CACFP Meal Pattern · 6-11 months
CACFP Meal Pattern for Infants 6 through 11 Months: Breakfast, Lunch or Supper, and Snack
Infants 6 through 11 months begin receiving solid foods alongside breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula as developmentally appropriate.
Who serves Infants 6 through 11 Months meals under CACFP
- Child care centers
- Family day care homes
- Head Start programs
Regulatory note: Solid foods are introduced gradually based on the infant's readiness. Juice, cheese food, cheese spread, and yogurt are not creditable for infants.
Breakfast — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 6-8 fluid ounces |
| Infant cereal, meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, cooked dry beans, or cooked dry peas Or 0-2 ounces of cheese, or 0-4 ounces (volume) of cottage cheese, or 0-4 ounces or 1/2 cup of yogurt; or a combination. | 0-4 tablespoons |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
Lunch or Supper — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 6-8 fluid ounces |
| Infant cereal, meat, fish, poultry, whole egg, cooked dry beans, or cooked dry peas | 0-4 tablespoons |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
Snack — Infants 6 through 11 Months
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula | 2-4 fluid ounces |
| Bread, crackers, ready-to-eat cereal, or infant cereal | 0-1/2 slice bread; 0-2 crackers; 0-4 tablespoons cereal |
| Vegetable, fruit, or a combination | 0-2 tablespoons |
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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