Preschool Meal Pattern Guidelines
Learn about the importance of serving reimbursable meals in preschool programs, following federal requirements for reimbursement. Understand the components that make a meal reimbursable and the consequences if any components are missing. Explore the meal patterns for preschool breakfast and lunch, including restrictions on juice, frying, and flavored milk. Discover the rules for serving fruits, vegetables, and milk in preschool meals. Stay compliant with Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines to ensure nutritious meals for young children.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
What is a Reimbursable Meal? Follows all of the federal requirements to be claimed for reimbursement. Contains all of the required meal components and specified quantities and meets the dietary specifications
Why is this Important? SFAs receive federal dollars for every reimbursable meal Free Reduced Price Paid
Pay Attention Fiscal action is taken when: A meal component is missing School runs out of a food item during the meal service period Ex: School runs out of apple wedges during the middle of meal service so 25 students do not have the opportunity to have any fruit with their meal. Repeat meal pattern findings
Overview Last revisions started October 1, 2017 Reflects Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern for infants and children, ages 1-5 years old
Preschool Meal Pattern Fruit and vegetables are separate components Juice limit: fruit juice or vegetable juice is limited to one meal per day Offer vs Serve is NOT allowed for children under 5 years old Frying is NOT allowed as a way of preparing foods on-site
Preschool Breakfast Meal Pattern Must serve ALL three components for a reimbursable meal
Milk Flavored milk cannot be served to preschoolers
Vegetables May be used to meet the entire fruit component Must serve 2 different kinds of vegetables No vegetable subgroups Allowable: Milk Chicken sandwich Broccoli Carrots Not Allowable: Milk Chicken sandwich Broccoli (2 servings)
Fruit May serve full-strength juice Juice (fruit or vegetable) is limited to one meal, including snack, per day Dried fruit is credited at twice the volume served cup of dried fruit = cup fruit
Grains All grains must be made with enriched or whole grain meal or flour At least one serving of grains per day must be whole grain-rich: Contains 100% whole grains, OR Contains at least 50% whole grains and the remaining grains are enriched
Grains Breakfast cereals must contain no more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce Grain-based desserts DO NOT count towards the grains component Oz eq are used to determine the amount of creditable grains (starting October 1, 2019)
Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Added Sugars
Grains Mini Activity This cereal can be served to preschoolers
Meat / Meat Alternate May be served in place of the entire grains component at BREAKFAST Yogurt must contain no more than 23 grams of sugar per 6 ounces Maximum of 3 times a week
Choose Yogurts That Are Lower in Added Sugars
Yogurt Mini Activity This yogurt cannot be served to preschoolers
Flexibility for Co-Mingled Preschool Meals Preschoolers and K-5 students served in the same area at the same time SFA s choice: Follow grade-appropriate meal pattern Serve the K-5 meal pattern to both groups
Questions This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
