Meal Pattern Documentation

CN Label Documentation and Product Formulation Statements

• ​​Administrative Review - CN Labels Webinar
• CN Label Verification and Manufactures Reports
• SP-27-2015: Administrative Review Process Regarding the Child Nutrition (CN) Label, Watermarked CN Label and Manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement
• SP-11-2015(v.2): CN Labels Copied with a Watermark - Acceptable Documentation
• Tip Sheet for Accepting Processed Product Documentation
• Tip Sheet for Evaluating a Manufacturer’s Product Formulation Statement (PFS)
• TA 07-2010 Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements (MPR)  REVISED 11-26-2014
  • Product Formulation Statement for Meat/Meat Alternate Product
  • Product Formulation Statement for Vegetables
  • Product Formulation Statement for Fruits
  • Product Formulation Statement for Grains
• NEW Tip Sheets - Crediting Fruits, Crediting Vegetables, and Crediting Meats/Meat Alternative in Child Nutrition Programs

Meal Pattern Information 

• New Menu Planner for School Meals
• SP 04-2022: Q&A on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022
• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs Interactive Web-Based Tool
• Transitional Meal Pattern
• 6 Cent Certification Resources
• Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs - REVISED
• Notice of Vacatur: Rescission of Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Flexibilities
• School Breakfast Program: Continuation of the Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility
• Creative Ways to Reduce Sodium
• Fact Sheet: Calories in School Meals
• Lunch Meal Pattern and Dietary Specifications
• Breakfast Meal Pattern
• Serving School Meals to Preschoolers - Pre-K Meal Pattern
  • SP-01-2019: Guidance for FY 2019 - Updated Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns and Updated National School Lunch Program and Breakfast Program Infant and Preschool Meal Patterns 
  • Child Nutrition Programs Meal Pattern Comparison Chart
  • SP 37-2017: Flexibility for Co-Mingles Preschool Meals: Questions and Answers
• Menu Planner
• My Plate Resources
• Production Record - Lunch and Breakfast
• SP 05-2022: Meal Requirements Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Q&A for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022
  • Short and Long Week Calculations
• Sodium Reduction: Timeline and Amount
• School Day Just Got Healthier Brochure
• School Day Just Got Healthier - Updated Standards
• Standardized Recipes Template 
• Standardized Recipes for Schools - NEW!
  • Complete Set of Recipes
• Updated Offer versus Serve Guidance for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program Effective Beginning School Year 2015-2016​
• Kansas 6 Week Cycle Menus
• Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains and Sodium - Final Rule

Grains

• Creditable Grains in Recipes Converter
• SP-30-2012 Converter
• Formulated Grain Fruit Products
• Updated Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

Meal Pattern Tools and Resources

• Offering Meats and Meat Alternates at School Breakfast
  • This training guide provides menu planning ideas, crediting information, sample menus, and more, to show school nutrition professionals how to offer meats and meat alternates at school breakfast.
• Offering Smoothies as Part of Reimbursable School Meals
  • This training guide provides menu planning ideas, crediting tips, sample menus, and more to show school nutrition professionals how both scratch-made and commercially-prepared smoothies can be offered as part of a reimbursable school breakfast or lunch.
• Methods for Healthy Cooking
• Team Nutrition School Lunch Menu e-poster

  • This resource is designed for school nutrition programs to display daily lunch menu options and remind students to eat a variety of foods while building a reimbursable meal. The fillable pdf file can be used for electronic message boards, webpages, and social media or can be printed and displayed in sign holders.

• Navigating the Food Buying Guide Calculator
• Menu Documentation Check List
• Standardized Recipe Converter
• Food Buying Guide

Meal Pattern Exemptions

• Milk Waiver

For further guidance, refer to the USDA Resources page