New Meal Patterns are here!!

Family Day Care Homes must comply with the new meal patterns by October 1, 2017!

New Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns

Child and Adult Meal Pattern Vegetables and Fruits Creates a seperate vegetable component and a seperate fruit component Allows two vegetables at lunch and supper Limits juice to once per day Grains Requires at least one grain per day be whole grain-rich (Whole grain-rich = foods that contain at least 50% whole grains and the rest are enriched, or contain 100% whole grains) Disallows grain-based desserts Uses ounce equivalents to determin serving sizes for grains (10.1.19) Meat and Meat Alternatives Yogurt must contain no more than 23 grams of sugar per 6 ounces Fluid Milk 1 year old children: whole, unflavored milk 2 year olds and older and adults: low-fat or fat-free milk Adults: yogurt in place of milk once per day Non-dairy beverages Flavored Milk Children 0 - 5 years old: Prohibited Children 6 years old and older and adults: Recommends as a best practice that flavored milk contain no more than 22 grams of sugar per 8 fluid ounces Food Preparation & Additional Requirements Prohibited: Deep-fat frying = cooking by submerging in hot oil or other fat Prohibited: The use of food and beverage as a reward or punishment Required: Offering water to children Allowed: Providing one meal component for children or adults with non-disability medical or special dietary needs Codified: Family-style meal service Allowed: Offer versus serve for at-risk afterschool programs Infant Meal Pattern Infant Age Groups and Solid Foods Two age groups: 0-5 months and 6-11 months Solid foods are allowed when developmentally appropriate for the infant  Breastfeeding and Infant Snack Meals may be reimbursed when a mother breastfeeds on-site A vegetable or fruit must be served at snack for older infants; prohibits juice Ready-to-eat cereals are allowed at snack for older infants Meat and Meat Alternates Allows cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt Whole eggs