Meal Pattern Tables
- Breakfast Meal Pattern Table
- Lunch Meal Pattern Table
- Breakfast and Lunch Meal Pattern Table (Spanish)
- Short- or Long-Week Meal Pattern Tables (applies only to schools who regularly operate shorter or longer instructional weeks. Does not apply to weeks with holidays or snow days)
- Infant and Preschool Meal Pattern Tables
Substitution of vegetables for fruit at breakfast: School food authorities (SFAs) participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) may credit any vegetable offered in place of fruit. This flexibility is effective for school years 2021-22 and 2022-23, and provides additional flexibility in planning breakfast menus, but does not require SFAs to make any menu changes (USDA Policy Memorandum SP 08-2022).
The Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Final Rule will go into effect on July 1, 2022. For more information regarding changes to the meal pattern from this rule, see the USDA Factsheet.
Meal Pattern Components
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP): There are five required meal pattern components including Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA), Grain, Milk, Fruit, and Vegetable.
- School Breakfast Program (SBP): There are three required meal pattern components including Grain, Fruit (or Vegetable), and Milk.
All required components must be offered at each meal service.
Meat/Meat Alternate
- Meat/Meat Alternate In a Nutshell
- Crediting Meat/Meat Alternates in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- E-learning course: The Meat/Meat Alternate Component (also available in Spanish)
- Offering Meats and Meat Alternates at School Breakfast(USDA) (Spanish)
- Get Creative with Meat and Meat Alternates
- Tofu In a Nutshell
- Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products, SP 53-2016, USDA, 08/08/2016
- Shelf-stable, Dried Snacks Made from Meat, Poultry, or Seafood SP 21-2019, USDA, 04/17/19
- Questions and Answers on Alternate Protein Products (USDA)
Grain
- Grains In a Nutshell
- E-learning course: The Grain Component (also available in Spanish)
- Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs USDA - updated 08/19/2022
- Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program SP 30-2012, USDA, 04/26/12
- Whole Grains Council - Recipes and resources
- Crediting
Milk
- Milk In a Nutshell
- E-learning course: The Milk Component (also available in Spanish)
- 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: considerations for purchasing and serving
- Wisconsin Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
-
For hot chocolate promotional materials, contact:
Karen Doster, Director, Youth and School Programs, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
-
-
Inadequate Fluid Milk Supply: If your SFA cannot get a supply of fluid milk due to an emergency, please submit an Inadequate Fluid Milk Supply Request within 2 business days to the School Nutrition Team. Find more information within the Federal Regulations [7 CFR 210.10(d)(2)].
Vegetable
- Vegetables In a Nutshell
- Crediting Vegetables in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet (USDA)
- E-learning course: The Vegetable Component (also available in Spanish)
- Vegetable Subgroups Handout (Spanish)
- Half-Cup Crediting of Fruits and Vegetables Handout
- Meal Requirements under the NSLP and SBP: Questions and Answers for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022 SP 05-2022, USDA, 3/2/22
- See #79 under Meal Patterns for guidance on offering vegetable subgroups within a shorter or longer school week.
- A Guide to Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas & Beans - USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council and the American Pulse Association