Meal Pattern Minute: Queso Fresco

In the Child and Adult Care Food Program there are many types of cheeses that are creditable as a meat/meat alternate such as natural cheese, pasteurized processed cheese, and cheese spread. However, sometimes you come across a cheese that cannot be found in the USDA Food Buying Guide, and you might wonder if it is creditable or not such as queso fresco? First, what is this cheese and second, is it creditable? 

Tune in to this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, delves into describing what queso fresco is, reveals if it is creditable or not, and how to credit it. All in under a minute! 

Get the reference in the Crediting Handbook for the CACFP. See below what it says. 

• Queso Fresco, Commercial, Pasteurized
  • Yes, it is creditable. Queso fresco is a fresh, white cheese. Commercial, pasteurized queso fresco is creditable. See the Meats/ Meat Alternates section in the Food Buying Guide.
• Queso Fresco, Homemade
  • No, it is not creditable. Homemade queso fresco is not creditable. There are potential safety concerns with this product

Include pasteurized and commercially packaged queso fresco in a recipe! Check out the suggested recipes. 

• Pupusa de Queso 
• Mexican Street Corn in a Cup

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