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Meal Pattern Minute: Reimbursable Meals and Snacks

February 6, 2026

Serving meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) isn’t just about putting food on the table; it’s about giving children and adults the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive. But what exactly makes a meal reimbursable? Understanding creditable meal components that go into meals and snacks helps ensure your program receives CACFP reimbursement for the nutritious foods you serve every day. 

Tune in to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD, as she explains what goes into building a reimbursable meal or snack in the CACFP. See the transcript below.Lebron, Senior Nutrition Education Specialist, as she explains what goes into building a reimbursable meal or snack in the CACFP.

Transcript: A reimbursable meal has all of the required meal components for that specific meal type such as breakfast, lunch, supper or snack and meets the minimum serving sizes for the age group being served. For example, if you choose to serve a snack, you must include two of the five required meal components such as grains and fruits, making sure each meal component meets the minimum serving size for the age group you’re serving.

 

Explore more resources with the links shared below. 

  • CACFP Meal Pattern Cards
    • Quick-refence cards to reference the USDA meal pattern requirements, including meal types, meal components, minimum serving sizes and additional guidance. 
  • National CACFP Association Resource Page on Meal Patterns 
    • Find guides, tip sheets and tools that explain the CACFP meal pattern in a simple, visual way for all age groups and meal types. Many of these resources are available in Spanish 
  • USDA CACFP Crediting Handbook 
    • A helpful USDA resource to help you identify creditable and non-creditable foods in the CACFP.  

Try this in your menu! 

Add Parmesan Chicken Tenders, a kid-friendly food that credits as a meat/meat alternate component in the CACFP, to your menu. Pair with fluid milk, vegetables, fruits and whole grains to create a reimbursable lunch or supper.friendly  

 

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