Meal Pattern Minute: Cheese Products
March 8, 2024
There are all types of natural cheeses that you can serve in the Child and Adult Care Food Program that credit towards the meat/meat alternate component such as mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and provolone. However, you may have noticed certain labels such as cheese food substitute, cheese spread, or cheese product on the food package. When looking specifically at foods labelled cheese product, are these types of cheeses creditable in the CACFP?
Take a minute and listen to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, talk about cheese products and why they may or may not be creditable in the CACFP.
For references about cheese products in the CACFP, review the resources below.
- Crediting Handbook for CACFP
- Cheese labeled as a cheese “product” is not creditable. Cheese products do not have a standard of identity.
- Crediting Meats/Meat Alternates in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet
- Provides a list of creditable cheeses in the CACFP including natural and processed cheese and cheese substitutes, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, cheese food, cheese food substitutes, and cheese spread.
- 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133-Cheese and Related Cheese Products
- These regulations provide guidance on how cheese is determined to be real cheese based on its standard identity. This section goes into detail for each cheese that has been determined to be considered cheese. Since cheese products do not have a standard of identity, it will not appear in this section.
Add creditable cheese to your menu by including one of the recipes below.
- Broccoli Chicken Quesadilla
- Autumn Egg & Ham Bites
- Deli Bento Box
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Arroz con Queso
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