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Child & Adult Care Food Program

Meal Patterns

Infant breakfast

Infant lunch or supper

Infant snack

Child breakfast

Child lunch or supper

Child snack

Adult breakfast

Adult lunch

Adult supper

Adult Snack


Infant Meal Pattern
Breakfast

 

Birth through
3 Months
4 through
7 Months
8 through
11 Months
4-6 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk2,3 4-8 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk;2,3 

0-3 tablespoons of infant cereal1,4  

6-8 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk;2,3 and

2-4 tablespoons of infant cereal;1 and

1-4 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both

1 Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified.
2 Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that   breastmilk be served in place of formula from birth through 11 months.
3 For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of breastmilk   per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breastmilk may be offered, with   additional breastmilk offered if the infant is still hungry.
4 A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.



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Infant Meal Pattern
Lunch or Supper
 

Birth through
3 Months
4 through
7 Months
8 through
11 Months
4-6 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk2,3 4-8 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk;2,3 

0-3 tablespoons of infant cereal;1,4 and

0-3 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both  

6-8 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk;2,3 

2-4 tablespoons of infant cereal;1 and/or

1-4 tablespoons of meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, cooked dry beans or peas; or

½-2 ounces of cheese; or

1-4 ounces (volume) of cottage cheese; or

1-4 ounces (weight) of cheese food or cheese spread; and

1-4 tablespoons of fruit or vegetable or both   

1 Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified.
2 Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that   breast milk be served in place of formula from birth through 11 months.
3 For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of   breastmilk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breast milk may be   offered, with additional breast milk offered if the infant is still hungry.
4 A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.


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Infant Meal Pattern
Snack
 

Birth through
3 Months
4 through
7 Months
8 through
11 Months
4-6 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk2,3 4-6 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk2,3 2-4 fluid ounces of formula1 or breastmilk,2,3 or fruit juice;5 and

0-½ bread4, 6 or

0-2 crackers4, 6

1 Infant formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified.
2 Breastmilk or formula, or portions of both, may be served; however, it is recommended that   breastmilk be served in place of formula from birth through 11 months.
3 For some breastfed infants who regularly consume less than the minimum amount of   breastmilk per feeding, a serving of less than the minimum amount of breast milk may be   offered, with additional breast milk offered if the infant is still hungry.
4 A serving of this component is required when the infant is developmentally ready to accept it.
5 Fruit juice must be full-strength.
6 A serving of this component must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour.


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Child Meal Pattern

Breakfast

 

Food Components Ages 1-2 Ages 3-5 Ages 6-121
1 milk2
   fluid milk
½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup
1 fruit/vegetable
   juice,3 fruit and/or vegetable
½ cup ½ cup ½ cup
1 grains/bread4
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains
½ slice

½ serving

¼ cup

¼ cup

¼ cup
½ slice

½ serving

13 cup

¼ cup

¼ cup
1 slice

1 serving

¾ cup

½ cup

½ cup
1 Children age 12 and older may be served larger portions based on their greater food needs.
  They may not be served less than the minimum quantities listed in this column.
2 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
3 Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
4 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
  whole-grain or enriched or fortified.




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Child Meal Pattern

Lunch or Supper

 

Food Components Ages 1-2 Ages 3-5 Ages 6-121
1 milk2
   fluid milk
½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup
2 fruits/vegetables
   juice,3 fruit and/or vegetable
¼ cup ½ cup ¾ cup
1 grains/bread4
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains

½ slice

½ serving

¼ cup

¼ cup

¼ cup

½ slice

½ serving

13 cup

¼ cup

¼ cup

1 slice

1 serving

¾ cup

½ cup

½ cup

1 meat/meat alternate
   meat or poultry or fish5 or

  alternate protein product or

  cheese or

  egg or

  cooked dry beans or peas or

  peanut or other nut or seed butters or

  nuts and/or seeds6 or

  yogurt7  

1 ounce
 

1 ounce

1 ounce

½ egg

¼ cup
 

2 Tbsp.
 

½ ounce

4 ounces

1½ ounces
 

1½ ounces

1½ ounces

¾ egg

cup
 

3 Tbsp.
 

¾ ounce

6 ounces

2 ounces
 

2 ounces

2 ounces

1 egg

½ cup
 

4 Tbsp.
 

1 ounce

8 ounces

1 Children age 12 and older may be served larger portions based on their greater food needs.
  They may not be served less than the minimum quantities listed in this column.
2 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
3
Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
4 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
   whole-grain or enriched or fortified.
5 A serving consists of the edible portion of cooked lean meat or poultry or fish.
6 Nuts and seeds may meet only one-half of the total meat/meat alternate serving and must be
  combined with another meat/meat alternate to fulfill the lunch or supper requirement.
7 Yogurt may be plain or flavored, unsweetened or sweetened.


