USDA CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM MEAL PATTERNS
This chart lists amounts and types of food to be served to children one year to 12 years of age.
Meal Component Food Type Ages 1-2 Ages 3 -5 Ages 6 – 12
Milk (*Milk includes whole milk, low fat ½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup
milk, skim milk, cultured buttermilk, or
flavored milk make from these types of fluid
milk which meet State or local standards)
Juice or Fruit or Vegetable ¼ cup ½ cup ½ cup
BREAKFAST
Bread or Bread Alternative* including: ½ slice ½ slice 1 slice
- cereal, cold dry
- cereal, hot cooked ¼ cup or 1/3 oz 1/3 cup or ½ oz ¾ cup or 1 oz
¼ cup ¼ cup ½ cup
Milk* ½ cup ½ cup 1 cup
Juice or Fruit or Vegetable ½ cup ½ cup ¾ cup
Meat or Meat Alternative ½ oz ½ oz 1 oz
SNACK (SUPPLEMENT)
*Select 2 out of 4 components Bread or Bread Alternative* including: ½ slice ½ slice 1 slice
- cereal, cold dry
- cereal, hot cooked ¼ cup or 1/3 oz 1/3 cup or ½ oz ¾ cup or 1 oz
¼ cup ¼ cup ½ cup
Milk* ½ cup ¾ cup 1 cup
Meat or Poultry or Fish 1 oz 1 ½ oz 2 oz
- or egg 1 1 1
- or cheese 1 oz 1 ½ oz 2 oz
- or cooked dry beans or peas ¼ cup 3/8 cup ½ cup
- or peanut butter or other “butters” 2 Tbsp 3 Tbsp 4 Tbsp
- nuts and seeds (*may be credited towards
meeting only 50% of the meat/meat alternate ½ oz* ¾ oz* 1 oz*
requirement.)
LUNCH OR SUPPER Vegetable and/or Fruits ¼ cup ½ cup ¾ cup
(2 or more total)
Bread or Bread Alternate ½ slice ½ slice 1 slice
(*Bread alternate may also include an
equivalent serving of items such a roll,
biscuit, muffin, cooked enriched or whole-
grain rice, macaroni, noodles, or other pasta
products.)