FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum provides questions and answers on the meal pattern requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.  FNS collected and answered a variety of questions since the updated meal patterns were published in April 2016.

This memorandum outlines the use of offer versus serve in the adult day care and at-risk afterschool settings in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the use of family style meals in the CACFP.

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on meal service requirements in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option.

This memorandum explains the vegetable and fruit requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and includes Questions and Answers.

This memorandum supersedes CACFP 21-2011-REVISED Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010: Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk Substitutions in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Questions and Answers, Sept. 15, 2011.

This memorandum outlines best practices and resources to help centers and day care homes implement best practices for updating the meal requirements for the CACFP.

Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat. 

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on meal service requirements in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

The attached Questions & Answers provide guidance on the meal patterns and dietary specifications for meals offered under the School Breakfast Program. The meal requirements for the SBP were established by the final rule Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

On July 16, 2012, FNS issued memorandum SP 38-2012, which allowed Residential Child Care Institutions, with state agency approval, to serve the National School Lunch Program meal pattern in effect for the highest age/grade group served to all residential students.