Meal Pattern Minute: Crediting Grains

Grain items are some of the most varied foods on a Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) menu. From bread and crackers to pasta, rice, muffins, and tortillas, each grain item credits differently toward the meal pattern. Understanding how these foods credit is essential for serving compliant meals, but with so many product types and serving sizes, it’s easy to wonder: what’s the correct way to measure grains in the CACFP? 

Tune in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, in this Meal Pattern Minute as she discusses how grains are measured and credited in the CACFP. 

Transcript: Grains in the CACFP are measured using ounce equivalents, which means each grain item must provide a specific amount of grain in ounces per serving to meet the meal pattern requirement. Since serving size of a grain can differ from one grain item to another, be sure to check USDA resources to confirm the correct amount to serve. 

Here are a few helpful resources for crediting grains in the CACFP: 

• USDA Exhibit A Grains Tool
  • Quickly determine how many ounce equivalents a grain product provides using this interactive tool. 
• Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program
  • A guide explaining how common grains and all other meal components are credited in the CACFP.
• NCA Meal Pattern Resource Page (Grains)
  • Contains all USDA and NCA resources related to grains and how to credit grains in the CACFP. 
• Grain-Based Desserts Resources
  • Clarifies which items count as grain-based desserts and cannot be credited towards grains in the CACFP.
• Meal Pattern Minute Library
  • Watch past episodes for quick clarifications on common meal pattern questions.
• Webinar: Grains in the CACFP ($) 
  • Grains are a key part of the CACFP meal pattern, providing the energy kids need to learn, play and grow. From whole grain-rich bread to pasta, knowing what counts and how much to serve is essential for meeting meal pattern requirements. 
• Featured Recipe: Chicken Chimichanga 
  • This CACFP creditable recipe from the National CACFP Association offers a flavorful, kid-friendly take on a classic chimichanga. Packed with seasoned chicken, wrapped in a soft tortilla, and baked to golden perfection, it's an easy entrée option that meets meal pattern requirements while bringing variety to your menu. 

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