Meal Pattern Minute: Serving Milk to Mixed Ages

Milk is more than just a beverage—it helps kids grow strong and healthy! In the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), fluid milk plays an essential role in meeting nutrition standards, ensuring children receive important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Different age groups require different types of milk including fat content and flavoring! One-year-olds must be served unflavored whole milk, children ages 2 to 5 must receive unflavored low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk, and ages 6 and older must be served flavored or unflavored low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk .  In child care centers and family child care homes, young children of various ages may be grouped into one room. So, if you serve a mixed age group of 1-and 2-year-olds, could you serve them all unflavored 1% milk?

Get the details by listening in to this Meal Pattern Minute with Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she reveals the answer. Read the answer below or listen to the video by clicking the Meal Pattern Minute video.

The answer is no. CACFP operators must provide the required milk for the age group that they are serving. For instance, for serving one-year-olds you must serve unflavored whole milk and when you’re serving 2-year-olds you can either serve unflavored 1% milk or unflavored fat-free milk. 

 For additional resources on age-appropriate fluid milks, refer to the links below:

• Crediting Fluid Milk in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet 
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service provides information on what fluid milks are creditable in the CACFP, when milk should be offered, types of milks for the age(s) you are serving and discusses milk substitutes.
• Milk in the CACFP (English/Spanish) 
  • Learn the importance of serving milk in the CACFP including nutrition information, what to serve for each age group, and additional information on milk.
• Substituting Milk in the CACFP (Member Only Resource)
  • Have questions about substituting fluid milk with a milk alternative? This resource provides guidance on how to determine when a milk alternative is nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk and provides answers to frequently asked questions about milk substitutes.
• CACFP Milk Guidelines: Choosing the Right Milk for Every Age Group (Member Only Resource)
  • Is it challenging for you to remember what is creditable for each age group you are serving? This easy to follow infographic will show you the appropriate milk options to serve based on the age and program requirements.
• Webinar: Serving Milk in the CACFP (English/Spanish) (Free)
  • This webinar walks you through Team Nutrition’s “Serving Milk in the CACFP” training worksheet and lets you select milk for various age groups to meet meal pattern requirements. Presented by USDA Team Nutrition.

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