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Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All (2011)

Chapter: 7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements

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Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

7
Recommendations for Meal Requirements

This chapter presents recommendations for revised Meal Requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As structured by the committee, the revised Meal Requirements encompass two distinct elements: meal patterns and food specifications. This chapter begins with three Meal Requirement recommendations, which cover (1) recommended meal patterns for infants up to 1 year of age, (2) recommended meal patterns for children ages 1 year or older and adults, and (3) an option for an enhanced afternoon snack. Then the chapter provides detailed information about recommended meal patterns for the different age groups and the proposed food specifications.

RECOMMENDED MEAL REQUIREMENTS

In order to bring the Meal Requirements into alignment with the best available dietary guidance and to improve consistency with the requirements of other U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food programs, the committee developed the following three recommendations for the Food and Nutrition Service of USDA. The meal pattern tables that are identified as part of the recommendations appear in the section “Recommended Meal and Snack Patterns” and the table of food specifications appears in the section “Food Specifications.”

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Improve Nutritional Quality of CACFP Meals and Snacks over Time and in Alignment with Dietary Guidance

Meal Requirement Recommendation 1: USDA should adopt the recommended Meal Requirements for healthy infants up to 1 year of age (shown in Tables 7-1 and 7-8). Key elements of this recommendation are

  • the provision of only breast milk or formula for infants under 6 months of age;

  • the gradual introduction of baby meats, cereals, fruits, and vegetables beginning at age 6 months; and

  • the omission of fruit juice of any type before the age of 1 year.

In addition, for infants 6–11 months of age, when solid foods are introduced, it is recommended to introduce meat as the preferred first solid food to help ensure an iron source for breastfed infants (AAP, 2009; Krebs et al., 2006). Practices that promote breastfeeding should be encouraged.

Meal Requirement Recommendation 2: For all children age 1 year and older and for adults, USDA should adopt Meal Requirements that increase the variety of fruits and vegetables, increase the proportion of whole grains, and decrease the content of solid fats, added sugars, trans fats, and sodium (shown in Tables 7-2 through 7-8). Key elements of this recommendation follow:

  • One fruit and two vegetables are to be served at each lunch and supper meal. Over the course of a 5-day week, different types of vegetables are to be served at each lunch and supper, as follows: dark green vegetables at least twice per week, orange vegetables at least twice/week,1 legumes at least once/week, starchy vegetables no more than twice per week, and other vegetables at least three times per week. Appendix Table H-1 lists vegetables in each vegetable subgroup. Serving sizes are tailored to the age group’s nutritional needs.

  • Fruit rather than fruit juice is to be served at most meals; unsweetened 100 percent juice is allowed only once per day in a serving size tailored to the age group’s needs.

  • Over the course of the week and day, at least half of the grains/

1

The 2010 Report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (available at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-DGACReport.htm [accessed February 10, 2011]) recommends that tomatoes be moved from the other vegetables group to a new group, red/orange vegetables. If incorporated into the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this change will require a minor adjustment to the CACFP weekly vegetable servings to match the new recommendations.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

breads served in meals and snacks must be whole grain-rich, meeting the definition given in the table of proposed food specifications (Table 7-8). Other grain/bread must be enriched. Providers are encouraged to gradually increase the proportion of grain foods that are whole grain-rich to well above half of the grain foods and to include 100 percent whole grain foods often.

  • Each morning and afternoon snack will provide two different food components in a serving size tailored to the age group’s needs; over the course of a 5-day week, the food components provided will include two servings of fruit, one serving of an orange vegetable, one serving of a non-starchy vegetable, two servings of grain/bread, two servings of lean meat or meat alternate, and two servings of low-fat or nonfat milk.

  • The amounts of solid fats, added sugars, trans fats, and sodium are to be limited in all meals and snacks. For example, milk and yogurt must be low-fat or nonfat for those ages 2 years or older (whole milk for 1-year-old children), meats must be lean, fruits and juices must be free of added sugars, foods with nutritional labels must be labeled as containing zero grams of trans fat, and foods high in added sugars and/or sodium are to be served infrequently, if at all. Table 7-8 provides guidance.

Incorporating these elements into the Meal Requirements will help ensure the nutritional quality of the meals over time and improve their alignment with the Dietary Guidelines.

Each of the vegetable subgroups makes different nutrient contributions. Compared with the common practice of offering only a few kinds of vegetables over the course of weeks, offering varied selections from the combination of vegetable subgroups each week improves the nutritional quality of the diet and alignment with current dietary guidance. The snack pattern also calls for variety to help ensure nutritional quality over time.

Similarly, increased variety was a key component of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended revisions of the WIC Food Packages (IOM, 2006) and of the Dietary Guidelines. For adults, the recommended meal patterns are more consistent with guidance in the publication Nutrition Service Providers Guide for Older Adults (HHS/AoA, 2006). In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration on Aging (AoA) (2006), in its Nutrition Services Providers Guide for Older Adults, aligns menus for the Older Americans Nutrition Program (commonly called Meals On Wheels) with the Dietary Guidelines, separates fruits and vegetables and increases their servings per meal, and recommends averaging menus over a week. It also requires computer analysis of the weekly menus

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

to assess nutrient content in relation to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for older adults (HHS/AoA, 2006).

Provide an Enhanced Snack Option for Adults and Children over 5 Years of Age

Meal Requirement Recommendation 3: USDA should give CACFP providers the option of serving one enhanced snack in the afternoon in place of a smaller snack in both the morning and the afternoon (shown in Table 7-6). The enhanced snack option would be particularly appropriate for at-risk children in afterschool programs and for older adults because their access to nutritious foods may be limited at home. The enhanced snack would have the same requirements as two of the smaller snacks. Providers would specify in advance which snack option they were choosing and would serve the same type of snack to all participants in their care. The current CACFP monitoring and reimbursement structure would need to be modified to allow for this new option.

