Meal Pattern Minute: Whole Grains

Whole grains play an important role in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by providing essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The CACFP meal pattern for children ages one and older requires that at least one serving of grains per day be whole grain-rich when grains are served. But what exactly is a whole grain so that CACFP operators ensure they can confidently serve whole grain-rich grains? 

Watch this Meal Pattern Minute as Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, talks about what makes a whole grain whole including the essential parts of the whole grain. 

Learn more about whole grains by reviewing the information below. 

• In the above visual of a whole grain, you can see that it is made of the bran, endosperm and germ. You can find more information about whole grain-rich grains in the Identifying Whole Grain-Rich guide.
•  In the USDA Crediting Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs Tips Sheet- Part 1: Creditable Grains in the Child Nutrition Programs, on page 2, the terminologies used to identify creditable grains are listed. Use this as an educational tool for yourself or as a training tool to help CACFP providers understand what a whole grain is and other creditable grains in the CACFP. 
•  Learn more about whole grain-rich by viewing this Meal Pattern Minute: What is Whole Grain-Rich? 
•  Free webinar: Adding Whole Grains to Your Menu 
  • This webinar focuses on how to offer whole grains at CACFP sites. Presented by USDA Team Nutrition. Available in both English and Spanish. 
• Did you know that there is an entire month celebrating whole grains? Plan nutrition education lessons and highlight grains in your menu that are whole grains. Click on the links to get resources from our partners. 
  • Whole Grains Month
  • Health Benefits of Whole Grains 

Try one of these whole grain-rich recipes below. 

• Banana Sushi Roll 
• Beef Goulash 

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