Meal Patterns and Nutrition Resources
The CACFP meal patterns ensure that infants, children, and adults at participating centers have access to healthy food throughout the day. CACFP meals and snacks include whole grains, a variety of vegetables and fruits, and less added sugar and saturated fat. The USDA’s webpage on Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks provides in-depth information.
On this page, CACFP operators in North Carolina will find information, tools, and tips on serving meals and snacks that meet the CACFP meal patterns. The resources below are intended to make the work of planning and operating the CACFP easier. Resources with an asterisk (*) are available in both English and Spanish.
Have questions about the CACFP in North Carolina? Email our training team at CACFPtraining@dhhs.nc.gov.
Tab/Accordion Items
- Milk
- Grains
- Crediting Grains in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheets
- Part 1: Creditable Grains in Child Nutrition Programs
- Part 2: Identifying Grain Products That Are Whole Grain-Rich
- Part 3: Program Requirements
- Exhibit A: Grain Requirements for Child Nutrition Programs
- Ounce Equivalents for Grains
- Whole Grain-Rich Foods
- Summary of 6 Ways to Identify Whole Grain-Rich Foods
- CACFP Grains Chart - Child Care Component
- Healthier Cereal Choices for Use in CACFP
- Calculating Sugar Limits for Breakfast Cereals*
- Choose Breakfast Cereals Lower in Added Sugars*
- Grain-Based Desserts in the CACFP*
- Product Tip Sheet – Grain-Based Desserts
- Product Tip Sheet – Tortilla Chips
- Product Tip Sheet – Cream of Wheat
- Meat/Meat Alternates
- Vegetables
- Crediting Vegetables in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet
- Serving Vegetables in the CACFP*
- NC Department of Agriculture – What’s in Season?
- This is a chart of vegetables and fruits grown in North Carolina and when they are in season.
- Fruits
- Crediting Fruits in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet
- NC Department of Agriculture – What’s in Season?
- This is a chart of vegetables and fruits grown in North Carolina and when they are in season.
- Combination Foods
- Child Recipe Book
- Adult Recipe Book
- CACFP Crediting Handbook
- Food Buying Guide – Web-based and interactive!
- Meal Component Calculation Workbook
- CACFP Milk Calculator
- Non-Dairy Tool – Updated February 2022
- Potentially Allowable Non-Dairy Beverages
- Child and Adult Menu Documentation Guide
- Fresh Produce Purchasing and Prep Guides
- Ever wondered how many tomatoes to purchase and prepare for 25 4-year-olds at lunch? These user-friendly guides do the purchasing and prep calculations for you and take away the guesswork! The goal of these tools is to help caregivers serve more fresh vegetables and fruits, increase children’s vegetable and fruit consumption, highlight seasonal, locally grown produce, and prevent food waste. The tools were developed based on information in the USDA Food Buying Guide. They can be helpful to people preparing the meals as well as people purchasing the produce. Check out the instructions and tools below!
- Instructions
- Produce Guide for Ages 1-2 Years – Excel Workbook
- Produce Guide for Ages 1-2 Years – PDF
- Produce Guide for Ages 3-5 Years – Excel Workbook
- Produce Guide for Ages 3-5 Years – PDF
- Produce Guide for Ages 6-18 Years – Excel Workbook
- Produce Guide for Ages 6-18 Years – PDF
- Methods for Healthy Cooking*
- Serving Snacks in the CACFP*
- CACFP Vegetable & Fruit Snack Menu from the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
- Using the Nutrition Facts Label in the CACFP*
- Disaster Relief Menus
- COVID Disaster Relief Sample Menu – INFANT
- COVID Disaster Relief Sample Menu – CHILD
- COVID Disaster Relief Sample Menu – ADULT
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Infants Birth - 5 Months
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Infants 6 - 11 Months
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Children Ages 1-2
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Children Ages 3-5
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Children Ages 6-18
- Grab and Go CACFP Meals for Adults
- Child Nutrition Recipe Box
- The Child Nutrition Recipe Box provides CACFP operators with recipes to prepare healthy and delicious meals that meet the meal pattern requirements. The recipes are standardized to provide meal pattern crediting information and include dishes made with legumes, whole grains, and a rainbow of vegetables. Adult portions are available as well.
- Multicultural Child Care Recipes*
- The 40 recipes in this Team Nutrition collection will add the flavors from different cultures and regions to CACFP menus. Available in yields of 6, 25, and 50 servings. Download them in English or Spanish.
- Click here to see the multicultural recipes
- Recipes for Healthy Kids
- The recipes in these cookbooks feature foods both children and adults should consume more of: dark green and orange vegetables, dry beans and peas, and whole grains. These healthy recipes are low in total fat, saturated fat, sugar and sodium. With fun names like Porcupine Sliders, Smokin' Powerhouse Chili, and Squish Squash Lasagna, these kid-tested, kid-approved recipes are sure to please children and be an instant hit!
- Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Family Child Care Homes (6 servings)
- Explore the recipes in the cookbook
- Download a PDF of the cookbook
- Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Child Care Centers (25 servings)
- Explore the recipes in the cookbook
- Download a PDF of the cookbook
The following CACFP seasonal menus are designed to:
- Inspire programs to use seasonal, locally grown foods when possible
- Provide variety with 4-week cycle menus with a breakfast, lunch/supper, and snack
- Link to standardized recipes
- Meet the CACFP Meal Pattern requirements
- Provide healthy meal options
- Promote NC agriculture
- Seasonal Menus
- NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation
- Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! *
- The Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! resource contains communication tools CACFP operators can use to let mothers and families know that breastfed babies are welcome at their child care site. It includes a mother's guide, 11"x17" poster, and a message graphic. Print copies are available for schools, CACFP providers, sponsoring organizations, and state agencies that participate in or administer one of USDA’s Child Nutrition programs.
- Order print copies in English
- Order print copies in Spanish
- Download in English
- Download in Spanish
- Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care resources from the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
- Infant Meal Pattern (all meals and snacks)
- Feeding Infants in the CACFP Guide*
- Explore the guide
- Download in English
- Download in Spanish
- Infant 5-Day Menu Planning Tool
- Infant 7-Day Menu Planning Tool
- Sample Infant Menu – One Month
- Feeding Infants Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP*
- Crediting Store-Bought Combination Baby Foods in the CACFP*
- Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes*
- Child Meal Pattern
- Child 5-Day Menu Planning Tool (Breakfast thru Late Night Snack)
- Child 5 Day Menu Planning Tool (2 meals, 1 snack option)
- Child 7- Day Menu Planning Tool (Breakfast thru Late Night Snack)
- ARAM 5-Day Menu Planning Tool (1 meal, 1 snack)
- Substitute Meat for Grains at Breakfast – Children
- At-Risk Afterschool Meals Guide
- Offer Versus Serve in the CACFP*
- Serve Tasty and Healthy Foods in the CACFP
- Mealtimes with Toddlers in the CACFP*
- Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes*
Overview of Food Allergies
Managing Food Allergies – School Nutrition Staff
Common Questions – School Nutrition Staff
Managing Food Allergies – School Nutrition Directors
Common Questions – School Nutrition Directors
Alergias a los Alimentos
Egg Allergies
Fish Allergies
Milk Allergies
Wheat Allergies
Peanut Allergies
Shellfish Allergies
Soy Allergies
Tree Nut Allergies