RECOMMENDED MEAL AND SNACK PATTERNS

The meal and snack patterns developed by the committee are essential parts of the recommended Meal Requirements. The tables that are presented below show, by eating occasion and age group, the types and amounts of food components that are to be offered. Footnotes in the tables refer the reader to the proposed food specifications. Those specifications are key elements of the Meal Requirements and appear later in this chapter.

Infants

The recommended meal and snack patterns for infants, shown in Table 7-1, increase the consistency of CACFP infant meals with recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (see Table 3-1 in Chapter 3) and also with the Institute of Medicine’s recommended revisions for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages for infants (IOM, 2006).

Children and Adults

For children and adults, the recommended weekly meal and snack patterns covered below align CACFP meals and snacks with dietary guidance. For 1-year-old children, the patterns are aligned with recommendations from the AAP and the DRIs. For those ages 2 years and older, the patterns are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines and the DRIs. For all the age

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-1 Recommended Daily Meal and Snack Patterns for Infants

Infant Age

Meal

Breast Milk/Infant Formulaa

Meats, Vegetables, Fruits, and Infant Cereals

(Complementary Foods)a,b

0–5 months

All feedings

4–6 oz breast milk or infant formula per feedingc

No solid foods

6–11 months

Breakfast (meal 1)

6–8 oz breast milk or formulac

1–4 T meat, fish, poultry, or egg yolk

 

 

 

OR

1–4 T infant cereald

PLUS

1–2 T vegetable

OR

1–2 T fruitd

 

Lunch/supper (meals 2 and 3)

6–8 oz breast milk or formulac

1–4 T meat, fish, poultry or egg yolk

 

 

 

OR

1–4 T infant cereald

PLUS

1–2 T vegetable

OR

1–2 T fruite

 

Snack

2–4 oz breast milk or formulac

1–2 T vegetable

 

 

 

OR

1–2 T fruite

PLUS

½ slice of bread

OR

2 crackers

NOTES: Do not serve any type of milk, foods mixed with milk (such as milk with cereal, milk in mashed potatoes), or milk-based products (yogurt, milk, cottage cheese) until 1 year of age. Begin transitioning to cow milk at 1 year of age. oz = ounce; T = tablespoon.

aSee Table 7-8 for food specifications. Specifications address topics such as the added ingredients that are allowed in the infant foods.

bAt 6 months, introduce these foods one at a time, starting with meat or infant cereal, followed by vegetables, fruits, and bread or crackers in amounts and types that are developmentally appropriate.

cAs prescribed.

dAs prepared.

eNo fruit juice for infants under 12 months of age.

groups, the patterns were designed by (1) basing the amounts of foods in each of the five meal components on guidance provided by MyPyramid (USDA, 2009), (2) specifying a wide variety of vegetables, (3) requiring at least half of the grain foods to be in the form of whole grain-rich products, and (4) controlling calories. The patterns are similar to those recommended

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

by the Institute of Medicine for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program (IOM, 2010). Patterns for meals and snacks are addressed separately below.

Patterns for Meals

The meal patterns below are expressed as both weekly and daily patterns. Weekly patterns are especially useful for specifying the variety of vegetables to be offered at lunch and the amounts of grains and lean meats or meat alternates to be offered at breakfast. Daily patterns make it clear what amounts of each food group are consistent from day to day. As stated in Chapter 9, USDA will need to arrange for the development and testing of methods for presenting the meal patterns in easy-to-use formats for providers. Regardless of the manner in which they are expressed, they must incorporate the essential elements that are presented under Meal Requirement Recommendation #2.


Weekly patterns Table 7-2 shows the recommended 5-day weekly patterns for breakfast and lunch/supper by age group. Attention to the footnotes is

TABLE 7-2 Recommended Patterns for Breakfast and Lunch/Supper Covering a 5-Day Week: Amountsa of Food by Meal, Age Group, Food Group, and Vegetable Subgroup

 

Breakfast

Food Groupb (Measure)

1 Year

2–4 Years

5–13 Years

14–18 Years

Adults

Fruit (c)c

c

c

c

c

c

Vegetable (c)

0

0

0

0

0

Dark green

0

0

0

0

0

Orange

0

0

0

0

0

Legumes

0

0

0

0

0

Starchy

0

0

0

0

0

Other

0

0

0

0

0

Grain/bread (oz eq)d

7

12

12

Lean meat or meat alternate (oz eq)

e

3e

3e

6e

3e

Milk (c)

5

NOTE: c = cup; oz eq = ounce equivalent.

aThese amounts of food are to be distributed over 5 days of menus. See Table 7-9 and Appendix K for sample menus planned using these patterns.

bSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by MyPyramid food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

essential for planning meals that meet the Meal Requirements. For example, the table of food specifications (referred to by footnote b) makes it clear that all milk and yogurt for those ages 2 years or older must be low-fat or nonfat.

Although healthy fats (e.g., vegetable oil, olive oil, soft margarine, mayonnaise, many salad dressings) are not listed as part of the meal patterns, moderate amounts are to be included daily. Healthy fats provide essential fatty acids and vitamin E, and they improve the palatability of meals and aid satiety. The table of food specifications (Table 7-8) lists healthy fats.


Daily patterns Table 7-3 shows the recommended daily amounts of food to be offered at breakfast and lunch/supper, by age group. Footnotes e and f are especially important because they link the daily meal pattern to the weekly pattern.

