CACFP Meal Pattern · 6-11 months
CACFP Meal Pattern for Infants 6 through 11 Months: Breakfast, Lunch or Supper, and Snack
Infants 6 through 11 months begin receiving solid foods alongside breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula as developmentally appropriate.
Who serves Infants 6 through 11 Months meals under CACFP
- Child care centers
- Family day care homes
- Head Start programs
Regulatory note: Solid-food components are required only when the infant is developmentally ready. Fruit and vegetable juice must not be served; yogurt is creditable in the quantities and added-sugar limits shown in current FNS guidance.
Breakfast — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 6-8 fluid ounces |
| Iron-fortified infant cereal or meat/meat alternate Alternatives include 0-2 ounces cheese, 0-4 ounces (volume) cottage cheese, or 0-4 ounces or 1/2 cup yogurt; combinations are permitted. | 0-1/2 oz eq infant cereal; or 0-4 tablespoons meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, or cooked beans, peas, and lentils |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
Lunch or Supper — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 6-8 fluid ounces |
| Iron-fortified infant cereal or meat/meat alternate Alternatives include 0-2 ounces cheese, 0-4 ounces (volume) cottage cheese, or 0-4 ounces or 1/2 cup yogurt; combinations are permitted. | 0-1/2 oz eq infant cereal; or 0-4 tablespoons meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, or cooked beans, peas, and lentils |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
Snack — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 2-4 fluid ounces |
| Bread, crackers, iron-fortified infant cereal, or ready-to-eat breakfast cereal | 0-1/2 oz eq bread or infant cereal; or 0-1/4 oz eq crackers or ready-to-eat cereal |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
Key infant meal-pattern notes
- Breast milk, iron-fortified infant formula, or portions of both must be served. Solid-food components are required only when the infant is developmentally ready.
- Fruit and vegetable juices must not be served.
- A grain served at snack must be whole grain-rich, enriched meal or flour, bran, or germ. The child-and-adult rule to serve one whole grain-rich item per day does not apply to the infant meal pattern.
- Yogurt may be served within the infant pattern and must contain no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces.
- Ready-to-eat breakfast cereal may be served at snack when developmentally appropriate and must contain no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce.
Source: 7 CFR 226.20(b); USDA FNS Infant Meal Pattern Chart. Review the current USDA FNS CACFP nutrition standards before service.
Review Infants 6 through 11 Months menu drafts for meal-pattern gaps
CrEATe compares the information you enter with configured CACFP component and portion fields for Infants 6 through 11 Months, flags planning gaps, and prepares record drafts. Verify the result against current USDA, sponsor, and state guidance.