Meal Pattern Charts

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CACFP Meal Patterns for Infants

Breakfast

Birth through 3 months	4 through 7 months	8 through 11 months
4—6 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³	4—8 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³ — and — 0—3 tablespoons of infant cereal¹^,⁴	6—8 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³ — and — 2—4 tablespoons of infant cereal¹ — and — 1—4 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both
Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified. Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that breastmilk be served in place of formula from birth—11 months. For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breastmilk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breastmilk may be offered, with additional breastmilk offered if the infant is still hungry. A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.

CACFP Meal Patterns for Infants

Lunch or Supper

Birth through 3 months	4 through 7 months	8 through 11 months
4—6 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³	4—8 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³ — and — 0—3 tablespoons of infant cereal¹^,⁴ — and — 1—4 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both⁴	6—8 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³ — and — 2—4 tablespoons of infant cereal¹ — and/or — 1—4 tablespoons of meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, cooked dry beans or peas; or ½—2 ounces (weight) of cheese; or 1—4 ounces (volume) of cottage cheese; or 1—4 ounces (weight) of cheese food or cheese spread — and — 1—4 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both
Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified. Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that breastmilk be served in place of formula from birth—11 months. For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breastmilk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breastmilk may be offered, with additional breastmilk offered if the infant is still hungry. A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.

CACFP Meal Patterns for Infants

Snack

Birth through 3 months	4 through 7 months	8 through 11 months
4—6 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³	4—6 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³	2—4 fluid ounces of formula¹ or breastmilk²^,³; or fruit juice⁵ — and — 0—½ bread⁴^,⁶ or 0—2 crackers⁴^,⁶
Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified. Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that breastmilk be served in place of formula from birth—11 months. For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breastmilk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breastmilk may be offered, with additional breastmilk offered if the infant is still hungry. A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it. Fruit juice must be full-strength. A serving of this component must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour.

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CACFP Meal Patterns for Children

Breakfast

Age:	1 through 2 years	3 through 5 years
Milk Must be fluid milk	½ cup	¾ cup
Vegetable or Fruit or Juice¹	¼ cup	½ cup
Grains/Breads A serving is a bread or bread alternate and/or cereal:
Bread, enriched or whole grain	½ slice	½ slice
Cereal, enriched or whole grain Cold dry cereal² or Hot cooked cereal	¼ cup* ¼ cup	⅓ cup** ¼ cup
Cooked pasta or noodle products	¼ cup	¼ cup
If you are serving juice: Try not to serve juice just to meet the fruit/vegetable requirement too many times throughout the day. It may fill up the children and take the place of other needed nutrients. If you are serving cold dry cereal for breakfast: * For ages 1 and 2 years, 1/4 cup (volume) or 1/3 oz (weight), whichever is less. ** For ages 3 through 5 years, serve: 1/3 cup (volume) or 1/2 oz (weight), whichever is less.

CACFP Meal Patterns for Children

Lunch or Supper

Age:	1 through 2 years	3 through 5 years
Milk Must be fluid milk	½ cup	¾ cup
Meat or Meat Alternate:
Meat, poultry, or fish (cooked, lean meat without bone)	1 oz	1½ oz
Cheese	1 oz	1½ oz
Egg (large)	½	¾
Cooked dry beans or peas	¼ cup	⅜ cup
Peanut butter or other nut or seed butters	2 Tblsp	3 Tblsp
Nuts and/or seeds¹	½ oz	¾ oz
Yogurt, plain or sweetened²	4 oz	6 oz
Vegetable or Fruit or Juice³ Serve two different vegetables and/or fruits to equal	¼ cup	½ cup
Grains/Breads A serving is a bread or bread alternate and/or cereal
Bread, enriched or whole grain	½ slice	½ slice
Cooked cereal grains, enriched or whole-grain	¼ cup	¼ cup
Cooked pasta or noodle products	¼ cup	¼ cup
If you are serving nuts and seeds for lunch or supper: This portion can meet only one-half of the total serving of the meat/meat alternate requirement. For determining combinations: 1 oz of nuts or seeds = 1 oz of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish. Tree nuts and seeds that may be used as meat alternates are peanuts, soynuts, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, and pecans), and seeds (sunflower, sesame, squash, and pumpkin). CAUTION: Children under 4 years of age are at the highest risk of choking. For this age group, USDA recommends that nuts and/or seeds be ground or finely chopped and served to children in prepared food. Commercially prepared yogurt is now permitted as a meat/meat alternate. You may serve 4 oz (weight) or ½ cup (volume) of plain, sweetened, or flavored yogurt to fulfill the equivalent of 1 oz of the meat/meat alternate component. For younger children, 2 oz (weight) or ¼ cup (volume) fulfills the equivalent of ½ oz of the meat/meat alternate requirement. If you are serving juice: Try not to serve juice to meet the fruit/vegetable requirement too many times throughout the day. It may fill up the children and take the place of other needed nutrients.

CACFP Meal Patterns for Children

Snack

Age:	1 through 2 years	3 through 5 years
Select 2 of the 4 components shown. If you select milk as one of the components, you may not* serve fruit juice as the other component.*
Milk Must be fluid milk	½ cup	½ cup
Meat or Meat Alternate:
Meat, poultry, or fish (cooked, lean meat without bone)	½ oz	½ oz
Cheese	½ oz	½ oz
Egg (large)	½	½
Cooked dry beans or peas	⅛ cup	⅛ cup
Peanut butter or other nut or seed butters	1 Tblsp	1 Tblsp
Nuts and/or seeds¹	½ oz	½ oz
Yogurt, plain or sweetened²	2 oz	2 oz
Vegetable or Fruit or Juice³	½ cup	½ cup
Grains/Breads A serving is a bread or bread alternate and/or cereal
Bread, enriched or whole grain	½ slice	½ slice
Cereal, enriched or whole grain Cold dry cereal⁴ or Hot cooked cereal	¼ cup* ¼ cup	⅓ cup** ¼ cup
Cooked pasta or noodle products	¼ cup	¼ cup
If you are serving nuts and seeds for a supplement (snack): For determining combinations: 1 oz of nuts or seeds = 1 oz of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish. Tree nuts and seeds that may be used as meat alternates are peanuts, soynuts, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, and pecans), and seeds (sunflower, sesame, squash, and pumpkin). CAUTION: Children under 4 years of age are at the highest risk of choking. For this age group, USDA recommends that nuts and/or seeds be ground or finely chopped and served to children in prepared food. Commercially prepared yogurt is now permitted as a meat/meat alternate. You may serve 4 oz (weight) or ½ cup (volume) of plain, sweetened, or flavored yogurt to fulfill the equivalent of 1 oz of the meat/meat alternate component. For younger children, 2 oz (weight) or ¼ cup (volume) fulfills the equivalent of ½ oz of the meat/meat alternate requirement. If you are serving juice: Try not to serve juice to meet the fruit/vegetable requirement too many times throughout the day. It may fill up the children and take the place of other needed nutrients. If you are serving cold dry cereal for a supplement (snack): * For ages 1 and 2 years, serve: ¼ cup (volume) or ⅓ oz (weight), whichever is less. ** For ages 3 through 5 years, serve: ⅓ cup (volume) or ½ oz (weight), whichever is less.