Foods Served in Child Care Programs Participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Alignment with Program Meal Patterns

Abstract

ObjectiveAssess Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) program compliance with meal component requirements for children aged 3-5 years by program type, and describe foods and beverages most commonly served. DesignCross-sectional analysis of 1-week menu surveys during winter/spring 2017. SettingUS CACFP-participating child care programs. ParticipantsNationally representative multistage cluster sample of 664 programs: 222 child care centers, 247 Head Start programs, 195 family child care homes. Main Outcome Measure(s)Percentage of meals including required components; frequently served foods and beverages. AnalysisMean percentages; 2-tailed t tests; alpha = 0.05 significance level. ResultsMost breakfasts (97%), lunches (88%), and afternoon snacks (97%) included all required CACFP meal components. Most breakfasts included fruits (96%), but not vegetables; 16% included a meat/meat alternate. Most lunches (81%) included both fruits and vegetables. Afternoon snacks were mostly grains/breads (80%) and fruits (57%). Most frequently served foods included 1% unflavored milk and fresh fruits such as apples and bananas. Most menus limited juice, offered low-sugar cereal, and did not include flavored milk; very few menus included noncreditable foods with added sugar. Conclusions and ImplicationsMost CACFP meals provided required components, but there is room for improvement, particularly for increasing vegetables served and limiting foods high in added sugar and fat.