Skip to content
Login

More Meal Pattern Minutes

Back to Blog

Meal Pattern Minute: Tofu for Infants

December 23, 2023

The Child and Adult Care Food Program infant meal pattern has some differences when compared to the CACFP child and adult meal pattern. There are meats/meat alternates that are not creditable in the infant meal pattern such as peanut butter, nuts and seeds. But what about tofu? Can infants who are developmentally ready for solid foods be given tofu at breakfast, lunch or supper? 

 Listen in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she talks about an update in the CACFP regarding tofu in the infant meal pattern that just might diversify your menu! 

Want more details about serving tofu in the CACFP? Here are a few resources to review to help you become more knowledgeable about this meat/meat alternate. 

  • Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program
    • This memorandum explains how to credit tofu and soy yogurt in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. This memorandum supersedes SP 53-2016, CACFP 21-2016 Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, August 8, 2016.
    •  Tofu does not have a Federal standard of identity.1 For the School Meal Programs, CACFP, and SFSP, tofu must be commercially prepared and meet the following definition, established in 7 CFR 210.2 and 226.2 as “a soybean-derived food…basic ingredients [in tofu] are whole soybeans, one or more food-grade coagulants (typically a salt or an acid), and water.”
    •  In the CACFP and NSLP infant meal patterns, the minimum serving amount of tofu for infants 6 through 11 months is 0- 4 tablespoons (¼ cup), or 2.2 ozw, of commercially prepared tofu, containing at least 5 grams of protein. Minimum serving sizes are listed as ranges for infants because not all infants are ready to eat solid foods at the same time.
  •  Perhaps this is your first time handling tofu, here are a few Tofu Preparation Tips  to help you get started! 

 

Looking for ways to incorporate tofu in your menu? Try one of these recipes below. Be sure to cut up tofu to the appropriate size based on developmental readiness for each infant. 

 

Want to share this video on Facebook? Click here, and then you'll find three icons along the right side of the screen. Click on the arrow, and you'll be able to choose whether you want to share it to your feed or to a group. You can also include a short note about why this Meal Pattern Minute is so important! Click on the "Post" button when you're finished, and that's it!