CACFP Meal Pattern · 3-5
CACFP Meal Pattern for Children Ages 3-5: Breakfast, Lunch or Supper, and Snack
Children ages 3 through 5 use the CACFP preschool-age minimum serving sizes for breakfast, lunch or supper, and snack.
Who serves Children Ages 3-5 meals under CACFP
- Child care centers
- Family day care homes
- Head Start programs
- State-funded preschool programs
Regulatory note: Unflavored low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk is required. Juice may be served only once per day. At least one serving per day of grains must be whole-grain rich.
Breakfast — Children Ages 3-5
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Milk (low-fat or fat-free, unflavored) | 3/4 cup |
| Vegetables, fruits, or both | 1/2 cup |
| Grains (oz eq) | 1/2 ounce equivalent |
Lunch or Supper — Children Ages 3-5
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Milk (low-fat or fat-free, unflavored) | 3/4 cup |
| Meat/meat alternates | 1 1/2 ounces |
| Vegetables | 1/4 cup |
| Fruits | 1/4 cup |
| Grains (oz eq) | 1/2 ounce equivalent |
Snack — Children Ages 3-5
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Milk (low-fat or fat-free, unflavored) | 1/2 cup |
| Meat/meat alternates | 1/2 ounce |
| Vegetables | 1/2 cup |
| Fruits | 1/2 cup |
| Grains (oz eq) | 1/2 ounce equivalent |
At snack, select 2 of the 5 required components. A snack may not consist of two beverages.
Key crediting and substitution rules
- At least one grain serving across all eating occasions each day must be whole grain-rich. Use a USDA-recognized method and product documentation to evaluate grain ingredients; total product weight alone does not establish whole grain-rich status.
- Pasteurized, full-strength juice may meet the vegetable or fruit requirement at only one meal or snack per day.
- Yogurt must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces.
- Breakfast cereal must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce.
- Grain-based desserts do not credit toward the grains requirement.
- At breakfast, meats or meat alternates may replace the entire grains requirement up to three times per week, ounce equivalent for ounce equivalent.
Source: 7 CFR 226.20(c); USDA FNS Child Meal Pattern. Review the current USDA FNS CACFP nutrition standards before service.
Review Children Ages 3-5 menu drafts for meal-pattern gaps
CrEATe compares the information you enter with configured CACFP component and portion fields for Children Ages 3-5, flags planning gaps, and prepares record drafts. Verify the result against current USDA, sponsor, and state guidance.