Meal Pattern Minute: Preparing One Vegetable Two Ways in the Same Meal
January 23, 2026
When planning lunch menus for children in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), variety is key, not just for nutrition, but also for encouraging kids to explore new foods. There is a flexibility in the CACFP where at lunch or supper a second vegetable can substitute for the fruit component. So, could you serve mashed potatoes as one vegetable and then also serve potato wedges and count the wedges as a second vegetable?
Tune in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she reveals the answer to this question. Learn why serving two different vegetables matters and how to make the most of your menu planning to meet CACFP requirements while keeping meals exciting for kids.
Transcript: At lunch, if I serve mashed potatoes as a vegetable, can I serve and credit potato wedges as the second vegetable? The answer is no. Although potato wedges are served in a different form than mashed potatoes, both are considered the same vegetable and would only credit as one vegetable. The second vegetable must be a different type of vegetable like broccoli or green beans in order to credit. Serving a second, different vegetable exposes children to a variety and may encourage children to try more vegetables over time.
To learn more about serving a second vegetable in the CACFP, check out the resources below.
- Crediting Handbook in the CACFP
- “…from an operational standpoint they are both potatoes and would not be considered different vegetables if served in the same meal.”
- USDA Crediting Vegetables in the Child Nutrition Program Tip Sheet
- A quick guide to provide information about which vegetable credit in the CACFP.
- Serving Vegetables in the CACFP
- Provides CAFCP regulations on vegetables and a suggestions of vegetable for different seasons.
- Webinar: Serving Vegetables in the CACFP (Free)
- This webinar will focus on creative and appealing ways to offer vegetables at meals and snacks in the CACFP. Presented by USDA Team Nutrition.
Add more vegetables to your lunch or supper by trying this recipe:
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