NSLP and SBP Meal Patterns

Meal Pattern Requirements for Breakfast and Lunch

Infant

Breakfast Meal Pattern for Infants
A reference chart with the SBP meal pattern requirements for infants.

Lunch Meal Pattern for Infants
A reference chart with the NSLP meal pattern requirements for infants.

Note: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Operators should refer to the CACFP Meal Patterns web page on the California Department of Social Services website for information on CACFP meal pattern requirements.

Preschool

Breakfast Meal Pattern for Preschoolers
A reference chart with the SBP meal pattern requirements for preschoolers.

Lunch Meal Pattern for Preschoolers
A reference chart with the NSLP meal pattern requirements for preschoolers.

Note: CACFP Operators should refer to the CACFP Meal Patterns web page on the California Department of Social Services website for information on CACFP meal pattern requirements.

Grades K-12

Breakfast Meal Pattern for Grades K-12
A quick reference chart with the meal pattern requirements for the SBP for grades K-12.

Lunch Meal Pattern for Grades K-12
A quick reference chart with the meal pattern requirements for the NSLP grades K-12

Breakfast Meal Pattern: Short and Long Weeks
A quick reference chart with the meal pattern requirements for regularly operating short and long weeks for the SBP for grades K-12.

Lunch Meal Pattern: Short and Long Weeks
A quick reference chart with the meal pattern requirements for regularly operating short and long weeks for the NSLP for grades K-12.

Additional Meal Pattern Information

Vegetable Subgroup List for Breakfast and Lunch for Grades K-12
The list of vegetables found in each of the required vegetable subgroup categories for the NSLP and SBP.

Milk Requirements in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP)
The milk requirements for the child nutrition programs, including the meal pattern requirements, types of milks offered, milk substitute forms, nutrient standards for milk substitutes, policy guidance, frequently asked questions, and contacts.

Online Trainings

This section includes online trainings that assist participants in the NSLP and SBP in implementing the meal pattern requirements.

Nutrition

Operations

Additional Online Training Databases

To find additional online training databases, visit the:

• USDA's Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals web page to search for trainings related to the key areas nutrition, operation, administration, and marketing.
  
  
• Institute of Child Nutrition Courses and Learning Plans web page in the Search field type "School Nutrition".
  
  
• Chef Ann Foundation The Lunch Box web page to access Webinars related to increasing participation, implementing farm-to-school with recipes and cycle menus, implementing and growing a successful After-the-Bell breakfast program and much more!

For more related meal pattern online trainings, you can visit the California Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Program Course Catalog.

Resources

Guides, Manuals, and Worksheets
Forms
Whole Grain Resources
Recipe Resources
Salad Bar Resources
Nutrition Education Resources
General Resources

Guides, Manuals, and Worksheets

Resource	Description
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Analysis Protocols: How to Analyze Menus for USDA’s School Meals Programs (NAP Manual)	The online manual includes processes for selecting nutrient analysis software, obtaining nutrient analysis of menus, and guidance calculating nutrient analysis of menus offered in NSLP and SBP.
USDA Food Buying Guide	The online manual assists sponsors in buying the appropriate amount and type of food and to determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements for the NSLP and SBP.
CDE Food Buying Guide Calculator web page	Provides the steps for using the USDA Food Buying Guide Calculator to determine required quantities of foods to purchase to meet the meal pattern requirements.
USDA Offer Versus Serve: Guidance for the NSLP and the SBP	The online manual for School Year 2015–16 assisting with the implementation of Offer Versus Serve (OVS). OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered in a reimbursable lunch or breakfast. This is the latest version of the OVS manual.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Serving Up a Successful School Breakfast Program (PDF)	The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction developed a guide for implementing school breakfast programs called Serving Up a Successful School Breakfast Program.
USDA Certification of Compliance Worksheets: 5-day Schedule web page	The certification worksheets to assist in determining if your menu is meeting the requirements.
USDA Approved Nutrient Analysis Software	A list of nutrient analysis software approved for use in the NSLP and SBP.
USDA Foods Product Information Sheets	Fact sheets categorized by food type that describe the items expected to be available for schools participating in the NSLP and SBP.

