Meal Pattern Minute: Parent/Guardian-Supplied Components in the Infant Meal Pattern

When it comes to feeding infants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), there’s often a bit of confusion around what parents or guardians can and cannot provide. Can they bring their own formula? What about breastmilk or a homemade puree? These are common questions and the answers matter when it comes to meal reimbursement and compliance in the CACFP. 

Tune in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she breaks down what’s allowed and how CACFP operators can support families while still meeting CACFP requirements. Transcript below. 

The answer is yes. Parents or guardians may choose to supply one meal component of a reimbursable meal in the CACFP infant meal pattern without a medical statement as long as the food is in compliance with local health codes. Examples of what they could bring are creditable infant formula, expressed breastmilk, breastfeeding their child on site, or a creditable solid meal component like pureed carrots. The CACFP operator must supply all the other required meal components for that meal or snack.  

 ook at the resources below for more information.   

• Feeding Infants in the CACFP
  • This document directly addresses the question of parent-provided components. It confirms that one food item—like pureed meat or breastmilk—may be supplied by a parent and still count toward a reimbursable meal, as long as all other components are provided by the CACFP operator. 
• Feeding Infants in the CACFP: Updated Guidance 
  • This updated guidance includes FAQs and recommendations based on the latest Dietary Guidelines and input from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s a great resource for understanding best practices and staying current with federal recommendations. 
• USDA Team Nutrition Webinars: These webinars can help you get started on understanding what is and is not creditable in the infant meal pattern as well resources to help you stay in the know. 
  • A Look Inside the New CACFP Trainer’s Tools: Feeding Infants Kit 
    • This webinar provides an interactive overview of Team Nutrition’s new resource, the CACFP Trainer’s Tools: Feeding Infants Kit. This kit includes a trainer’s guide, presentation slides and trainer notes, videos, and digital interactive games. Hear how these components help trainers deliver information on hot topics like developmental readiness, hunger and fullness signs, handling and storing breastmilk and infant formula, and much more! 
  • Feeding Infants: 0-5 Months 
    • This webinar focuses on how the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) infant meal pattern supports infant growth and development for babies ages birth through 5 months. 
  • Feeding Infants: Starting with Solids (Alimentación para bebés: comenzando con comidas sólidas) 
    • This webinar focuses on how the CACFP infant meal pattern supports infant growth and development for babies ages 6 through 11 months. The webinar includes information on developmental readiness and feeding infants solid foods in the CACFP. 

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