Table 1.
CACFP meal pattern requirements and reimbursements per meal, 2023-2024.
| Required components | Reimbursement for centers | Reimbursement for daycare homesa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Fluid milk (4 oz for ages 1–2, 6 oz for ages 3–5, 8 oz for ages 6 and up) Vegetables, fruits, or both (1/4 cup for ages 1–2, ½ cup for ages 3 and up) Grains (1/2 oz for ages 1–5, 1 ounce for ages 6 and up) |
Free: $2.28 Reduced price: $1.98 Paid: $0.38 |
Tier I: $1.65 Tier II: $0.59 |
| Lunch and supper | Fluid milk (4 oz for ages 1–2, 6 oz for ages 3–5, 8 oz for ages 6 and up) Meat/meat alternates (serving sizes vary by type, generally between 1 and 2 oz) Vegetables (1/8 cup for ages 1–2, ¼ cup for ages 3–5, ½ cup for ages 6 and up) Fruits (1/8 cup for ages 1–2, ¼ cup for ages 3 and up) Grains (1/2 oz for ages 1–5, 1 ounce for ages 6 and up) |
Free: $4.25 Reduced price: $3.85 Paid: $0.40 |
Tier I: $3.12 Tier II: $1.88 |
| Snack | Select two of the components listed above for lunch, with larger serving sizes for fruits/vegetables and smaller serving sizes for meat/meat alternates | Free: $1.17 Reduced price: $0.58 Paid: $0.10 |
Tier I: $0.93 Tier II: $0.25 |
| Other nutrition requirements: | Milk must be unflavored, whole milk for children aged one, unflavored low fat or skim milk for children ages 2–5, and unflavored or flavored low fat milk for ages 6 and up. Yogurt must contain no more than 23 g total sugars per 6 ounces. 100% juice may be used to meet a vegetable or fruit requirement at only one meal each day Vegetables may be used to meet entire fruit + vegetable requirement at lunch At least one serving of whole grains is required each day Breakfast cereals cannot contain >6 g sugar per dry ounce |
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Sources: Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks; Available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/reimbursement-rates.
a
Amounts presented are for contiguous U.S. states; amounts are higher for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.