CACFP Meal Pattern · 0-5 months
CACFP Meal Pattern for Infants Birth through 5 Months: Breakfast, Lunch or Supper, and Snack
Infants from birth through 5 months receive breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula on demand for every reimbursable meal under CACFP.
Who serves Infants Birth through 5 Months meals under CACFP
- Child care centers
- Family day care homes
- Head Start programs
- Emergency shelters serving infants
Regulatory note: CACFP allows centers and homes to claim infants birth through 5 months even when parents supply breast milk, provided the center supplies at least one other required component.
Breakfast — Infants Birth through 5 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula Serve on demand up to the listed minimum for each reimbursable meal. | 4-6 fluid ounces |
Lunch or Supper — Infants Birth through 5 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 4-6 fluid ounces |
Snack — Infants Birth through 5 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 4-6 fluid ounces |
Key crediting and substitution rules
- At least one grain serving per day must be whole-grain rich (at least 50% whole grain by weight).
- Juice may only be served once per day and must be 100% full-strength pasteurized fruit or vegetable juice.
- Yogurt must contain no more than 23 grams of total sugars per 6 ounces.
- Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce.
- Grain-based desserts (cookies, granola bars, sweet rolls) do not credit toward the grain component.
- At snack, tofu, beans, nuts, seeds, and eggs may all credit as meat/meat alternates.
Source: 7 CFR 226.20(b); USDA FNS Infant Meal Pattern Chart.
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