Meal Pattern Minute: Açai
May 16, 2025
Fruits are a delicious meal component in the Child Adult Care Program, ensuring balanced nutrition for participants. Fruits can be served fresh, frozen, dried, or canned, and must meet specific crediting guidelines based on volume. Pasteurized, full-strength fruit juice can also count toward the fruit requirement once per day. Sometimes a CACFP operator may come across unfamiliar fruits that could be creditable in the CACFP such as açai.
Find out if açai is creditable in the CACFP by listening to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, in this Meal Pattern Minute as she explains what açai is, how it may be creditable, what form it usually can be purchased, and an idea on how to use it, all in under a minute!
After watching the video, you can read the answer below.
Are açai creditable in the CACFP? The answer is yes! Açai are tart, reddish-purple berries and credits towards the fruit component in the CACFP. Acai can be found frozen or as 100% fruit juice. Typically, acai is added into smoothies or smoothie bowls and paired with a sweet fruit like bananas. Not only is this a fun new berry to try but it also adds a vibrant purple color to your dish.
Fore more information on crediting açai in the CACFP, check out the USDA Food Buying Guide Fruit Yield Table. In the yield table below, if you purchase one pound of frozen, pureed açai, you will have 2 3/8 cups of thawed fruit puree, providing you with 9 (¼ cup) servings.
To learn more about crediting fruits in the CACFP review USDA Crediting Fruits in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet.
Looking to add nutrition education on fruits and vegetables? The National CACFP Association has many resources to help you educate those in your care. A few are listed below to get you started.
Want to share this video on Facebook? Click here, and then you'll find three icons along the right side of the screen. Click on the arrow, and you'll be able to choose whether you want to share it to your feed or to a group. You can also include a short note about why this Meal Pattern Minute is so important! Click on the "Post" button when you're finished, and that's it!