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Child Meal Pattern

Snack


Select Two of the Four Components for a Reimbursable Snack

Food Components Ages 1-2 Ages 3-5 Ages 6-121
1 milk2
   fluid milk
½ cup ½ cup 1 cup
1 fruit/vegetable
   juice,3 fruit and/or vegetable
½ cup ½ cup ¾ cup
1 grains/bread4
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains

½ slice

½ serving

¼ cup

¼ cup

¼ cup

½ slice

½ serving

13 cup

¼ cup

¼ cup

1 slice

1 serving

¾ cup

½ cup

½ cup

1 meat/meat alternate
   meat or poultry or fish5 or

  alternate protein product or

  cheese or

  egg6 or

  cooked dry beans or peas or

  peanut or other nut or seed butters or

  nuts and/or seeds or

  yogurt7  


½ ounce

½ ounce

½ ounce


½ egg


cup

1 Tbsp.


½ ounce

2 ounces


½ ounce

½ ounce

½ ounce


½ egg


cup

1 Tbsp.


½ ounce

2 ounces


1 ounce

1 ounce

1 ounce


½ egg


¼ cup

2 Tbsp.


1 ounce

4 ounces

1 Children age 12 and older may be served larger portions based on their greater food needs.
  They may not be served less than the minimum quantities listed in this column.
2 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
3 Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.  Juice cannot be served when milk is the only other
   snack component.
4 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
   whole-grain or enriched or fortified.
5 A serving consists of the edible portion of cooked lean meat or poultry or fish.
6 One-half egg meets the required minimum amount (one ounce or less) of meat alternate.
7 Yogurt may be plain or flavored, unsweetened or sweetened.


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Adult Meal Pattern

Breakfast

 

Food Components  
1 milk1
   fluid milk
1 cup
1 fruit/vegetable
   juice,2 fruit and/or vegetable
½ cup
1 grains/bread3
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains
2 slices

2 servings

1½ cups

1 cup

1 cup
1 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
3 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
  whole-grain or enriched or fortified.



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AB


Adult Meal Pattern
Lunch
 

Food Components  
1 milk1
   fluid milk
1 cup
2 fruit/vegetable
   juice,2 fruit and/or vegetable
1 cup
1 grains/bread3
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains
2 slices

2 servings

1½ cups

1 cup

1 cup
1 meat/meat alternate4
   meat or poultry or fish or

   alternate protein product or

   cheese or

   egg or

   cooked dry beans or peas or
 
   peanut or other nut or seed butter or
 
   nuts and/or seeds5 or

   yogurt6
2 ounces

2 ounces

2 ounces

1 egg

½ cup

4 Tbsp.

1 ounce

8 ounces

1 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
3 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
  whole-grain or enriched or fortified.
4 A serving consists of the edible portion of cooked lean meat or poultry or fish.
5 Nuts and seeds may meet only one-half of the total meat/meat alternate serving and must be   combined with another meat/meat alternate to fulfill the lunch requirement.
6 Yogurt may be plain or flavored, unsweetened or sweetened.


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Adult Meal Pattern

Supper

 

Food Components  
2 fruit/vegetable
   juice,1 fruit and/or vegetable
1 cup
1 grains/bread2
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains
2 slices

2 servings

1½ cups

1 cup

1 cup
1 meat/meat alternate3
   meat or poultry or fish or

   alternate protein product or

   cheese or

   egg or

   cooked dry beans or peas or
 
   peanut or other nut or seed butter or
 
   nuts and/or seeds4 or

   yogurt5
2 ounces

2 ounces

2 ounces

1 egg

½ cup

4 Tbsp.

1 ounce

8 ounces

1 Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
2 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
  whole-grain or enriched or fortified.
3 A serving consists of the edible portion of cooked lean meat or poultry or fish.
4 Nuts and seeds may meet only one-half of the total meat/meat alternate serving and must be   combined with another meat/meat alternate to fulfill the lunch requirement.
5 Yogurt may be plain or flavored, unsweetened or sweetened.


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Adult Meal Pattern
Snack

Select Two of the Four Components for a Reimbursable Snack

Food Components  
1 milk1
   fluid milk
1 cup
1 fruit/vegetable
   juice,2  fruit and/or vegetable
½ cup
1 grains/bread3
   bread or

   cornbread or biscuit or roll or muffin or

   cold dry cereal or

   hot cooked cereal or

   pasta or noodles or grains
1 slice

1 serving

¾ cup

½ cup

½ cup
1 meat/meat alternate4
   meat or poultry or fish or

   alternate protein product or

   cheese or

   egg or

   cooked dry beans or peas or
 
   peanut or other nut or seed butter or
 
   nuts and/or seeds or

   yogurt5
1 ounces

1 ounces

1 ounces

½ egg

¼ cup

2 Tbsp.

1 ounce

4 ounces

1 Milk served must be low fat (1%) or non-fat (skim).
2 Fruit or vegetable juice must be full-strength.
3 Breads and grains must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour. Cereal must be
  whole-grain or enriched or fortified.
4 A serving consists of the edible portion of cooked lean meat or poultry or fish.
5 Yogurt may be plain or flavored, unsweetened or sweetened.


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Last modified: 01/22/2013