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The CACFP meal patterns ensure that infants, children, and adults at participating centers have access to healthy food throughout the day. CACFP meals and snacks include whole grains, a variety of vegetables and fruits, and less added sugar and saturated fat.

Alternate protein products (APPs) credit as meat alternates toward the meat/meat alternates (MMA) component of the CACFP meal patterns. APPs are food ingredients that may be used alone or in combination with meat, poultry, or seafood.

Noncreditable foods: Noncreditable foods cannot be served in place of the required components. Examples of noncreditable foods include potato chips, pudding, ice cream, gelatin, cream cheese, bacon, condiments (e.g., syrup, jam, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and butter), and water.

The CACFP lunch and supper meal patterns requires all five food components to be offered: milk, meat/meat alternates, vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Congress established the Child Care Food Program in 1968 to ensure children in licensed or approved daycare centers, settlement houses, and recreation centers were receiving nutritious meals.

For example, a lunch for ages 6-12 could meet the required ½-cup serving of the vegetables component with ½ cup of tomato soup (credits as ⅛ cup of vegetables) and ⅜ cup of broccoli.