![\"670,504](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2021\/01\/670504-home-c903bdef-282f-4083-b2f3-d2228c041437.png\" "\\"670,504")
\nIt’s\u00a0a bright morning\u00a0in\u00a0your home. The smell of oatmeal and cinnamon fills the kitchen as little feet shuffle in, ready to start their day. You pour milk, cut up fresh\u00a0fruit\u00a0and serve a warm breakfast at your kitchen table, the same place where stories are\u00a0shared,\u00a0friendships grow and learning begins.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
You pour your heart into caring for these children every day. But serving healthy meals can be expensive and overwhelming, especially when\u00a0you’re\u00a0managing everything on your own.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
That’s\u00a0where the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) comes in.<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
The CACFP is federally funded,\u00a0State-administered, and designed to support family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes in providing nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care. Participating in the CACFP strengthens your program and helps families by ensuring children receive balanced meals every day. Through the CACFP, family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes across the country can receive reimbursement for\u00a0breakfasts,\u00a0lunches\/suppers\u00a0and snacks served to eligible children. This program helps you stretch your resources, provide high-quality nutrition, and give children the nourishment they need to grow,\u00a0learn\u00a0and thrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whether you run a small home-based program, a\u00a0group\u00a0family\u00a0child care\u00a0home or a multi-age\u00a0child care\u00a0setting, the CACFP for family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes can help you make\u00a0every day\u00a0count for the children you care for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWhy the CACFP for Family Child Care Homes Matters \n\t<\/h2>\n\t
Millions of children rely on the meals served in\u00a0child care\u00a0to meet their daily nutritional needs. For many families, family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes are a trusted environment where children receive care,\u00a0supervision\u00a0and healthy meals while parents work or attend school. Through the CACFP, family\u00a0child care\u00a0home providers can help ensure children get the nourishment they need to grow,\u00a0learn\u00a0and thrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Room for Growth<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n
With many children eligible but not reached, family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes have an opportunity to make a real difference. Serving meals through CACFP helps fill a critical gap, ensuring children have access to nutritious meals throughout the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Research Shows:<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes play a unique role: they provide consistent, nurturing care while also serving meals that meet USDA standards. These homes offer a smaller, family-like environment where children can continue learning, building life\u00a0skills\u00a0and developing healthy eating habits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t Benefits of Serving Meals Through CACFP<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Who can\u00a0participate?\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Family\u00a0child\u00a0care\u00a0home\u00a0providers\u00a0must have current Federal,\u00a0State\u00a0or local licensing or approval to provide\u00a0child care\u00a0services.\u00a0<\/p>\n Site Eligibility:\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Family\u00a0child\u00a0care\u00a0home\u00a0programs that meet the requirements below are eligible to receive reimbursement for meals and snacks.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n To\u00a0participate\u00a0in the CACFP\u00a0as a family\u00a0child care\u00a0home, a program must:\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Organization Eligibility:\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Organizations that sponsor\u00a0child\u00a0care\u00a0homes must be:\u00a0<\/p>\n These sponsors:\u00a0<\/p>\n Examples of Eligible\u00a0Sponsor\u00a0Organizations:\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Required Training\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Annual training is\u00a0required\u00a0for staff\u00a0operating\u00a0the CACFP.\u00a0Training includes meal pattern information, record-keeping\u00a0requirements\u00a0and civil rights compliance.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind a Sponsor\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is a Sponsor?\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n All meals and snacks must meet the CACFP meal pattern requirements.\u202f The CACFP meal patterns are designed to meet the needs of\u00a0children\u00a0and are based on the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n There are five meal components in the CACFP: grains, vegetables, fruits, meats\/meat\u00a0alternates\u00a0and fluid milk.\u00a0<\/p>\n A creditable breakfast requires three meal components: fluid milk, fruits and\/or vegetables,\u00a0and grains. The entire grains\u00a0component\u00a0may be substituted with meats\/meat alternates no\u00a0more than three times per week.\u00a0<\/p>\n A creditable lunch or supper will include all five of the meal components. There is an\u00a0exception to this rule, which is that a second, different\u00a0vegetable\u00a0may be served in place of the\u00a0fruits\u00a0component. Also, when serving adults, the fluid milk\u00a0component\u00a0at supper is optional.\u00a0<\/p>\n Creditable snacks consist of two different meal components. Though not\u00a0required, it is\u00a0a best\u00a0practice to make one of the meal components of a\u00a0snack\u00a0either a fruit or a vegetable.