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School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern

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Technical Assistance
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As of July 1, 2024

Amount of Food1 per Week (minimum per day)

Meal Components

Grades K-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

Fruits (cups)25 (1)5 (1)5 (1)
Vegetables (cups)2000
  • Dark green subgroup
000
  • Red/orange subgroup
000
  • Beans, peas, and lentils subgroup
000
  • Starchy subgroup
000
  • Other vegetables subgroup
000
Grains or meats/meat alternates (oz. eq.)37-10 (1)8-10 (1)9-10 (1)
Fluid milk (cups)45 (1)5 (1)5 (1)

 

Daily Amount Based on the Average for a 5-Day Week5

Dietary Specifications

Grades K-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

Minimum-maximum calories (kcal)350-500400-550450-600
Saturated fat (% of total calories)<10<10<10
Added sugars (% of total calories) - must be implemented by July 1, 2027<10<10<10
Sodium limit - in place through June 30, 2027<540 mg<600 mg<640 mg
Sodium limit - must be implemented by July 1, 2027<485 mg<535 mg<570 mg

Endnotes

1 Food items included in each group and subgroup and amount equivalents.
2 Minimum creditable serving is 1⁄8 cup. Schools must offer 1 cup of fruit daily and 5 cups of fruit weekly. Schools may substitute vegetables for fruit at breakfast as described in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section.
3 Minimum creditable serving is 0.25 oz. eq. School may offer grains, meats/meat alternates, or a combination of both to meet the daily and weekly ounce equivalents for this combined component. At least 80 percent of grains offered weekly at breakfast must be whole grain-rich as defined in § 210.2 of this chapter, and the remaining grain items offered must be enriched.
4 Minimum creditable serving is 8 fluid ounces. All fluid milk must be fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1 percent fat or less) and must meet the requirements in paragraph (d) of this section.
5 By July 1, 2027, schools must meet the dietary specification for added sugars. Schools must meet the sodium limits by the dates specified in this chart. Discretionary sources of calories may be added to the meal pattern if within the dietary specifications.

Page updated: November 13, 2024