Forms

Whole Grain Resources

Recipe Resources

Resource	Description
CDE Culinary Centers Standardized Recipes	A collection of California school district culinary center recipes. Each recipe includes a photo, student taste tasting score, contribution to the meal pattern, and nutrient analysis.
USDA Standardized Recipes	A collection of standardized recipes that provide crediting information, including the vegetable subgroups. They also include recipes made with legumes, whole grains, and/or dark green, red, and/or orange vegetables.
The Humane Society of the United States Forward Food Recipes	A collection of healthy, delicious, meat-free plant-strong recipes with grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits created by their classically trained chef.
Chef Ann Foundation Plant Forward Recipes	A collection of student tasted and approved plant-forward recipes, which includes the ingredients, instructions, and contribution to the meal pattern.

Salad Bar Resources

Resource	Description
Salad Bars in School Nutrition Programs	Information about salad bars in the NSLP and SBP, including policy changes, resources, website links, and updated USDA Q&A.
Chef Ann’s The Lunch Box Salad Bar Resources	An assortment of information, resources, and training materials to assist with salad bar implementation.
Chef Ann Foundation Salad Bars to Schools	Information about applying for funding to receive salad bar equipment.
Minnesota Department of Health Field Guide to Salad Bars in Schools (PDF)	Information about applying for funding to receive salad bar equipment.

Nutrition Education Resources

Resource	Description
California Department of Public Health Harvest of the Month web page	Education materials that feature 36 California grown fruits and vegetables including free parent newsletters and posters.
USDA Team Nutrition	Information and resources to support the CPN through training and technical assistance for foodservice and nutrition education. Free USDA Team Nutrition materials are available to school nutrition professionals and are designed to motivate children into making healthier choices in the cafeteria and beyond.

General Resources

Resource	Description
USDA Crediting Meats/Meat Alternates in Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet	This tip sheet is designed for program operators as a handy and easy-to-use reference on how to credit meats/meat alternates.
USDA Recipe Standardization Guide for School Nutrition Programs – Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition	This is a “how-to” guide on recipe standardization for school nutrition recipe developers. The guide is designed to be a complete source of information on recipe standardization from recipe conception to implementation.
USDA Best Practices for Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast	This training guide for school nutrition professionals presents how to identify sources of added sugars and specific ways to reduce the amount of added sugars in school breakfast meals.
USDA Crediting Fruits in the Child Nutrition Program and Crediting Vegetables in the Child Nutrition Program	These two tip sheets address Child Nutrition Program requirements for fruits and vegetables and provide basic crediting information.
USDA Fresh Voices on Healthy School Meals Video (Video; 5:35)	This 5-minute video presents students, schools, and cafeteria personnel giving their views on the new standards for healthier school meals, based on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
CDE Plate Waste Prevention in Child Nutrition Programs web page	Information and resources for preventing plate waste.
CDE Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Resources web page	Information and resources to implement the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement principles that use low or no-cost solutions to promote healthful eating behaviors and reduce waste.
USDA Food Loss and Waste web page	Information and resources for preventing plate waste.
State of California CalRecycle School Waste Reduction web page	Information and resources for waste reduction and recycling.
CDE Competitive Foods and Beverages web page	Information about the rules for competitive foods in California.
CDE Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities web page	Information about accommodating children with disabilities in the school nutrition programs.
CDE Milk Requirements in the Child Nutrition Programs web page	Information about the milk requirements for the CNP, including the meal pattern requirements, types of milks to offer, milk substitute forms, nutrient standards for milk, policy guidance, FAQs, and contacts.

