Meal Patterns and Menu Planning

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

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

• Adult Meal Pattern Chart
• Meal Pattern Reference Guide - Adults

Other Resources

• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • USDA Meal Program Comparison Chart
  • USDA Meal Pattern Training Tools
  • USDA Team Nutrition

• The Institute of Child Nutrition's CACFP E-Learning Platform
  • CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements for Child Care
  • CACFP Meal Pattern Requirements for Infants
  • CACFP Meal Pattern Best Practices
  • Nutrition 101

Menu Templates

• 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
  • Children ages 6-18: Breakfast, Lunch, Supper - 7 day
  • Child Care Master Menu Template
• Adult Care
  • Adult: AM/PM Snack & Supper
  • Adult: Lunch & 2 Snacks
  • Adult: Breakfast, Lunch & Snack
  • Adult: Breakfast, Lunch & Supper
  • Adult: Lunch, Snack & Supper
  • Adult: Breakfast, Lunch & Snack - Weekend only
  • Adult: Lunch, Snack & Supper - Weekend only
  • Adult Care Master Menu Template
• Menu Template Tutorial

Menu Planning

• 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

• Dairy Requirements
  • OSPI CACFP Approved Non-Dairy Beverages
  • Special Dietary Request and Fluid Milk Substitution Information

• 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
  • Meat/Meat Alternates product formulation template
  • Fruits/Vegetables product formulation template
  • Grains product formulation template

Resources

• The Institute of Child Nutrition's CACFP E-Learning Platform
  • Step-by-Step Menu Planning in Child Care
  • Planning Cycle Menus in Child Care
  • Serving Nutritious Foods in Child Care

Recipes

• 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

• Request for Fluid Milk Substitution
  • Child - English | Arabic | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
  • Adult - English | Arabic | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
• Request for Special Dietary Accommodations
  • Child - English | Arabic | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
  • Adult - English | Arabic | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
• Special Dietary Needs Reference Sheet
• OSPI CACFP Approved Non-Dairy Beverages

Food Safety

• USDA Food Safety Resources
• Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs
• Washington State Department of Health
  • Food Safety Rules and Regulations
  • Food Worker Card Information
  • Food Recalls and Safety Alerts
• The Institute of Child Nutrition- Food Safety in Child Care