\u00a0<\/p>\n The meal pattern\u00a0states\u00a0the required minimum serving size for each meal\u00a0component. You can\u00a0serve more food if needed, but the reimbursement rate\u00a0remains\u00a0the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n The meal pattern is component-based and supports proper nutrition by age group. It includes the following 5 meal components:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Grains<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Vegetables<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Fruits<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Meats<\/b>\/Meat Alternates<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Download the meal pattern reference cards for free at\u00a0cacfp.org\/meal-patterns<\/b>.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Family Child Care Homes can serve up to two meals and one snack or one meal and two snacks per participant per day.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meals\u00a0and\/ or snacks must be served in a congregate setting. However, there are no federal requirements for how much time must pass between meal and snack\u00a0services\u00a0or how long each meal service\u00a0must last. However, States may establish\u00a0meal time\u00a0requirements.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Family\u00a0child\u00a0care\u00a0homes\u00a0have two options for meal service.\u00a0They\u00a0can implement either one or\u00a0both of these\u00a0types of meal services throughout each day:\u00a0pre-plated\u00a0and\u00a0family\u00a0style\u00a0meal\u00a0service.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCACFP Sample Menus\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t Recordkeeping\u00a0and Reporting\u202f<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n The site must track attendance and record meal counts. Use daily forms or approved electronic systems to document the number of meals served and daily attendance.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Each month, claims must be\u00a0submitted\u00a0for reimbursement. If you are working with a sponsor, the sponsor will\u00a0submit\u00a0claims to the State agency on your behalf.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Find a Sponsor or Contact Your State Agency\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A CACFP Sponsoring Organization (Sponsor) may help you claim reimbursement for the meals and snacks that you serve through the CACFP. They ensure that you are compliant with state and federal\u00a0rules, and\u00a0assist\u00a0you in proper reporting and other administrative functions. Visit info.cacfp.org\/sponso<\/a>r<\/strong> to find a Sponsor in your\u00a0state.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is a Sponsor?\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t 2. Determine Your Site Eligibility\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Your Sponsor or State agency can help you figure out eligibility. The table below serves as a general guideline of what to expect based on the type of care facility you\u00a0operate. Once your eligibility is\u00a0determined, you can\u00a0start receiving reimbursement based on the number of CACFP creditable meals and snacks served to those in your care. For the current reimbursement rates, visit cacfp.org\/rates-of-reimbursement.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t 3. Receive CACFP Training<\/strong><\/p>\n Your Sponsor or State agency will provide you with training. NCA also hosts multiple training webinars throughout the year, which you can find at info.cacfp.org\/calendar<\/strong><\/a> or watch on demand at cacfp.org\/learning-center.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Participate in the CACFP\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Once\u00a0you’re\u00a0approved\u00a0to\u00a0operate\u00a0the CACFP,\u00a0it’s\u00a0time to start serving nutritious meals and\u00a0snacks! Here are some questions to ask yourself:\u00a0<\/p>\n Remember,\u00a0you’re\u00a0not in this\u00a0alone! There are many valuable, free resources available at cacfp.org to help you ensure that the food\u00a0you’re\u00a0serving is reimbursable.<\/p>\n 5. Become a CACFP Expert!<\/strong><\/p>\n Stay\u00a0up-to-date\u00a0on meal pattern guidance and food program policy. In addition to speaking\u00a0with your Sponsor or State agency, here are three things that you can do:\u00a0<\/p>\n The National CACFP Association advocates for policies that strengthen the CACFP\u00a0for family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Advocacy Priorities<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n You can help by:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Fluid Milk<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n Angela Dobbs always felt her calling\u00a0was in\u00a0child care. She enjoys teaching and watching the children learn\u00a0on a daily basis, picking up even the\u00a0simplest of\u00a0skills that we as adults take for granted. She is a dedicated\u00a0child care\u00a0professional that wants everyone in her care to learn and grow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t “The ultimate goal is to have everyone, even the babies, included in as many activities and experiences as we can while we shower them with love and attention.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t While the children are learning their foundations of letters,\u00a0numbers\u00a0and shapes, they also focus on nutritional experiences. Throughout the year, they\u00a0tend\u00a0the garden and harvest the produce. The children also help in the kitchen making recipes ranging from complex veggie meatballs to easier sandwiches on “make your own sub day.” Meals are served family style with everyone having their own small utensils and bowls to serve, while also practicing their manners passing plates and eating.\u00a0<\/p>\n Angela goes above and beyond to expose the children to many different foods prepared in a variety of ways from kale to tofu. Although children may be hesitant to taste new foods, she finds success in simply renaming the food with a kid-approved name or introducing regular foods that are different because of color, like maybe a purple carrot. Everyone is included in taste tests and big cheers are given when someone takes a bite of something they are hesitant to try.