Patterns for Snacks

Regular snacks Regular snacks are small snacks. Most programs provide two meals and one regular snack under CACFP, but programs currently have the option of being reimbursed for one meal and two regular snacks. Each of the recommended regular snacks would provide approximately

Lunch/Supper

1 Year

2–4 Years

5–13 Years

14–18 Years

Adults

5

5

5

¼

½

1

1

1

¼

½

½

½

½

¼

½

½

½

¼

½

1

1

1

¾

2

2

2

5

10

12½

10

5

10

12½

10

5

5

5

cNon-starchy vegetables may be substituted for fruit at breakfast. Non-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

dAt least half of the grain/bread must be whole grain-rich (see specifications in Table 7-8). Other grains must be enriched.

eLean meat or meat alternates are to be served 3 days per week at breakfast for all age groups. On each of the days without meat or meat alternates, serve an additional ½ oz eq of bread/grain for 1-year-old children and an additional 1 oz eq of bread/grain for all other age groups.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-3 Recommended Daily Meal Patterns for Breakfast and Lunch/Supper: Amounts of Food by Age Group, Meal, and Food Groupa

Food Groupb (Measure)

1 Year

2–4 Years

5–13 Years

14–18 Years

Adults

 

Breakfast

Fruit or non-starchy vegetables (cup)c

¼

½

½

½

½

Grain/bread (oz eq)d

½

1

2

2

 

 

 

AND

 

 

Lean meat or meat alternate (oz eq)e

½

1

1

2

1

 

 

 

OR

 

 

Grain/bread (oz eq)d

1

2

3

3

 

 

 

AND

 

 

Lean meat or meat alternate (oz eq)e

0

0

0

0

0

 

(Amounts of grain/bread and meat or meat alternate vary across the week. See footnote e.)

Milk (cup)

½

½

¾

1

¾

 

Lunch/Supper

Fruit (cup)

¼

½

½

½

½

Vegetable (cup)f

¼

½

1

1

1

Grain/bread (oz eq)d

½

1

2

2

Lean meat or meat alternate (oz eq)e

½

1

2

2

Milk (cup)

½

½

1

1

1

NOTE: oz eq = ounce equivalent; svgs = servings; wk = week.

aSee Table 7-9 and Appendix K for sample menus planned using these patterns.

bSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

cNon-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

dAt least half of the grain/bread must be whole grain-rich. Other grain/bread must be enriched.

eMeat/meat alternates should be served 3 days per week at breakfast for all age groups. On each of the days without meat or meat alternates, serve an additional ½ oz eq of bread/grain for children age 1 year and an additional 1 oz eq of bread/grain for all other age groups.

fThe number of cups indicated represents the total amount of vegetables served at lunch/supper. Offer two different vegetables per meal. With reference to either lunch or supper (or both), serve dark green vegetables at least twice per week, orange vegetables at least twice per week, legumes at least once per week, starchy vegetables no more than twice per week, and other vegetables at least three times per week. See Appendix Table H-1 for listings of vegetables in each subgroup. (emphasis added)

one-half as many calories as the lunch meal. Table 7-4 shows the weekly pattern for the regular snack, by age group.

The following three steps provide guidance for using the regular snack pattern:

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-4 Weekly Meal Pattern for Regular Snacks: Number of Servings from Each Food Group per Week and Amount per Serving, by Age Groupa

Food Groupb

1 Year

2–4 Years

5–13 Years

14–18 Years

Adults

Number of Servings per Week (Amount/Serving)c

Fruit

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (1 c)

2 (1 c)

Orange vegetabled

1 ( ⅛ c)

1 (¼ c)

1 (½ c)

1 (½ c)

1 (½ c)

Non-starchy vegetablee

1 ( ⅛ c)

1 (¼ c)

1 (½ c)

1 (1 c)

1 (½ c)

Grain/breadf

2 (½ oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

2 (2 oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

Lean meat or meat alternate

2 (½ oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

2 (1 oz eq)

Milk

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

NOTE: c = cup; oz eq = ounce equivalent.

aSee Table 7-9 and Appendix K for sample regular snack menus that follow these patterns.

bSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by MyPyramid food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

cThe patterns for each age group show number of servings and amount per serving for either a morning or afternoon snack. If both morning and afternoon snacks are provided daily, the same pattern is to be used for each. Over the course of a 5-day week, a total of 10 servings would be offered for the morning snack and the same number for the afternoon snack (if both were provided); 2 servings would be offered for each daily snack.

dSee Appendix Table H-1 for a list of orange vegetables.

eNon-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

fAt least half of the grain/bread must be whole grain-rich (see specifications in Table 7-8). Other grains must be enriched.

  1. Plan regular snacks for a 5-day week so that they meet the requirements shown in Table 7-4 for the age group being served.

  2. For all age groups, each daily snack will include two servings, but the size of the servings will vary.

  3. Use a snack template to simplify the process of meeting the daily and weekly snack requirements. A sample template is shown in Table 7-5 for children ages 5–13 years. Templates for children ages 1 and 2–4 years and for adults could show the same pattern of meal components, but some of the serving sizes would differ. Note that this is just one example of a template for the children. The food groups could be distributed in different ways over the week, but it is essential to make sure that each daily regular snack includes two servings of the size specified for the age group in Table 7-4 and that the total amounts for each food group are served over the week.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-5 Regular Snack Menu Sample Templatea: Children 5–13 Years

Food Group b,c

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Fruit or fruit juiced

0

½ c juice

½ c fruit

0

0

Vegetable

0

½ c orange veg

0

0

½ c nonstarchy vege

Cereals/grains/breadsf

1 oz eq refined grain

0

0

1 oz eq whole grain

0

Lean meat or meat alternate

0

0

1 oz eq

0

1 oz eq

Low-fat or nonfat milk

½ c

0

0

½ c

0

NOTES: c = cup; oz eq = ounce equivalent; veg = vegetable.

aThis is only one possible distribution of how the meal components may be served across the day and week.

bProvide water as a beverage.

cSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by MyPyramid food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

dJuice is an option only if it is 100 percent fruit juice and has not been served at another meal or snack because juice is limited to one serving per day. “Fruit” refers to fresh, frozen, canned, or dried choices that meet specifications (see Table 7-8).

eNon-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

fAt least half of the grains served across the week should be whole grain-rich (see specifications in Table 7-8). Other grains must be enriched.

