer to "Milk Component" in CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs
• Vegetables Component 
  • CACFP
    • Adult Day Care Centers: Vegetables Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers webpage)
    • Child Care Programs: Vegetables Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP
    • NSLP and SBP Grades K-12: Vegetables Component (CSDE's Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
    • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Vegetables Component ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs)
    • ASP Grades K-12: Vegetables/Fruits Component (CSDE)
  • SFSP: Vegetables/Fruits Component for the SFSP ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpag
  • Portion Guide for Fresh Vegetables (Start with Half a Cup)
    • 8 1/2 by 14 inches
    • 11 by 17 inches
    • 24 by 36 inches
  • More resources: "Vegetables" and "(Beans, Peas, and Lentils)" in CSDE's Resource List for Menu Planning and Food Production in Child Nutrition Programs

Crediting Foods

• CACFP
  • Adult Day Care Centers: Crediting Foods in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE webpage)
  • Child Care Programs: Crediting Foods in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
• NSLP, SBP, and ASP 
  • NSLP and SBP: Crediting Foods in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
  • NSLP, SBP, and ASP Preschool: Crediting Foods in Preschool Menus ("Related Resources" section of CSDE's Meal Patterns for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs webpage)
  • ASP Grades K-12: Crediting Foods for Grades K-12 ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's ASP webpage)
• SFSP: Crediting Foods in the SFSP ("Documents/Forms" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage)

 

Meal Modifications for Special Diets

• CACFP
  • Special Diets in CACFP Adult Day Care Centers (CSDE webpage)
  • Special Diets in CACFP Child Care Programs (CSDE webpage)
• NSLP, SBP, and ASP: Special Diets in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• SFSP: Meal Modifications for Special Diets in the SFSP ("How To" section of CSDE's SFSP webpage) 
• More Resources: Resource List for Special Diets in Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE)