Ensuring that children receive nutritious meals is a crucial aspect of their development, and the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a significant role in this endeavor. The CACFP meal pattern serves as a guide for providers to plan well-balanced meals that meet the nutritional needs of the children in their care. In this blog post, we will delve into the USDA CACFP meal pattern, exploring the key components and providing a step-by-step guide on how to calculate the required amount of food based on the CACFP meal pattern and the number of children being served.

Understanding the USDA CACFP Meal Pattern
The CACFP meal pattern is designed to ensure that children receive a variety of nutritious foods that contribute to their overall health and well-being. The meal pattern includes guidelines for serving different food groups in appropriate portion sizes. The key components of the CACFP meal pattern include:

• Milk: Providers are required to offer fluid milk to children, and it should meet specific criteria outlined in the meal pattern.
• Fruits and Vegetables: A variety of fruits and vegetables must be offered to children each day to provide essential vitamins and minerals.
• Grains: Providers are encouraged to offer whole grains to promote a healthy diet, and the meal pattern specifies the minimum serving size.
• Meat/Meat Alternates: This category includes protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and plant-based protein sources.

Calculating the Required Amount of Food
To ensure that each child receives a nutritious meal in the right portion size, providers can use the USDA’s guidelines and tools available on the Square Meals website and the official USDA CACFP page.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to calculate the required amount of food:

Review CACFP Meal Patterns: Familiarize yourself with the CACFP meal patterns for each age group. The patterns may differ for infants, preschoolers, and school-aged children.

_{Refer to Official USDA Resources: Cross-reference the information and calculations with official USDA resources available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks to ensure accuracy and compliance. Be sure to visit the Square Meals Website: Access the Square Meals website at Squaremeals.org to find valuable resources and tools for CACFP providers.}

Determine the Number of Children: Identify the number of children you will be serving. The portion sizes will be based on the number of children in your care.

Utilize CACFP Calculators: Explore the calculators provided on the Square Meals website to help you determine the required amounts of food based on the CACFP meal pattern and the number of children.
The USDA CACFP meal pattern is a valuable tool for childcare providers, ensuring that children receive balanced and nutritious meals. By utilizing the resources available on the Square Meals website and referring to official USDA guidelines, providers can easily calculate the required amount of food based on the CACFP meal pattern and the number of children in their care. Nourishing tomorrow’s leaders begins with providing them with the essential nutrients they need today.