<\/p>\n Angela takes on the new food guidelines as challenges she wants to master. She started trying different recipes to make whole grain bread, including whole grain pizza crusts and child-size sub rolls. Her goal is to have\u00a0the children\u00a0like\u00a0the healthier, creditable food options.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t From Cresca, Iowa, Angela has been a CACFP participant through Northeast Iowa Community Action since 2007.<\/strong><\/p>\n When Monica Jackson befriended a nanny, she had no idea her career life was going to forever change. The nanny asked Monica to be her replacement and without looking back at her commercial loan lending career, Monica enrolled in the early childhood development program at Northern Virginia Community College. At the request of her professors, she went on to train other students in the program and continues to conduct workshops for providers and students, while also running her own home child care.<\/p>\n\t “If you are looking for a child to be successful, it is a process. Sometimes we dismiss the significance of the day-to-day instruction, but then you start to see all of the children’s accomplishments.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Nutrition is taught through learning activities by incorporating many of the MyPlate resources, beginning with the Two Bite Club<\/em>. Throughout the day, Monica acts as a role model for healthy habits and offers a variety of foods. The healthy habits that she instills in young children will serve as a foundation for life-long healthy choices.<\/p>\n Monica creates learning that is both intentional and experiential by making connections. With every lesson and activity, the children discuss what their goal is and what the primary lesson is. As they learn about and grow red beans and then spend the day at the farmer’s market where they see the beans, a connection is made. Monica’s goal is to equip each individual child with learning experiences and skills to be able to flourish when they move on to school.<\/p>\n Parents are a critical part of the learning process. A daily electronic photo album is sent home along with verbal reports, texting and newsletters. Monica knows that the parents have chosen her to take care of their children and she takes that responsibility seriously. Monica strives to find the “sweet spot” – that place where a connection is made with both the child and parent.<\/p>\n\t From Springfield, Virginia, Monica has been a CACFP participant through Fairfax County, Office for Children since 2004.<\/strong><\/p>\n No. Family\u00a0child care\u00a0home providers must work with a\u00a0Sponsoring\u00a0Organization\u00a0to\u00a0participate.\u202f<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tHow many meals\/snacks may I receive reimbursement for?\u202f\n\t\t\t\t Family\u00a0child care\u00a0homes may claim up to two meals and one snack, or one meal and two snacks,\u00a0per child per day.\u202f<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat are tiered reimbursement rates?\u202f\n\t\t\t\t Rates are based on location and family income. Providers in low-income areas or serving income-eligible children receive the higher Tier I rates.\u202f<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tHow often will I be monitored?\u202f\n\t\t\t\t Sponsors conduct at least three visits each year. Two visits are unannounced to ensure compliance.\u202f<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 670,504 children served healthy meals & snacks daily Find a Sponsor in Your Area Taxes: Deducting Meals and Snacks USDA Resources It’s\u00a0a bright morning\u00a0in\u00a0your home. The smell of oatmeal and cinnamon fills the kitchen as little feet shuffle in, ready to start their day. You pour milk, cut up fresh\u00a0fruit\u00a0and serve a warm breakfast at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58081,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n
\n\t\tFamily Child Care Home Program Overview\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\tFamily Child Care Home Meal Service\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![\"2025](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/08\/2025-Meal-Pattern-for-Guidance-cacfp.org_.jpg\" "\\"2025")
\n\t\t\t\t![\"Grain\"](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/11\/Grain.png\" "\\"Grain\\"")
\n\t\n
![\"Vegetable\"](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/11\/Vegetable.png\" "\\"Vegetable\\"")
\n\t\n
![\"Fruit\"](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/11\/Fruit.png\" "\\"Fruit\\"")
\n\t\n
![\"Meat\"](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/11\/Meat.png\" "\\"Meat\\"")
\n\t\n
\n
\n\t\tJoining Made Easy\u202f\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![\"Family](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2026\/01\/Family-Child-Care-Home-e1768325554972.png\" "\\"Family")
\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cacfp.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/bb-plugin\/img\/pixel.png\"){kind=tracking}
\n\t\n
\n
\n\t\tMake a Difference: Advocacy for Family Child Care Homes\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n
\n
![\"Milk\"](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2025\/11\/Milk.png\" "\\"Milk\\"")
\n\t\n
\n\t\tAngela Dobbs\n\t<\/h1>\n
\n\t\tHome Child Care Provider\n\t<\/h3>\n\t
![\"Dobbs](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2026\/01\/Dobbs-cacfp.org_.jpg\" "\\"Dobbs")
\n\t\n\t\tMonica Jackson\n\t<\/h1>\n
\n\t\tHome Child Care Provider\n\t<\/h3>\n\t
![\"Jackson](\"https:\/\/growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net\/sites\/1980\/2026\/01\/Jackson-cacfp.org_.jpg\" "\\"Jackson")
\n\t\n\t\tFrequently Asked Questions\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\tCan I join CACFP as a family child care home without a sponsor?\u202f\n\t\t\t\t