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CACFP meal pattern chart
What each meal and snack has to include for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to pay for it, by age, on one page for the kitchen wall. The amounts are the minimums in the federal rule.
“Institutions and facilities must serve the meal components and quantities specified in the following meal patterns for children and adult participants in order to qualify for reimbursement.”7 CFR 226.20(c)
CACFP meal patterns, children 1 to 18
Breakfast (Serve all three components.)
| Component | Ages 1 to 2 | Ages 3 to 5 | Ages 6 to 12 | Ages 13 to 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid milk | 4 fl oz | 6 fl oz | 8 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
| Vegetables, fruits, or both | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Grains | 1/2 oz eq | 1/2 oz eq | 1 oz eq | 1 oz eq |
7 CFR 226.20(c)(1), Table 2. oz eq means ounce equivalents.
Lunch and supper (Serve all five components.)
| Component | Ages 1 to 2 | Ages 3 to 5 | Ages 6 to 12 | Ages 13 to 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid milk | 4 fl oz | 6 fl oz | 8 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
| Meats/meat alternates | 1 oz eq | 1 1/2 oz eq | 2 oz eq | 2 oz eq |
| Vegetables | 1/8 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Fruits | 1/8 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup |
| Grains | 1/2 oz eq | 1/2 oz eq | 1 oz eq | 1 oz eq |
7 CFR 226.20(c)(2), Table 3. oz eq means ounce equivalents.
Snack (Serve two of the five components. Milk and juice may not be the only two.)
| Component | Ages 1 to 2 | Ages 3 to 5 | Ages 6 to 12 | Ages 13 to 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid milk | 4 fl oz | 4 fl oz | 8 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
| Meats/meat alternates | 1/2 oz eq | 1/2 oz eq | 1 oz eq | 1 oz eq |
| Vegetables | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup | 3/4 cup |
| Fruits | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup | 3/4 cup | 3/4 cup |
| Grains | 1/2 oz eq | 1/2 oz eq | 1 oz eq | 1 oz eq |
7 CFR 226.20(c)(3), Table 4. oz eq means ounce equivalents.
Infants
| Meal | Birth through 5 months | 6 through 11 months |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast, lunch or supper | 4 to 6 fl oz breast milk or formula | 6 to 8 fl oz breast milk or formula; and 0 to 1/2 oz eq infant cereal, or 0 to 4 Tbsp meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, cooked dry beans, peas or lentils, or 0 to 2 oz cheese, or 0 to 4 oz (volume) cottage cheese, or 0 to 4 oz or 1/2 cup yogurt, or a mix; and 0 to 2 Tbsp vegetable or fruit |
| Snack | 4 to 6 fl oz breast milk or formula | 2 to 4 fl oz breast milk or formula; and 0 to 1/2 oz eq bread, or 0 to 1/4 oz eq crackers, or 0 to 1/2 oz eq infant cereal, or 0 to 1/4 oz eq ready-to-eat breakfast cereal; and 0 to 2 Tbsp vegetable or fruit |
7 CFR 226.20(b)(5), Table 1. Formula and dry infant cereal must be iron-fortified. Solid foods are served once the infant is developmentally ready to accept them. No fruit or vegetable juice for infants.
Rules that change what you serve
- Milk by age: unflavored whole milk at age 1, unflavored milk from 2 through 5, flavored or unflavored from 6. (Table 2, notes 3 to 5)
- At least one whole grain-rich serving a day, across all meals and snacks. Grain-based desserts don't count as grains. (Table 2, note 8)
- Juice must be pasteurized, and full-strength juice can meet the vegetable or fruit part at only one meal or snack a day. (Table 2, note 7)
- Yogurt: no more than 12 grams of added sugars per 6 ounces. Breakfast cereal: no more than 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce. (Table 3, notes 7 and 9)
- At breakfast, meats/meat alternates may replace the whole grains part up to three times a week. (226.20(c)(1))
From 7 CFR 226.20 as published on eCFR, read September 1, 2026. Your state agency or sponsor may have more guidance on crediting foods; the rule is what a review goes by.
What your center is paid for these meals: the CACFP reimbursement calculator.
Menus with portions by age, built in
Farlow keeps your menus with portions by age and counts every meal logged at the table toward your claim.
See CACFP meal tracking