Meal Pattern Minute: Serving Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds credit towards the meat/meat alternate component in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and are good sources of protein and other nutrients. But can you serve nuts and seeds for the entire component during a meal or snack?

Our nutrition education specialist, Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, is here to fill you in on the details in this Meal Pattern Minute.

After you've watched the video, here are some additional things to remember. 

A final rule was released on April 24, 2024, changing how nuts and seeds can be credited for breakfast, lunch and supper in the CACFP.  

• Allows nuts and seeds to credit for the full meats/meat alternates component, removing the 50 percent crediting limit for nuts and seeds at breakfast, lunch, and supper. 

More information can be found in the Meats/Meat Alternates section of the Crediting Handbook for the CACFP:

• Remember to be cognizant of any intolerances or allergies, and be mindful of choking hazards. The USDA advises caution when serving nuts and seeds to children under 4 and some elderly participants. 
• Nuts and seeds have a 1:1 ounce equivalent ratio, meaning that 1 ounce of nuts or seeds credits for 1 ounce of meat/meat alternate. 
• Two tablespoons of nut or seed butter provide 1 ounce equivalent of meat/meat alternate. 
• Soy nuts may also credit towards the vegetable component, but cannot credit as both vegetable and meat/meat alternate at the same time. A 1/4 cup of roasted soy beans credits as 1 oz eq meat alternate or a 1/4 cup vegetable. 

 *** Please note, the final rule has not been updated in USDA resources. Keep an eye out for updated resources by subscribing to our eNews. 

For further information on changes occurring the CACFP from this final rule, review Implementation Timeline for Updated Nutrition Requirements in CACFP & SFSP.

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