What Are the 5 Components of CACFP for Nutritious Meals?

December 5, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the USDA, the CACFP meal patterns for lunch and supper require five specific food components to ensure participants receive a balanced diet. These 5 components of CACFP form the nutritional core of the program, which provides federal funding for healthier food in child and adult care settings. Meeting these guidelines is crucial for receiving reimbursement and promoting good health.

Quick Summary

The Child and Adult Care Food Program mandates five food components for reimbursable lunch and supper: milk, meat/meat alternates, grains, vegetables, and fruits. These guidelines ensure balanced nutrition in care settings.

Key Points

Five Food Groups: CACFP meals for lunch and supper must include five food components: milk, meats/meat alternates, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Balanced Meals: The CACFP meal pattern promotes balanced nutrition by requiring specific food group servings and encouraging whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Age-Specific Needs: The required portion sizes and types of milk differ by age group to meet specific nutritional needs of children and adults.
Flexibility: Meal components can sometimes be substituted or adjusted. For example, vegetables can replace fruit at lunch/supper, and meat/meat alternates can replace grains at breakfast a few times per week.
Program vs. Meal Components: The term CACFP components can refer to either the food groups or the five types of eligible care facilities (Child Care, Adult Day Care, Emergency Shelter, At-risk Afterschool, Day Care Homes).
Whole Grains and Fresh Produce: Best practices include serving whole fruit more often than juice and providing a variety of fresh or frozen vegetables to enhance nutrition.

Introduction to the CACFP

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its primary goal is to provide aid for nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible infants, children, and adults in care settings. By participating, care providers can enhance the quality of meals and support healthy eating habits from an early age. The program is vital for many communities, helping to improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity among vulnerable populations.

Clarifying CACFP Components: Program vs. Meal

When discussing the components of CACFP, it's important to distinguish between the two primary interpretations. The term can refer to the types of organizations that can participate in the program or the specific food groups that make up a reimbursable meal. This article focuses on the five food components, which are essential for meeting the nutritional standards set by the USDA for lunches and suppers.

The organizational or programmatic components include:

Child Care Centers
Adult Day Care Centers
Emergency Shelters
At-risk Afterschool Meals Programs
Day Care Homes (Family Child Care Homes)

These entities must meet specific eligibility requirements to receive program reimbursements. For meals to be reimbursable, they must adhere to the food component guidelines detailed below.

The 5 Food Components of CACFP

For lunches and suppers, the USDA mandates that all five food components be offered to participants. Here is a breakdown of each component and its requirements:

1. Milk

This component requires fluid milk, with specific fat content requirements based on age. For example, children aged one to two must be served whole milk, while children two and older must be served unflavored fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk.

Requirement: Offer fluid milk in the specified amount for the age group.
Substitution: Acceptable, nutritionally equivalent milk substitutes (e.g., lactose-free milk, soy milk) can be served with a medical statement from a licensed professional. Non-nutritionally equivalent milks are only creditable with a medical need.
Best Practices: Encourage unflavored milk over flavored options. For adult day care centers, milk is an optional component for supper meals.

2. Meat/Meat Alternates

This component provides protein, which is vital for growth and development. This category includes lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, beans and peas (legumes), and yogurt.

Requirement: Offer a minimum serving size based on the participant's age.
Flexibility: At breakfast, meat/meat alternates can be offered in place of the entire grains requirement up to three times per week.
Best Practices: Choose lean proteins, limit processed meats, and serve a variety of options like beans and fish.

3. Grains

The grains component provides carbohydrates for energy and fiber. A reimbursable meal must include a grain serving, and it is mandatory that at least one serving of grains per day be whole grain-rich.

Requirement: Offer an ounce equivalent of grains.
Whole Grain-Rich: Products must be made with at least 50% whole grains and the remaining grains must be enriched. Look for the terms 'whole grain' or 'enriched' on the packaging.
Prohibited Items: Grain-based desserts cannot be used to meet the grains requirement.

4. Vegetables

This component includes all types of fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables. A variety of vegetable subgroups, including dark green, red and orange, starchy, and legumes, should be offered weekly.

Requirement: Offer a minimum serving size of vegetables at lunch and supper.
Substitution: Vegetables can be substituted for the entire fruit component at lunch and supper.
Best Practices: Serve a rainbow of vegetables to provide a broad range of nutrients. Limit starchy vegetables and aim for fresh or frozen options more often than canned.

5. Fruits

The fruits component includes fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruit. It is important to prioritize whole fruits over juice.

Requirement: Offer a minimum serving size of fruits at lunch and supper.
Juice Limit: Juice is limited to no more than one serving per day, across all meal occasions.
Best Practices: Choose whole fruits over juice to provide more fiber and nutrients.

CACFP Meal Component Comparison


Meal Type	Required Components	Notes
Breakfast	Milk, Grains, Vegetables or Fruits	Meat/Meat Alternate may replace grains up to 3x/week.
Lunch/Supper	Milk, Meat/Meat Alternates, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits	Requires all five components.
Snack	Any two of the five components	Two different components are required (e.g., milk and fruit, not milk and milk).

Conclusion

By understanding and implementing the 5 components of CACFP, care providers ensure that participants receive nutrient-rich and balanced meals that promote health and well-being. These guidelines, set by the USDA, are not just a regulatory requirement but a blueprint for fostering healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime. Following these meal patterns allows organizations to receive valuable reimbursement while making a profound impact on the nutritional future of the individuals in their care. The resources available from the USDA, such as the Food and Nutrition Service, provide further guidance on meeting these crucial standards.

Meeting these nutritional standards also reinforces the educational aspect of healthy eating, teaching participants about variety, balance, and the importance of different food groups. This holistic approach makes the CACFP an invaluable program for communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

The five main food components required for CACFP lunch and supper are milk, meat/meat alternates, grains, vegetables, and fruits.

No. For lunch and supper, all five components are required. For breakfast, three components are required (milk, grains, fruits/vegetables), and for snacks, any two of the five components are required.

Yes, 100% juice is creditable but is limited to no more than one serving per day across all meal occasions. Prioritizing whole fruits is recommended.

Creditable meat alternates include items like eggs, cheese, beans and peas (legumes), and yogurt. For infants, breastmilk and infant formula are creditable options.

For milk substitutes that are not nutritionally equivalent to milk (e.g., almond or cashew milk), a medical statement is required. However, some nutritionally equivalent substitutes, like lactose-free milk, may not require a statement.

No. If a parent provides a meal component, it cannot be claimed for CACFP reimbursement. The program requires that meals are provided by the participating center or home.

The CACFP is open to licensed and unlicensed child care centers, adult day care centers, emergency shelters, at-risk afterschool programs, and family day care homes.