Enhanced snack In the recommended snack patterns for children, the committee included an option for participants ages 5 years and older. In reviewing the pattern of snacks commonly served to CACFP participants, it was clear that the afternoon snacks were much more common than morning snacks. Furthermore, compared with the time between lunch and supper, the period between breakfast and lunch is typically shorter. Thus, for children at least 5 years of age and adults, the recommendation is for providers to have the option of providing an enhanced snack that would be available only as an afternoon snack. The amounts of meal components in the enhanced snack, shown in Table 7-6, are twice the amounts in the regular snack.

The committee does not recommend an enhanced snack option for children under 5 years of age because these children typically consume smaller meals and require relatively smaller snacks in both the morning and the afternoon.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-6 Weekly Pattern for Enhanced Snacks, by Age Group: Number of Servings from Each Food Group per Week and Amount per Serving, by Age Groupa

Food Groupb

5–13 Years

14–18 Years

Adults

Number of Servings per Week (Amount/Serving)c

Fruit

4 (½ c)

4 (1 c)

4 (1 c)

Orange vegetabled

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

2 (½ c)

Non-starchy vegetablee

2 (½ c)

2 (1 c)

2 (½ c)

Grain/breadf

4 (1 oz eq)

4 (2 oz eq)

4 (1 oz eq)

Lean meat or meat alternate

4 (1 oz eq)

4 (1 oz eq)

4 (1 oz eq)

Low-fat or nonfat milk

4 (½ c)

4 (½ c)

4 (½ c)

NOTE: c = cup; oz eq = ounce equivalent.

aSee Table 7-9 and Appendix K for sample regular snack menus that follow these patterns.

bSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by MyPyramid food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

cThe patterns for each age group show number of servings and amount per serving covering a 5-day week. Over the course of the 5-day week, a total of 20 servings would be offered. Each enhanced snack includes 4 servings. For children ages 14–18 years, some of the serving sizes are large, and it may be desirable to offer two items within the same food group to equal the specified amount. The committee urges consideration of the enhanced snack option for adults.

dSee Appendix Table H-1 for a list of orange vegetables.

eNon-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

fAt least half of the grain/bread must be whole grain-rich (see specifications in Table 7-8). Other grains must be enriched.

The following three steps provide guidance for using the enhanced snack pattern:

  1. Plan enhanced snacks for a 5-day week so that they meet the requirements shown in Table 7-6 for the age group being served.

  2. For all age groups, each daily snack will include four servings. For children ages 14–18 years, some of the serving sizes are large, and it may be desirable to offer more than one food within the same food group.

  3. Use a snack template to simplify the process of meeting the daily and weekly snack requirements. A sample template is shown for children ages 14–18 years in Table 7-7. Note that the template is an example only. The meal components could be distributed in

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-7 Enhanced Snack Menu Sample Templatea: Children Ages 14–18 Years

Food Groupb,c

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Fruit or fruit juiced

1 c fruit

½ c juice and ½ c fruit

1 c fruit

2 small piecese of fruit

0

Vegetable

0

½ c orange veg and ½ c dark green veg

1 c nonstarchy vegf,g

½ c orange veg

½ c nonstarchy vegf,g

Cereals/grains/breadsh

2 oz eq enriched grain

2 oz eq whole grain

0

2 oz eq enriched grain

2 oz eq whole grain

Lean meat or meat alternate

1 oz eq

1 oz eq

1 oz eq

0

1 oz eq

Low-fat or nonfat milk

½ c

0

½ c

½ c

½ c

NOTES: c = cup; oz eq = ounce equivalent; veg = vegetable.

aThis is only one possible distribution of how the meal components may be served across the day and week.

bProvide water as a beverage.

cSee Appendix Table H-1 for a listing of foods by MyPyramid food group and subgroup. See Table 7-8 for applicable food specifications to control calories, reduce sodium, and ensure diet quality. Specifications address topics such as the type of milk, forms of fruit, and fat content of meats.

dJuice is an option only if it is 100 percent fruit juice and has not been served at another meal or snack because juice is limited to one serving per day. “Fruit” refers to fresh, frozen, canned, or dried choices that meet specifications (see Table 7-8).

eEquivalent to 1 cup.

fNon-starchy vegetables include all vegetables in Appendix Table H-1 except those listed in the starchy vegetable subgroup.

gThis may be a combination of two or more raw or cooked vegetables.

hAt least half of the grains served across the week should be whole grain-rich (see specifications in Table 7-8). Other grains must be enriched.

different ways over the week, but it is essential to make sure that each daily enhanced snack includes the correct number of servings and that the amounts shown in Table 7-6 for the age group are served over the week. Table 7-7 provides examples (on Tuesday and Thursday) of how an enhanced snack could include more than one type of fruit.

