2025 CACFP Meal Patterns

There are so many changes an infant goes through in the first year of life. How do you ensure you’re meeting their nutritional needs at each stage of developmental readiness? Learn tools that can help make your process standardized and flexible enough to meet each child’s needs throughout their early lives.

Discover how the CACFP meal requirements meet the needs of a senior adult and what providers need to be mindful of when menu planning. You’ll also get nutrition education resources to support your adult food program sites.

Advocating for a child with food allergies is a team effort. Child nutrition professionals collaborate with families, children, and staff in navigating food allergies when serving meals in the CACFP. Learn techniques and best practices for building a positive partnership with children, parents, and staff in regard to food allergies.

Eating fresh or homemade foods that are healthy creates a long-term impact on the lives of children who need the nutrition from these meals to grow, play, and learn. Explore how preparing and serving fresh, homemade foods can be made easy, how you can reinforce the message with community events, and 10 recipes to get you started.

CACFP providers have the ultimate opportunity and responsibility to introduce unique and healthy meal options to children in their care. Get a fresh perspective on introducing nutrition by exploring strategies for expanding adult mindsets about food preferences in children and creating experimental environments for children to become receptive to new foods.

Allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. What is the difference between the three? Learn how to navigate proper documentation, communication, and compliance to foster a safe environment for children with special dietary needs and requests.

Serving whole grain-rich (WGR) grains is an important element of the meal pattern. Learn how to identify which products meet the whole grain-rich regulations. Trainers can use this workshop to support CACFP participants.

Explore the nutritional benefits of diversifying protein sources and discover how to create balanced, nutritious CACFP menus by combining the best of both worlds—meats and plants. Learn how to plan menus that are both healthful and appealing to diverse, globally-inclusive palates while also addressing concerns about dietary preferences and restrictions.

Serving whole grain-rich grains once per day, when grains are served, in ounce equivalents is a requirement in the CACFP. Explore various types of whole grains like amaranth, sorghum, and millet to expand your menu planning options. Learn how to determine ounce equivalency, how to identify whole grains, how to modify meals using these great grains, and how to prepare these for CACFP creditable recipes.

Navigating the complexities of developing a CACFP menu can often be overwhelming and confusing. What crucial information should you include on the menu to be in compliance? Do you include ounce equivalency, serving size, or both? Moreover, are there specific documents you should maintain while planning your menu? Learn how to create menus stress-free while meeting CACFP requirements.