Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Infant meals must be offered Infant meals must be offered by all centers participating by all centers participating in the CACFP. in the CACFP.

Definition of InfantBirth through Birth through

11 months11 months

Requirements for Feeding Infants

One type of iron-fortified infant One type of iron-fortified infant formula must be offered by formula must be offered by each centereach center

Parent/guardian accepts or Parent/guardian accepts or declines formuladeclines formula

Obligation to Serve Infants in the CACFP Form

Formerly Obligation to Offer Formerly Obligation to Offer Infant Formula FormInfant Formula Form

A signed form must be on file A signed form must be on file for each child under 1 year old.for each child under 1 year old.

Obligation to Serve Infants in the CACFP Form

Completed during enrollment. Completed during enrollment. Center must list a specific Center must list a specific

formula.formula.Form must be signed and dated Form must be signed and dated

by the parent/guardian. by the parent/guardian.

Infant Meal Pattern

Through 3 months the only Through 3 months the only meal component is breast milk meal component is breast milk or iron-fortified infant formulaor iron-fortified infant formula

Through 3 Months

4-6 ounces of breast milk or 4-6 ounces of breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula is iron-fortified infant formula is offered at each mealoffered at each meal

Infant meal times may vary Infant meal times may vary from center meal timesfrom center meal times

Breast Milk

Credited the same as center provided Credited the same as center provided formula for 0-3 month old infants. formula for 0-3 month old infants. If the mother breast feeds the infant If the mother breast feeds the infant on-site, the meal is not reimbursable. on-site, the meal is not reimbursable.

What’s in A Meal? What’s in A Meal? and and Feeding Feeding InfantsInfants provide information on provide information on handling breast milk.handling breast milk.

Formula

A list of creditable iron-fortified A list of creditable iron-fortified formulas are available via internetformulas are available via internet

If parent chooses to provide the If parent chooses to provide the formula, it must be a creditable formula, it must be a creditable formula in order for the meals to be formula in order for the meals to be claimed.claimed.

Introducing Solid FoodsBegin with foods that have been Begin with foods that have been

introduced by the parentsintroduced by the parents

Begin only one new food per Begin only one new food per weekweek

Introducing Solid FoodsIntroduce a small amount: 1-2 Introduce a small amount: 1-2

teaspoonsteaspoons

Observe closely for reactionsObserve closely for reactions

First Food: Iron Fortified Infant Cereal

Rice is least likely to cause an Rice is least likely to cause an allergic reactionallergic reaction

Measure dry cereal before Measure dry cereal before mixingmixing

Iron Fortified Infant Cereal

Mix with breast milk or formulaMix with breast milk or formula

Feed with a spoon; not from a Feed with a spoon; not from a bottlebottle

Iron Fortified Infant Cereal

Oat and barley infant cereals Oat and barley infant cereals are nextare next

Wheat cereal should be delayed Wheat cereal should be delayed until 8 monthsuntil 8 months

Iron Fortified Infant Cereal

Not creditable:Not creditable:Cereal in jarsCereal in jarsRegular breakfast cereals (hot Regular breakfast cereals (hot

or cold)or cold)

Vegetables and FruitsIntroduce fruits and vegetables Introduce fruits and vegetables

that the infant is receiving at that the infant is receiving at homehome

Vegetables and FruitsCommercially PreparedCommercially Prepared

Center PreparedCenter Prepared

Commercially Prepared Vegetables and FruitsMust list vegetable or fruit as Must list vegetable or fruit as

first ingredientfirst ingredient

Plain vegetables and fruits are Plain vegetables and fruits are preferredpreferred

Commercially Prepared Vegetables and FruitsNot creditableNot creditable Cereals, desserts, puddings listing Cereals, desserts, puddings listing

fruit as the first ingredientfruit as the first ingredient Fruit or vegetable listing water as Fruit or vegetable listing water as

the first ingredientthe first ingredient Fruits containing tapiocaFruits containing tapioca

Center Prepared Fruits and VegetablesTexture must be appropriate; Texture must be appropriate;

usually cookedusually cookedAvoid canned vegetables that Avoid canned vegetables that

are high in sodiumare high in sodiumAvoid canned or frozen fruits Avoid canned or frozen fruits

with added sugarwith added sugar

Center Prepared Fruits and Vegetables

Avoid vegetables high in nitrates Avoid vegetables high in nitrates until 6 months:until 6 months:

Beets, carrots, collard green, Beets, carrots, collard green, spinach, turnipsspinach, turnips

Center Prepared Fruits and Vegetables

Choking dangers:Choking dangers: Raw vegetablesRaw vegetables Corn kernelsCorn kernels Hard fruits: apples, etc.Hard fruits: apples, etc. Whole fruits: grapes, etc.Whole fruits: grapes, etc. Uncooked dried fruitsUncooked dried fruits

Meat and Meat Alternates

Introduce meats that the infant Introduce meats that the infant is receiving at homeis receiving at home

Lean meat and poultryLean meat and poultry

Meat and Meat Alternates

Avoid:Avoid: Peanut butter, seeds, nutsPeanut butter, seeds, nuts Fish and shell fishFish and shell fish Processed meats: hot dogs, cold Processed meats: hot dogs, cold

cuts, etc.cuts, etc.