FOOD SPECIFICATIONS

The proposed food specifications for infant, child, and adult CACFP participants provided in Table 7-8 were developed as part of the recom-

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-8 Proposed Specifications for Foods in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Food Group

Participant Group

Specificationsa

Breast milk

Infants, 0–11 months

Breast milk provided by mother and stored by provider in accordance with CACFP standards

Infant formula

Infants, 0–11 months

Iron-fortified infant formula

Infant cereal Infants,

6–11 months

Iron-fortified infant cereal, instant

Baby food fruits and vegetables

Infants, 6–11 months

Commercial baby food fruits and vegetables without added sugars, starches, or salt (i.e., sodium)––Texture may range from strained through diced. The provider may process foods to the proper consistency using fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables that contain no added sugars, starches, salt, or fats.

Baby food meats

Infants, 6–11 months

Single major ingredient, commercial baby food meat; without added sugars, starches, vegetables, or salt (i.e., sodium). The provider may process meats to the proper consistency using fresh, frozen, or canned meats that contain no added sugars, starches, salt, or fats.

Fruits

 

 

Juice

Ages 1 y or older

100 percent fruit juice with no added sugars, limited to one serving per day

Fruits

Ages 1 y or older

Any variety of unsweetened fresh fruits; frozen unsweetened fruits; canned fruits that are packed in juice or water; dried fruit (if it does not pose a choking hazard) without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt

Vegetables

 

 

Vegetables

Children and adults

Any variety of fresh, canned, or plain frozen vegetables. Variety is to be encouraged through the weekly food pattern and nutrition education. Starchy vegetables (e.g., white potatoes, corn) are limited in the meal pattern. Vegetables may be boiled, steamed, baked, or stir fried in a small amount of vegetable oil. No deep-fried vegetables.

Grainsb

Whole grain-rich

Children and adults

A serving of a whole grain-rich food must be at least the portion size of one grain/bread serving as defined in the USDA Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA/FNS, 2008) and FNS Instruction 783-1 (Revision 2), the Grains/Breads Requirement for the Food-Based Menu Planning Alternative in the Child Nutrition Programs (USDA/FNS, 2008, pp. 3-15–3-16), and must meet at least one of the following two specifications:

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Food Group

Participant Group

Specificationsa

 

 

  1. The product includes the following FDA-approved whole grain health claim on its packaging: “Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers” (FDA, 2008).

  2. Product ingredient listing lists whole grain first, specifically:

    1. Nonmixed dishes (e.g., breads, cereals): Whole grains must be the primary ingredient by weight.

    2. Mixed dishes (e.g., pizza, corn dogs): Whole grains must be the primary grain ingredient by weight (a whole grain is the first grain ingredient in the list).

Whole grain ingredients are those specified in the HealthierUS School Challenge Whole Grain Resource guide (USDA/FNS, 2009) and include whole wheat flour, rye flour, brown rice, bulgur, hulled and dehulled barley, quinoa, oatmeal, and popcorn, among others. (Popcorn is not to be served to young children because of its choking hazard.)

For foods prepared by the CACFP provider, the recipe is used as the basis for a calculation to determine whether the total weight of whole grain ingredients exceeds the total weight of non-whole grain ingredients. Detailed instructions for this method appear in the HealthierUS School Challenge Whole Grains Resource guide (USDA/FNS, 2009).

Breakfast cereals

 

Ready-to-eat cereals and hot cereals (instant-, quick-, and regular-cooking forms), whether whole grain-rich or enriched [must conform to FDA standard of identity], must contain less than or equal to 21.2 g sucrose and other sugars per 100 g dry cereal (less than or equal to 6 g per dry oz of cereal, as specified in WIC Food Packages [IOM, 2006]).

Other baked or fried grain products

Children and adults

Baked or fried grain products that are high in solid fats and added sugars are limited to one serving per week across all eating occasions. Examples of grain foods that are high in solid fats and added sugars and that are commonly served in CACFP include pancakes and waffles served with syrup, muffins and quick breads, sweet rolls, croissants, toaster pastries, donuts, flour tortillas, granola/cereal bars, cookies, brownies, cake, and pie.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Food Group

Participant Group

Specificationsa

Milk and alternatives

 

 

Milk

Infants, 0–11 months

No milk products (e.g., yogurt, cheese) allowed

 

Children (age 1 y)

Whole milk only

 

Children (age ≥ 2 y) and adults

Nonfat (skim) and low-fat (1%), no higher fat milks

 

Children (age ≥ 5 y) and adults

Nonfat flavored milk containing no more than 22 g of sugar per 8 fl oz is allowed only for children age 5 and older in at-risk afterschool programsc and for adults.

Yogurt

Children (age ≥ 2 y) and adults

Yogurt must conform to the FDA’s Standard of Identity (21 C.F.R. 131.200) and any updates of these regulations; low-fat yogurt, (21 C.F.R. 131.203); nonfat yogurt, (21 C.F.R. 131.206); plain or flavored; fortified with vitamin D to be comparable to milk; ≤ 17 g of total sugars per 100 g yogurt (40 g/8 oz serving). Yogurt may not contain more than 1% milk fat. May be used as an alternative to either milk or meat no more than once per day.

Soy beverages and other milk substitutes

Children and adults

Soy beverage must meet the standards set in the USDA/FNS Interim Rule for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages and provide a minimum 8 g of protein, 100 IU for vitamin D and 500 IU for vitamin A, and 276 mg calcium per 8 oz (USDA/FNS, 2007). Low-fat or nonfat unflavored soy beverages for children at least 2 years of age and adults. Flavored soy beverage must be nonfat and may contain no more than 22 g of sugar per 8 fl oz. Other milk substitutes must be fortified as stated for soy beverage above. For children, requests for soy beverage and other milk substitutes must be processed consistent with USDA procedures.

