Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit

This memo has been superseded by SP 06-2020: School Breakfast Program: Continuation of the Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility.

Effective immediately, school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the School Breakfast Program may credit any vegetable offered, including potatoes and other starchy vegetables, in place of fruit without including vegetables from other subgroups in the weekly menus. This flexibility is based on Section 768 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2019 (PL 116-6) (the Appropriations Act), enacted on Feb. 15, 2019, and effective through Sept. 30, 2019. This provision provides additional flexibility in planning breakfast menus but does not require SFAs to make any menu changes.

SFAs participating in the SBP are required to offer 1 cup of fruit daily to children in all age/grade groups (7 CFR 220.8(c)). To meet this requirement, SFAs may offer a vegetable in place of a fruit. Under current regulations, SFAs choosing to offer a vegetable in place of a fruit at breakfast must ensure that at least two cups per week are from the dark green, red/orange, beans and peas (legumes), or “other vegetables” subgroups (7 CFR 220.8(c), footnote (c)). However, under the Appropriations Act, through Sept. 30, 2019, no federal funds may be used to enforce the requirement that at least two cups of vegetables per week come from the vegetable subgroups listed above. Therefore, SFAs that offer 1 cup of fruit or vegetable at breakfast each day will be considered compliant during the administrative review through Sept. 30, 2019.

State agencies are reminded to distribute this memorandum to program operators. Program operators should direct any questions concerning this guidance to their state agency. State agencies with questions should contact the appropriate FNS regional office.