Meal Patterns and Menu Planning
Contact Information
Use the resources below to discover the components of the nutritious, well-balanced, and age-appropriate meals served. Please review the CACFP Record Keeping Requirements Reference Sheet for information on document retention.
- Meal Patterns
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Children
- Child Meal Pattern Chart
- Child Meal Requirements Reference Sheet
- Meal Pattern Reference Guide - Children
Infants
- Infant Meal Pattern Chart
- Infant Feeding - Meal Requirement Reference Sheet
- Infant Meals Special Dietary Needs Reference Sheet
Adults
Other Resources
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Menu Templates
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- Child Care
- Children ages 1-18: AM/PM Snack, Supper
- Children ages 1-18: Breakfast, Lunch & Snack
- Children ages 1-18: Breakfast, Lunch & Supper
- Children ages 1-18: Lunch, Snack & Supper
- Children ages 1-18: Breakfast, Lunch & Snack - Weekend only
- Children ages 1-18: Lunch, Snack & Supper - Weekend only
- Child Care Master Menu Template
- Adult Care
- Child Care
- Menu Planning
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- USDA Crediting Handbook - Updated March 2020
- CACFP Meal Service Styles Reference Sheet
- Product Documentation Reference Sheet
- Food Buying Guide
- Food Buying Guide Calculator
- Infant Crediting Guide
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Dairy Requirements
- Grain Requirements
- CACFP Grain Requirements Reference Sheet
- CACFP Grain Requirements- Enriched and Fortified Grains Reference Sheet
- CACFP Grain Requirements- Whole Grain-Rich Reference Sheet
- Whole and Enriched Grains CACFP Reference Sheet
- Rule of Three Reference Sheet
- Grain-Based Desserts Reference Sheet
- Cereals and Ounce Equivalents Reference Sheet
- Calculating Grains Contribution from Recipes Worksheet
- USDA's Exhibit A Handout
- USDA - All About the Grains Group (information on ounce equivalents)
- USDA - Grains References
- WIC Approved Breakfast Cereals-Meets Sugar Requirement
- Product Formulation Statement Templates
Resources
- Recipes
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- CACFP Creative and Multicultural Recipe Resources Handout
- CACFP Recipes for Child Care, Homes, and Adult Day Care
- Child Nutrition Recipe Box
- Multicultural Child Care Recipes
- USDA Mixing Bowl (Not all recipes are CACFP creditable)
- USDA Standardized Recipes
- Standardized Recipe Form
- Step by Step Recipe Standardization Guide for the CACFP
- Special Dietary Needs / Substitution Requests / Allergies
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- Request for Fluid Milk Substitution
- Request for Special Dietary Accommodations
- Special Dietary Needs Reference Sheet
- OSPI CACFP Approved Non-Dairy Beverages
- Food Safety
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- USDA Food Safety Resources
- Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs
- Washington State Department of Health
- The Institute of Child Nutrition- Food Safety in Child Care