Meatd and meat alternates

 

 

Red meats and poultry

Children and adults

Fresh or plain frozen lean beef, pork, lamb, venison, chicken, turkey, other poultry: broiled, roasted, braised, stewed, stir fried in mixed dishes with nonstick spray or vegetable oil. Remove skin from poultry before serving. Limit higher fat meats (e.g., hamburger with ≥ 20% fat, fatty pork).

Fish

Children and adults

Fresh, frozen, or canned fish or seafood. No more than 6 oz (or for children, age-appropriate servings) of albacore tuna per week. Avoid serving shark, swordfish, tilefish, or king mackerel. Choose low-sodium water-pack canned fish.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Food Group

Participant Group

Specificationsa

Highly processed red meat, poultry, and fish

Children and adults

Limit highly processed meat, poultry, and fish (including highly salted products and breaded fried products) to one time per week across all eating occasions.

Eggs

Children and adults

If fried or scrambled, cook in vegetable oil or soft margarine rather than in solid fat.

Cheese

Children and adults

Natural cheese. Low-fat cheese is encouraged. No processed cheese, cheese food, or cheese spread because of their higher sodium content and lower content of other nutrients.

Tofu

Children and adults

May not contain added fats, oils, or sodium.

Dried peas, beans, lentil

Children and adults

Dried or canned. Limit those prepared with added solid fat and high sodium content, such as pork and beans and most types of refried beans. Choose nonfat versions.

Nuts, peanut butter

Children (age 1–3 y)

Nut butters if they do not pose a choking hazard; no nuts

 

Children (age ≥ 3 y) and adults

Nut butters and unsalted nuts of any type; preferably with no added salt or sugars; only if measures are taken to avoid choking hazard

Yogurt

Children and adults

See entry under “Milk and alternatives” above.

Healthy fats and oils

 

 

Oils

Children and adults

Moderate amounts of unsaturated vegetable oils such as canola oil, corn oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower, sunflower oil

Soft margarine

Children and adults

Moderate amounts of soft vegetable oil table spreads, labeled as containing zero grams of trans fat

NOTES: CACFP = Child and Adult Care Food Program; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; FNS = Food and Nutrition Service; g = grams; IU = International Units; mg = milligrams; mo = months; oz = ounce; USDA = U.S. Department of Agriculture; y = years.

aNutrition labels on all foods must state that the content of trans fat is zero. Foods that present a choking hazard (e.g., whole grapes, raisins, hot dogs, raw carrots) are not to be offered to young children unless the form of the food has been changed to make it safe for them to eat. See Altkorn et al. (2008) for further information about foods that pose choking hazards.

bThe meal patterns for children and adults stipulate that at least half the grains served must meet the whole grain-rich food specifications, and an even higher proportion of whole grain-rich grain products is encouraged. All refined grain foods must be enriched.

c“At-risk afterschool programs” refers to programs offered by at-risk afterschool care centers: public or private nonprofit organizations that are participating in CACFP as an institution or as a sponsored facility and that provide nonresidential child care to children after school through an approved afterschool care program located in an eligible area.

dWeights specified for meat, poultry, and fish in meal patterns refer to edible portion as served.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

mended Meal Requirements. Their purpose is to indicate the types of infant foods and foods from the five meal components that will help achieve nutritional quality. In general, the foods are low in solid fats and added sugars (or the frequency of use of such foods is limited). The foods are low in trans fat, the use of high-sodium foods is discouraged or limited, some cooking methods are given, and acceptable ingredients are indicated. The committee anticipates that states will develop materials that provide concrete guidance to providers for meeting the specifications.

For reasons of practicality and to limit unfavorable unintended consequences, it may be beneficial for USDA to phase in selected aspects of the food specifications and to have processes in place to test the effects of specific restrictions and for strengthening some of the specifications. A few possibilities follow:

  • With regard to grain foods that are high in added sugars (a type of food that the Minute Menu Systems, LLC [2008] data showed was offered frequently), consider setting the initial limit to be two per week rather than one, but set a final date for achieving the goal of no more than once per week.

  • Determine how the restriction on flavored milk for young children affects their intake of milk and other foods.

  • As acceptable products that are high in whole grain content become more available and affordable, change the specifications for whole grain-rich foods (or increase their proportion in the meal and snack patterns).

  • As acceptable products that are lower in sodium become available, increase the specificity for foods with added sodium.

TRANSLATING MEAL REQUIREMENTS INTO MENUS

The committee’s recommended Meal Requirements comprise the meal patterns in Tables 7-1 through 7-4 and Table 7-6 together with the proposed food specifications in Table 7-8. Table 7-3 provides one possible method for showing how a daily meal pattern can accurately reflect the weekly pattern. The committee recognizes that tools will need to be developed and tested to simplify the process of translating the Meal Requirements into menus; and, as an example, it provided guidelines for planning snacks for the week, including sample templates (see “Patterns for Snacks” above). To illustrate the result of basing menus on the Meal Requirements, the committee wrote sample menus for breakfast, lunch/supper, and snacks for each age group by calorie level. Table 7-9 shows a 1-week set of sample menus for children ages 5–13 years, and Appendix K presents 2 weeks of sample menus for all the age groups. Although mixed dishes such as stew or gumbo could

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-9 Sample Menu for Children Ages 5–13 Years

Food Group

Monday

Tuesday

Menu Item

Amt

Menu Item

Amt

 

Breakfast

Fruit/juice

Tangerine

½ c

Peaches

½ c

Cereal/grain/bread

Toasted oats cereal

⅜ c

Oatmeal

¾ c

Additional grain

English muffin

½

WW toast

1 slice

Meat/meat alternatea

LF Canadian bacon

1 oz

–—

–—

Fluid milk

Milk

6 oz

Milk

6 oz

Other items

–—

–—

Soft margarine

1 tsp

 

