Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a nutrition education and meal reimbursement program funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). CACFP sets requirements for the type and amount of food to be served in child care programs, provides reimbursement for child care programs to serve meals that meet these requirements, and offers training to staff in participating programs. All FCC Network affiliated providers are required to participate in CACFP and follow the New York City Food Standards for all meals served.

Meal Requirements

The following meals are required under each service model:

• School Day/Year: Affiliated providers must follow the CACFP-sponsoring organization guidance to offer:
  1. Two meals and one snack (e.g. breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack); or
  2. One meal and two snacks (e.g. morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack)

Under this option, lunch must be offered.

• Extended Day/Year: Affiliated providers must follow the CACFP-sponsoring organization guidance to offer two meals and one snack; acceptable meal patterns include:
  1. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack; or
  2. Morning snack, lunch, and supper.
• School Day/Year and Extended Day/Year: Affiliated providers offering both school day/year and extended day/year seats must provide two meals and one snack to all children that are present when meals are served.