Overview
There are five required meal pattern components in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), including Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA), Grain, Milk, Fruit, and Vegetable. There are three required meal pattern components in the School Breakfast Program (SBP), including Grain, Fruit (or Vegetable), and Milk. These must be offered by schools during each lunch meal and each breakfast meal, respectively.
Meat/Meat Alternate
- Meat/Meat Alternate In a Nutshell
- Webcast: The Meat/Meat Alternate Component
- Webcast: La Carne (en Español)
- Sample Product Formulation Statement (Product Analysis) for Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA) Products
- Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products, SP 53-2016, USDA, 02/22/12
- Shelf-stable, Dried Snacks Made from Meat, Poultry, or Seafood SP 21-2019, USDA, 04/17/19
- Information and Guidance on the Domestic Beef Market SP 66-2014, USDA, 09/22/14
- Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products
Grain
- Grains In a Nutshell
- Webcast: The Grain Component
- Webcast: El Grano (en Español)
- Exhibit A: Whole Grain-Rich Ounce Equivalency Requirements for School Meal Programs
- USDA Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
- Whole Grain-Rich Best Practices Webinar, 05/19/15
- School Meal Flexibilities for School Year (SY) 2018-19
- Request for Information (RFI) - Whole Grain-Rich Pasta
- Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program SP 30-2012, USDA, 04/26/12
- Worksheets for Crediting Grain Products
- List of Common Whole Grains - HealthierUS School Challenge Application Kit
- DPI Educational Handouts
- Whole Grains Council - How to identify whole grains, examples and sources for recipes
Milk
- Milk In a Nutshell
- Webcast: The Milk Component
- Webcast: La Leche (en Español)
- Variety Item Recipe (previously "Milk Recipe")
- This recipe template may be used for the same amount of a variety of items that are put out daily, such as milk, juice, fruit, or cereal.
- Nutrition Requirements for Fluid Milk SP 29-2011, USDA, 04/14/11
- Bulk Milk Information
Vegetable
- Vegetables In a Nutshell
- Webcast: The Vegetable Component
- Webcast: La Verdura (en Español)
- Vegetable Subgroups Handout
- Half-Cup Crediting of Fruits and Vegetables Handout
- Questions & Answers on the Final Rule, "Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs" SP 10-2012 v9, USDA, 08/03/15
- See #2 under Meal Patterns for guidance on offering vegetable subgroups within a shorter or longer school week.
Multiple Components
- Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements Federal Register v83, No. 238, USDA, 12/12/18
- Smoothies Offered in Child Nutrition Programs SP 40-2019, USDA, 09/23/19
- Crediting Smoothies in a Nutshell