Centers and day care homes offering meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) play a critical role in supporting the wellness, health, and development of children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities through the provision of nutritious foods. In particular, child care providers have a powerful opportunity to instill healthy habits in young children that serve as a foundation for healthy choices in life.
The nutrition standards for meals and snacks served in the CACFP are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, science-based recommendations made by the National Academy of Medicine, cost and practical considerations, and stakeholder input. The standards support the service of a greater variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, lean meats/meat alternative, and low-fat and fat-free dairy while minimizing added sugar and saturated fat. In addition, the standards encourage breastfeeding to align the CACFP with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
USDA provides guidance, resources, best practices, and training for CACFP operators in a variety of settings to support them in providing healthy, balanced meals and snacks to the children and adults they serve.
Nutrition Standards
Regulations
- Current Regulations (7 CFR 226.20)
- Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Final Rule - CACFP: Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Meal Patterns Tables
- Infants (all meals and snacks)
- Children and Adults
Policy
Additional Resources
CACFP operators can utilize the following materials and resources to help you implement the CACFP meal pattern requirements:
- Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs - This interactive, web-based tool assists child nutrition program operators with planning, purchasing, preparing, and serving nutritious meals.
- Crediting Handbook for CACFP - Supplementary resource to the “Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs” and contains additional information on creditable foods served in the CACFP.
- Crediting Tip Sheets in Child Nutrition Programs - Provides handy references for program operators on how to credit the five meal components in child nutrition programs. Each tip sheet provides simple, easy-to-use information for one meal component.
- Feeding Infants in CACFP - Training tool for CACFP operators with infants enrolled at their child care site. It covers topics such as the CACFP infant meal pattern, developmental readiness, hunger and fullness signs, handling and storing breastmilk and infant formula, solid foods, and more.
- Local Foods and Related Activities in CACFP - Offers information about farm to preschool efforts, including tips and resources.
- MyPlate- Online tool that offers ideas and tips to help CACFP operators, participants and families develop healthier lifestyles.
- Team Nutrition CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools - An assortment of engaging materials that can empower CACFP providers with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to implement the CACFP meal pattern requirements.
- Team Nutrition Resources for Child Care -A collection of nutrition education materials, recipes, webinars, training tools, and more for CACFP operators.