Meat and Meat Alternates

Not creditable:Not creditable:Fish SticksFish SticksHot dogsHot dogs““Baby Food” meat sticksBaby Food” meat sticksHome canned meatsHome canned meatsCombination DinnersCombination Dinners

Meat and Meat Alternates

Eggs:Eggs:Egg yolks at 8 monthsEgg yolks at 8 monthsYolk must be hard cookedYolk must be hard cookedAvoid egg whites until after 1 Avoid egg whites until after 1

yearyear

Meat and Meat Alternates

Cheese Cheese Introduced at 8 months or olderIntroduced at 8 months or olderRegular cheese rather than Regular cheese rather than

processed cheeseprocessed cheese

Meat and Meat Alternates

Dried beans and dried peasDried beans and dried peasCooked and pureed or mashedCooked and pureed or mashedCanned or frozen peas are Canned or frozen peas are

considered a vegetableconsidered a vegetable

Grains/Breads

Bread or crackersBread or crackersStrips of dry bread, toast, soft Strips of dry bread, toast, soft

tortillastortillasPlain crackersPlain crackersTeething biscuitsTeething biscuits

Grains/BreadsCheck labels for whole-grain or Check labels for whole-grain or

enriched meal or flourenriched meal or flour

Grains/Breads

Avoid:Avoid:

Snacks such as pretzels or chipsSnacks such as pretzels or chips

Cookies or granola barsCookies or granola bars

Crackers with seeds, nuts, etc.Crackers with seeds, nuts, etc.

Whole kernels, such as rice.Whole kernels, such as rice.

Foods to Avoid

Sweeteners and Sweetened Foods:Sweeteners and Sweetened Foods: ““Baby Food” DessertsBaby Food” Desserts Cakes, cookies, candyCakes, cookies, candy ChocolateChocolate Added sugar, syrup, etc.Added sugar, syrup, etc.

Foods to AvoidHoney: either plain or in foodsHoney: either plain or in foods

Honey is prohibited for infantsHoney is prohibited for infants

Artificial SweetenersArtificial Sweeteners

Infant Meal Records

Weekly RecordWeekly Record

One per individual per weekOne per individual per week

ORORDaily RecordDaily Record

One per day for multiple infantsOne per day for multiple infants

Daily Infant Meal Record

One record per day for all infants One record per day for all infants in age groupin age group

List each infant’s name and Date List each infant’s name and Date of Birth (D.O.B.)of Birth (D.O.B.)

List amount of food offered at each List amount of food offered at each meal to be claimedmeal to be claimed

Weekly Meal Record: Individual Infant

List the infant’s name and Date List the infant’s name and Date of Birthof Birth

List amount of food offered at List amount of food offered at each meal to be claimedeach meal to be claimed

RemindersThe amount of formula or breast The amount of formula or breast

milk offered must be recorded. milk offered must be recorded.

Please note if formula (F) or Please note if formula (F) or Breast Milk (B) if offered.Breast Milk (B) if offered.

RemindersMeal pattern must be met to Meal pattern must be met to

claim mealclaim meal

Foods offered must be recorded Foods offered must be recorded to claim mealto claim meal

Reminders

Ages 4-7 months:Ages 4-7 months:

0-3 T cereal or veg/fruit means 0-3 T cereal or veg/fruit means that the meal component is that the meal component is required when the infant is required when the infant is developmentally ready.developmentally ready.

Reminders

Ages 8-11 months:Ages 8-11 months:Breakfast--infant cereal is Breakfast--infant cereal is

requiredrequiredLunch & Supper--Lunch & Supper--

cereal cereal and/orand/or meat/meat meat/meat alternate must be servedalternate must be served

RemindersFull strength (100%) juice is Full strength (100%) juice is

reimbursable only at snack for 8 reimbursable only at snack for 8 through 11 month old infantsthrough 11 month old infants

Reimbursable meals for Birth through 3 monthsParent provided breast milkParent provided breast milkParent provided formulaParent provided formulaCenter provided formulaCenter provided formulaOnly exception is when mother Only exception is when mother

is present to breastfeed.is present to breastfeed.

Reimbursable meals for 4 though 7 month oldsParent provided breast milk Parent provided breast milk Center provided formulaCenter provided formulaParent provided formulaParent provided formulaFoods added as appropriate Foods added as appropriate

provided by Centerprovided by Center

Reimbursable meals for 8 through 11 month olds

Center must provide meal Center must provide meal components with either breast components with either breast milk or formulamilk or formula

Reimbursement Requirements

Infant must be enrolledInfant must be enrolled Obligation to Serve Infants in the Obligation to Serve Infants in the

CACFP Form must be completedCACFP Form must be completed Claim as paid unless Application for Claim as paid unless Application for

Free and Reduced-Price Meals is on Free and Reduced-Price Meals is on filefile

Meals must be counted at point of Meals must be counted at point of serviceservice

Questions?

Call 800-537-1142 OR Call 800-537-1142 OR 317-232-0850317-232-0850Website:Website:

http://www.doe.state.in.us/foodhttp://www.doe.state.in.us/food

This presentation was developed by the Nebraska Department of Education, Nutrition Services, and was edited by the CACFP staff, Division of School and Community Nutrition Programs, Indiana Department of Education. It reflects procedures and policies applicable to Indiana CACFP participants.