Lunch/Supper

Fruit/juice

Pears

½ c

Honey dew melon

½ c

Vegetable

Mixed vegetables

½ c

Green beans

½ c

Additional vegetable

Sweet potatoes

½ c

Cream corn

½ c

Cereal/grain/bread

WW bun

1.8 oz

WW elbow pasta

1 c

Meat/meat alternate

Chicken burger

2 oz

Beef and pasta casserole (beef)

2 oz

Fluid milk

Milk

8 oz

Milk

8 oz

Other items

Light mayo & ketchup

1 T each

–—

–—

NOTE: Amt = amount; c = cup; LF = low-fat; oz = ounce; RF = reduced fat; T = tablespoon; tsp = teaspoon; WW = whole wheat.

aThe committee encourages use of meat alternates whenever possible as an alternative to processed high-sodium meats. Examples could include scrambled egg, natural peanut butter, low-fat yogurt, or low-fat cheese.

be included in menus, the committee named the food items so that readers could easily see how the menus correspond to the menu pattern.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CURRENT AND RECOMMENDED MEAL REQUIREMENTS

The recommended Meal Requirements continue to contain valuable features of the current meal requirements, such as focusing on food groups, specifying minimum amounts of foods to be provided at meals and snacks, and not allowing foods such as soft drinks and candy to qualify for reimbursement. On the other hand, they differ in many important

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Menu Item

Amt

Menu Item

Amt

Menu Item

Amt

Breakfast

Strawberries

½ c

Diced pears

½ c

Tropical fruit

½ c

LF flour tortilla

1.1 oz

Choice of dry cereal

1 ⅛ c

WW pancakes

1.7 oz

WW bagel

½

–—

Egg

½

–—

LF turkey sausage

1 oz

Milk

6 oz

Milk

6 oz

Milk

6 oz

RF cream cheese

1 T

Syrup

1 T

Lunch/Supper

Watermelon

½ c

Pineapple tidbits

½ c

Fresh orange slices

½ c

Pinto beans

½ c

Broccoli

½ c

Carrots

½ c

Cabbage

½ c

Cauliflower

½ c

Spinach salad

1 c

Corn tortilla

1.8 oz

Brown rice

1 c

WW noodles

1 c

Chicken taco (chicken)

2 oz

LF Salisbury steak

2 oz

Tuna patties

2 oz

Milk

8 oz

Milk

8 oz

Milk

8 oz

Salsa

2 T

Soft margarine

2 tsp

FF ranch dressing

1 T

ways from those in the current regulations, as shown in Table 7-10. The revisions bring the recommended Meal Requirements in closer alignment with (1) current dietary guidance, (2) regulations for the new WIC food packages, (3) recommendations for competitive foods offered or sold in schools, and (4) recommendations concerning the Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

TABLE 7-10 Comparison of Current and Recommended Meal Requirements

Age Groups

Current Requirements

Recommended Requirements and Specifications

Infants

0–3, 4–7, 8–11 mo

0–5, 6–11 mo

Children

Patterns for 3 age groups spanning 1 to 12 years, older children “may be served larger portions”

Patterns for 4 age groups spanning 1 to 19 years

Eating Occasion

 

 

All

Must meet daily pattern

Must meet daily and weekly pattern to provide more flexibility and better alignment with the Dietary Guidelines

Breakfast

3 meal components

4 or 5 meal components

Lunch or supper

4 meal components

5 meal components

Snack

Any 2 of 4 components

Variety specified for the week Choice between 2 small snacks or 1 enhanced snack

Meal Component

 

 

Fruit

Fruits and vegetables are combined as a category

Fruits are a separate category, and servings are increased; juice is not provided for infants and is limited for children; fruits containing added sugars are limited.

Vegetable

 

Vegetables are a separate category from fruit, and servings are increased; must provide variety including dark green leafy, bright yellow/orange, legumes; sodium content is limited; starchy vegetables are limited.

Grain/bread

Enriched or whole grain, proportions not specified

At least half must be whole grain-rich, additional whole grains are encouraged, grain products high in SoFAS are limited to control calories and saturated fat, high-sodium grains are also limited.

Meat/meat alternate

None at breakfast

Included in weekly breakfast pattern three times a week to provide balance to meal but flexibility through the week; some types are limited to help control calories, solid fat, and sodium.

Milk

Any type of fluid milk

Must be nonfat or low-fat (1% fat) for children over 2 years of age and adults. Flavored milk must be nonfat and is allowed only for at-risk afterschool programsa and adults.

For children over 2 years of age and adults, nonfat or low-fat yogurt may be used as a substitute for milk or as a meat alternate no more than once per day.

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

Food Component

 

 

Energy

No requirement

Calories are controlled by limiting foods high in SoFAS.

Micronutrients

No standard specified by regulation

Meal patterns are designed to achieve, for protein and most micronutrients, DRI targets consistent with a low prevalence of inadequacy.

Fats

No restriction

Label must state zero trans fat (if applicable); food specifications limit highly processed and high-fat meats and foods

Sodium

No restriction

No salt at the table; encouragement to prepare foods with less salt. Food specifications limit some sources of sodium.

NOTES: DRI = Dietary Reference Intake; mo = months; SoFAS = solid fats and added sugars.

a“At-risk afterschool programs” refers to programs offered by at-risk afterschool care centers: public or private nonprofit organizations that are participating in the CACFP as an institution or as a sponsored facility and that provide nonresidential child care to children after school through an approved afterschool care program located in an eligible area.

