Meal Pattern Minute: Peanut Butter Spreads
October 10, 2025
When planning meals for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), it’s easy to assume that anything labeled “peanut butter” is good to go. But not so fast! There’s a sneaky lookalike on the shelves that might look like peanut butter, taste like peanut butter, and even smell like peanut butter, but it does not meet CACFP requirements. So how can you tell the difference?
Tune in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she explains the difference between peanut butter and peanut butter spreads, and why only one of them is creditable in the CACFP. Transcript is provided below.
The answer is no. Peanut butter spreads are sometimes confused with peanut butter. However, peanut butter spreads are not the same as peanut butter as they do not have a standard of identity and usually are nutritionally inferior. To check if a product is spread, look at the label. Manufacturers must label this product as an imitation of peanut butter, often times you will see the words “peanut butter spread” on the package.
If you’re ever unsure about whether a food item meets CACFP requirements, you’re not alone! The USDA has created several helpful resources to guide you through choosing creditable foods. The resources below focus on crediting peanut butter in the CACFP.
- USDA’s Crediting Handbook for the CACFP
- This resource outlines which foods are creditable and includes a section on meat/meat alternates, where you will find the answer on peanut butter spreads and nut/seed butters.
- Peanut butter spreads are not the same as peanut butter. Peanut butter spreads do not have a standard of identity and are not creditable.
- Nut or seed butters are creditable in the CACFP. Two tablespoons of nut or seed butters provides 1 oz eq meat alternate. See the Meats/Meat Alternates section in the Food Buying Guide. It is suggested that nut butters be served in combination with another meat/meat alternate since the required portion sizes may be too large for preschool children. When including nuts and nut products in menus, you should consider the nut allergies or intolerances of participants you serve.
- Please keep in mind age you are serving as it is considered a choking hazard for young children.
- Crediting Meats/Meat Alternates in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet
- This tip sheet is perfect to reference during menu planning or when reviewing product labels. It’s designed to help you ensure every meal component credits toward reimbursement. It provides guidance on:
- What counts as a creditable meat/meat alternate in CACFP, NSLP, and SFSP.
- How to identify products that meet USDA standards.
- Examples of creditable items like lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, and yes, peanut butter.
- A reminder that peanut butter spreads are not creditable because they don’t meet the standard of identity and are often nutritionally inferior.
Using creditable nut or seed butter, try one of these #CACFPCreditable recipes!
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!