Meal Pattern Minute: Whole Grain-Rich for Infants

In the Child Adult Care Food Program there are two meal patterns, the infant meal pattern and the child & adult meal pattern. Once an infant is developmentally ready to eat solid food, some of the meal component regulations follow the child & adult meal pattern such as following the CACFP sugar limit for breakfast cereals and yogurt. But what about the whole grain-rich requirement? For children one and older, CACFP operators must provide one whole grain-rich grain once per day when grains are served. Is this true for the infant meal pattern ages 6-11 months? 

Tune in to this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, discusses the difference between these two meal patterns in regard to the whole-grain rich regulation. 

Find out more by reviewing the resources provided below. 

• Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers Memo CACFP  05-2025
  • This memorandum explains the grain requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and includes questions and answers. This memorandum supersedes CACFP 09-2018, Grain Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers, published April 4, 2018.
  • While there is no minimum whole grain-rich requirement for grains served to infants, CACFP institutions and facilities are encouraged to serve whole grain-rich grains to infants developmentally ready to accept them.
• USDA Crediting Grains in the Child Nutrition Program Tip Sheet – Part 2: Identifying Grain Products That Are Whole Grain-Rich 
  • Review page 2 under the section “Whole Grain-Rich Requirement in the CNP.” You’ll find in the second bullet point the answer to this Meal Pattern Minute question. The CACFP infant meal pattern does not have a whole grain-rich requirement. 
• Feeding Infants in the CACFP 
  • A serving of grains must be whole grain-rich, enriched meal, enriched flour, bran, or germ. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and infant cereals that are fortified are also creditable. There is not a whole grain-rich requirement in the CACFP infant meal pattern.
•  Download the updated CACFP Infant Meal Pattern card to help you remember what types of grains and other meal components to serve the infants in your care. 

Although a whole grain-rich grain is not a requirement, try serving whole grain-rich grains such as whole wheat pancakes or whole wheat crackers at snack when the infant is developmentally ready to consume solids. Not only do these grains contain fiber and important nutrients, but it will also help the infant begin to explore and accept whole grains. 

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