If you operate a licensed daycare center in New York City, you're likely familiar with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This federal program provides reimbursement for meals served to children in your care—but only if those meals meet specific nutritional requirements.
What Makes a Meal CACFP-Compliant?
CACFP uses "meal patterns"—specific combinations of food components that must be present at each meal. Every breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack must include the right components in the right amounts.
The Five Food Components
- Milk – Fluid milk (whole for ages 1-2, low-fat/fat-free for 2+)
- Meat/Meat Alternate – Protein sources including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, cheese, yogurt
- Grains – Bread, pasta, rice, tortillas, cereals
- Vegetables – Fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables
- Fruits – Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits (juice limited to once daily)
Breakfast Requirements
Breakfast requires three components: grains, fruit or vegetable, and milk.
Example compliant breakfast:
Whole grain toast, sliced bananas, milk
Lunch and Supper Requirements
Lunch and supper require five components: meat/meat alternate, grains, vegetable, fruit, and milk.
Example compliant lunch:
Grilled chicken (protein), brown rice (grain), steamed broccoli (vegetable), orange slices (fruit), milk
Snack Requirements
Snacks require two different components from the five food groups. You can't serve two items from the same group.
Reimbursement Rates (July 2025 – June 2026)
| Meal Type | Free | Reduced | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | $2.46 | $2.16 | $0.40 |
| Lunch/Supper | $4.60 | $4.20 | $0.44 |
| Snack | $1.26 | $0.63 | $0.11 |
*Rates effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Source: USDA CACFP Reimbursement Rates
Documentation Requirements
Daily Records
- Meal counts by meal type
- Attendance records
- Menus showing what was planned
- Production records showing what was prepared
Supporting Documentation
- Ingredient statements for commercial products
- CN labels where applicable
- Medical statements for special dietary needs
Common Compliance Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing components – Every meal must include ALL required components
- Incorrect portions – Portions must meet minimums for each age group
- Record-keeping gaps – Missing meal counts or attendance records
- Juice overuse – Counting juice as fruit more than once per day
- Wrong milk type – Serving low-fat to 1-year-olds, or whole milk to 3-year-olds