CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

MEAL PATTERN FOR CHILDREN

            BREAKFAST MEAL PATTERN

COMPONENTS

AGES 1-2

AGES 3-5

AGES 6-12

Milk

Milk fluid

1/2 cup

3/4 cup

1 cup

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetable(s) and/or fruit(s) or

Full-strength fruit or vegetable juice or an equivalent quantity of any combination of the above

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

Bread and Bread Alternates

Bread or

Cornbread, biscuits, rolls, muffins, etc. or

Cold dry cereal or

Cooked cereal or

Cooked pasta or noodle products or

Cooked cereal grains or an equivalent quantity of any combination or bread and bread alternates

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/4 cup or 1/3 oz.

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/3 cup or 1/2 oz.

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1 slice

1 serving

3/4 cup or 1 oz.

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

LUNCH OR SUPPER MEAL PATTERN

COMPONENTS

AGES 1-2

AGES 3-5

AGES 6-12

Milk

Milk fluid

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1 cup

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables(s) and/or fruit(s) or

1/4 cup

1/2 cup total

3/4  cup total

Bread and Bread Alternates

Bread or

Cornbread, biscuits, rolls, muffins, etc. or

Cooked pasta or noodle products or

Cooked cereal grains or an equivalent quantity of any combination or bread and bread alternates

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1 slice

1 serving

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

Meat and Meat Alternates

Lean meat or poultry or fish or

Cheese or

Eggs or

Cooked dry beans or peas or

Peanut butter or soynut butter or

Other nut or seed butters or

Peanuts or soynuts or tree nuts or seeds* or

Yogurt, plain or sweetened and flavored or  an equivalent quantity or any combination or the above meat and meat alternates

1 oz.

1 oz.

1 egg

1/4 cup

2 tbsp.

1/2 oz.= 50%

4 oz.

1-1/2 oz.

1-1/2 oz.

1 egg

3/8 cup

3 tbsp.

1/2 oz. = 50%

6 oz.

2 oz.

2 oz.

1 egg

1/2 cup

4 tbsp.

1 oz = 50%

8 oz.

             

*  Can only be used to meet half the meat requirement at lunch or supper.  Serve with caution to children under five

    because of the risk of choking.

SUPPLEMENT (SNACK)  MEAL PATTERN

COMPONENTS

AGES 1-2

AGES 3-5

AGES 6-12

Milk

Milk fluid

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1 cup

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables(s) and/or fruit(s) or

Full-strength fruit or vegetable juice or an equivalent quantity of any combination of the above

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

3/4 cup

3/4 cup

Bread and Bread Alternates

Bread or

Cornbread, biscuits, rolls, muffins, etc. or

Cold dry cereal or

Cooked cereal or

Cooked pasta or noodle products or

Cooked cereal grains or an equivalent quantity of any combination or bread and bread alternates

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/4 cup or 1/3 oz.

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/2 slice

1/2 serving

1/3 cup or 1/2 oz.

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1/4 cup

1 slice

1 serving

3/4 cup or 1 oz.

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

1/2 cup

Meat and Meat Alternates

Lean meat or poultry or fish or

Cheese or

Eggs or

Cooked dry beans or peas or

Peanut butter or soynut butter or

Other nut or seed butters or

Peanuts or soynuts or tree nuts or seeds* or

Yogurt, plain or sweetened and flavored or an

equivalent quantity or any combination or the above meat and meat alternates

1/2 oz.

1/2 oz.

1/2 egg

1/8 cup

1 tbsp.

1/2 oz.

2 oz. or 1/4 cup

1/2 oz.

1/2 oz.

1/2 egg

1/8 cup

1 tbsp.

1/2 oz.

2 oz. or 1/4 cup

1 oz.

1 oz.

1 egg

1/4 cup

2 tbsp.

1 oz.

4 oz. or 1/2 cup