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The implementation of the CACFP new meal patterns is required on October 1, 2017.
As a reminder, you must complete CACFP meal pattern training prior to October 1, 2017.
If you have not completed the training over the next month, CACFP will contact your organization to ensure you have been trained on the changes. Please see this link on detailed instructions on how to complete meal pattern training.
We have also updated the meal pattern charts and production records for all age groups. See the next section for links to the revised documents.
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Revised Meal Pattern Charts
and Production Records
The Colorado CACFP meal pattern charts are now revised with current information. The meal charts for infants, children and adults are linked below.
Child Meal Pattern Chart
Child Production records (all age ranges)
Please note: Production records, with the exception of infants, are not required, but are a useful tool for planning meals and are strongly encouraged.
1-2 year old
3-5 year old
6-12 year old
13-18 year old
Infant Meal Pattern Chart
Infant Feeding Form
Infant production records (Required)
0-5 Month production records
6 through 11 month production records
Adult Meal Pattern Chart
Adult Production Records
Please note: Production records for adults are not required, but are a useful tool for planning meals and are strongly encouraged.
Addition of a fourth age group:
the 13- to 18-year-old group.
- The addition of a fourth age group will better reflect the population CACFP serves, particularly in at-risk afterschool programs, emergency shelters, participants with disabilities, and children of migrant workers age 15 and under.
- There is not an increase in portion size for the 13- to 18-year-old age group when compared to the 6- to 12-year-old age group.
- The minimum portion only needs to be served; however, we recognize larger amounts may need to be served to this age group to meet their nutritional needs.
- The meal pattern chart will now include the fourth age group.
- This age group will only be used for at-risk afterschool programs, emergency shelters, participants with disabilities, and children of migrant workers age 15 and under.
- Children in child care or family day care home settings must not claim meals for children older than 12 years, unless the criteria listed above are met.
What does that mean for you today?
At-risk afterschool programs, emergency shelters, participants with disabilities and children of migrant workers age 15 and under now have a meal chart to follow and reference. We updated the current meal chart to include the 13 through 18 year old age group. For all other types of child care, continue to serve meals as normal.
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Want to add variety to your menu?
Don’t worry, we have you covered!
Brittany Martens, CACFP Team Nutrition Grant Educator for the CHOP program, has created an easy-to-use menu template and a sample menu full of menus which meets the new meal pattern requirements.
View the templates below.
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The USDA has released a new web-based interactive online food buying guide that is very user friendly! Take time to explore this new tool today.
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CO-Train User Guide
The on-line CACFP training platform, CO TRAIN, recently had an upgrade.
Your user name and password will remain the same; however, CO TRAIN has a new web address. If you are having a difficult time with the new layout, please reference this CO-TRAIN user guide.
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Got Questions?
Email your questions to us. We created a special email box just for meal pattern questions.
To help our office respond to questions more efficiently, please include the name of your institution in the subject line and the topic of your question.
Example: XYZ Daycare - Fruit juice for infants
More information on meal patterns is located on the CACFP website too!
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