Practical Considerations

The recommendations for revised Meal Requirements were influenced by practical considerations relating to the CACFP setting. For example, portion sizes often needed to be rounded up or down to common fractions of 1 cup; and, except for meat and grain at breakfast, the amount to be offered from each major food group at meals was made the same from day to day. Because the committee considers variety from the five vegetable subgroups to be a key element of the Meal Requirements, however, the types of vegetables to be offered must vary from day to day. The committee recognizes that some participants follow a vegetarian meal pattern, and provisions for meat and milk alternates are thus included.

Guidance for Encouraging Breastfeeding

The committee recommends that CACFP providers encourage and support breastfeeding by providing mothers access to breastfeeding education opportunities (such as printed materials, on-line breastfeeding support programs, or pre-recorded audio/visual materials), encouragement to bring a supply of breast milk to the day care site, assurances that the milk will be handled safely, and the opportunity to come to the site to breastfeed the baby when possible. Providers need appropriate storage space for the milk and training in the safe handling and preparation of breast milk for feed-

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

ings. (Resources for safe handling of milk include ADA [2004] and CDC [2010].) As an additional measure to support breastfeeding, the recommended meal pattern for infants does not provide juice for participants less than 1 year of age or complementary foods before 6 months of age. The committee encourages USDA to work together with other federal agencies as well as state- and local-level coalitions of WIC lactation consultants, and existing breastfeeding programs to consider ways to provide incentives for breastfeeding for both participants and providers. Options for breastfeeding incentives are provided in Appendix L.

SUMMARY

The recommended Meal Requirements encompass (1) daily and weekly meal patterns for breakfast, lunch and supper, and snacks appropriate for the age groups served by CACFP and (2) food specifications to help ensure the nutritional quality of the meals. Key elements of the Meal Requirements for children ages 1 year and older and for adults address (a) the amount of fruit and the amount and type of vegetables to be served; (b) the proportion of grain that is to be whole grain-rich; (c) fruit versus juice; (d) snack components over the course of the week; and (e) limitations on solid fats, added sugars, trans fat, and sodium. As described in Chapter 6, the recommendations were designed to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the DRIs with necessary adjustments to keep them practical and to limit cost increases. Encouragement for breastfeeding is strongly supported by the committee. Realistic options for supporting breastfeeding, however, were determined to be beyond the task of making recommendations for revised Meal Requirements.

REFERENCES

AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). 2009. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook, 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

ADA (American Dietetic Association). 2004. Infant Feedings: Guidelines for Preparation of Formula and Breastmilk in Health Care Facilities, edited by S. T. Robbins and L. T. Beker. Chicago, IL: ADA.

Altkorn, R., X. Chen, S. Milkovich, D. Stool, G. Rider, C. M. Bailey, A. Haas, K. H. Riding, S. M. Pransky, and J. S. Reilly. 2008. Fatal and non-fatal food injuries among children (aged 0–14 years). International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 72(7):1041–1046.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 2010. Proper Handling and Storage of Human Milk. http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm (accessed October 21, 2010).

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
×

FDA (Food and Drug Administration). 2008. XI. Appendix C: Health Claims: Guidance for Industry, A Food Labeling Guide. http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuide/ucm064919.htm (accessed November 2, 2010).

HHS/AoA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service/Administration on Aging). 2006. Nutrition Service Providers Guide for Older Adults. Washington, DC: HHS/AoA. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit/default.htm (accessed October 11, 2010).

IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2006. WIC Food Packages: Time for a Change. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

IOM. 2010. School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Krebs, N. F., J. E. Westcott, N. Butler, C. Robinson, M. Bell, and K. M. Hambidge. 2006. Meat as a first complementary food for breastfed infants: Feasibility and impact on zinc intake and status. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 42(2):207–214.

Minute Menu Systems, LLC. 2008. Minute Menu Systems. http://www.minutemenu.com/web/index.html (accessed August 27, 2010).

USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). 2009. Inside the Pyramid. http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html (accessed October 19, 2010).

USDA/FNS (U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service). 2007. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages. Interim Rule. Federal Register 72(234):68966–69032.

USDA/FNS. 2008. Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs. Alexandria, VA: USDA/FNS. http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/foodbuyingguide.html (accessed November 2, 2010).

USDA/FNS. 2009. HealthierUS School Challenge Whole Grains Resource. http://www.fns.usda.gov/TN/HealthierUS/wholegrainresource.pdf (accessed May 14, 2009).

Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
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Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
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Page 135
Suggested Citation:"7 Recommendations for Meal Requirements." Institute of Medicine. 2011. Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12959.
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Page 136
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The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally-funded program designed to provide healthy meals and snacks to children and adults while receiving day care at participating family day care homes, traditional child care centers, afterschool facilities, adult care facilities, and emergency shelters. CACFP has the broadest scope of any of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food program, serving more than 3 million children and 114,000 adults across the nation. To receive reimbursement for the foods served, participating programs must abide by requirements set by the USDA.

Child and Adult Care Food Program assesses the nutritional needs of the CACFP population based on Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and makes recommendations for revisions to the CACFP meal requirements. The book outlines meal requirements that include food specifications that could be used for specific meals and across a full day, covering all age groups from infants to older adults and meal patterns designed for use in a variety of settings, including in-home care and in large centers. By implementing these meal requirements, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain rich foods will increase while consumption of solid fats, added sugars, and sodium will decrease. Not only will this address the high prevalence of childhood obesity, it will also help to achieve consistency with the standards and regulations of other USDA nutrition assistance programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.

Child and Adult Care Food Program makes practical recommendations that would bring CACFP meals and snacks into alignment with current dietary guidance. The book will serve as a vital resource for federal and state public health officials, care providers working in child and adult day care facilities, WIC agencies, officials working with the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, and other organizations serving at-risk populations.

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