Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0047 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility - Extension

FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. This extension  applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #13
04/21/2020
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Sugar

These worksheets can be used to empower Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers and operators with the knowledge, skills and expertise to implement CACFP meal pattern requirements.

FNS-653
03/04/2020
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Elija cereales para el desayuno bajos en azúcares

Estas hojas de capacitación se pueden usar para fortalecer el conocimiento, las habilidades y la experiencia de los proveedores y los operadores del Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos (CACFP, por sus siglas en inglés) para implementar los requisitos del patrón de comidas del CACFP. 

FNS-653-S
03/04/2020
Resource | Technical Assistance Short and Long Week Calculations

Meal pattern calculations for short and long weeks. This applies to schools who regularly operate on a shorter or longer weekly cycle.

12/18/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0078 Updated School Meal Guidance

FNS is issuing a suite of memoranda providing updated guidance for operators in the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program.

SP36-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0077 Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

This memorandum supersedes policy memo SP 31-2013, “Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program,” dated March 27, 2013. This revision includes policy changes and general updates to outdated resources/website links and updated questions and answers.

SP41-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0076 Smoothies Offered in the Child Nutrition Programs

This memorandum clarifies juice and yogurt allowances based on the child care and preschool meal pattern updates and incorporates the meal pattern flexibilities related to flavored milk. The flavored milk flexibilities apply to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Special Milk Program for Children effective beginning in school year 2019-2020.

SP40 CACFP17 SFSP17-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0075 Clarification on the Milk and Water Requirements in the School Meal Program

This memorandum rescinds and replaces SP19-2018, issued Aug. 6, 2018. This updated memorandum clarifies regulations that water made available to students in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program shall not compete with the milk requirement.

SP39-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0074 Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Q&As for Program Operators

This memorandum rescinds and replaces memorandum SP 10-2012 (v. 9), Questions and Answers on the Final Rule “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, dated Aug. 3, 2015.

SP38-2019
09/23/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0073 Q&As on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements

Attached are Q&As on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, Dec. 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the child nutrition programs beginning July 1, 2019.

SP37 CACFP16-2019
09/23/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021