Compliance

The California Department of Education (CDE) monitors compliance with the meal pattern during the Administrative Review (AR). ARs occur approximately every three years. The CDE provides technical assistance when the standards are not met. There will be an off site assessment (OAT) and an on-site review. Please see the following AR guidance:

• Administrative Review Off-site Assessment Tool (OAT) Guidance
  Sponsors are required to fill out the OAT prior to the on-site review. To download the OAT guidance in Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) , select School Nutrition Programs (SNP), select applications, downloadable forms, and Form ID SNP 58 AR. For meal pattern information, refer to page 11 and questions numbered 600–602.
  
  
• Administrative Review Guidance Chart
  Once the OAT is completed, the AR reviewer conducts an on-site review to validate the information submitted in the OAT and to observe the operation of programs at the School Food Authorities and in selected schools. Prior to the on-site AR, the state reviewer sends sponsors the Administrative Review Guidance Chart, so sponsors can prepare all required documents for the on-site AR. To download the guidance chart in CNIPS, select SNP, select applications, downloadable forms, and Form ID SNP 42. For meal pattern information, refer to pages 6–9.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Administrative Review Manual 2018–19
  USDA/Food and Nutrition Service provides general guidance to state agencies on the areas of review. For complete transparency and to download the AR Manual in CNIPS, select SNP, select applications, downloadable forms, and Form ID MANUAL AR. For meal pattern information, refer to pages 66-109.

Policy Guidance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Education (CDE) issued the following policy memoranda related to the meal pattern on the NSLP and SBP. When merited, the CDE will release a subsequent management bulletin (MB) to include state specific policy guidance and/or further explain or clarify the topic.

To view all of the policy memos related to the School Nutrition Programs (SNP), visit the USDA School Meals web page .

To view all management bulletins related to SNP, visit the CDE School Nutrition Programs Management Bulletins web page.

Calendar Year 2022

Release Date	Issued by	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
3/2022	The USDA	Meal Pattern	Meal Requirements Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: 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
3/2022	The USDA	Meal Pattern	Question and Answer Guidance on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Effective July 1, 2022	SP 04-2022

Calendar Year 2020

Calendar Year 2019

Release Date	Issued by	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
9/2019	The USDA	Salad Bars	Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program	SP 41-2019
9/2019	The USDA	Questions and Answers	Questions & Answers on Meal Requirements under the NSLP and SBP	SP 38-2019
8/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Masa Harina in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 34-2019
7/2019	The USDA	Donated Traditional Foods and Civil Liability	Farm Bill Implementation Memo: Donated Traditional Foods and Civil Liability	SP 31-2019
4/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Pasta Products Made of Vegetable Flour in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 26-2019
4/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Tempeh in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 25-2019
4/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Surimi Seafood in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 24-2019
4/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Popcorn in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 23-2019
4/2019	The USDA	Crediting Updates for CNPs	Crediting Shelf-Stable, Dried and Semi-Dried Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Products in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 21-2019

Calendar Year 2018

Release Date	Issued by	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
12/2018	The USDA	Meal Pattern Crediting	Update of Food Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs	SP 08-2019, CACFP 02-2019, SFSP 02-2019
2/2018	The CDE	Donation of Leftover Food	Guidance on the Donation of Leftover Food in the Child Nutrition Programs	CNP-02-2018
2/2018	The CDE	The Use of Share Tables	Share Tables	CNP-03-2018

Calendar Year 2017

Calendar Year 2016

Calendar Year 2015

Release Date	Issued by	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
11/2023	The USDA	Child Nutrition Programs and Traditional Foods	Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs	TA 01-2024
7/2015	The CDE	Product Documentation	Guidance for Accepting Processed Product Documentation for Meal Pattern Requirements	CNP-07-2015
5/2015	The CDE	Product Documentation	CN Labels Copied with a Watermark	CNP-08-2015

Calendar Year 2014

Calendar Year 2013

Release Date	Issued by	Topic	Subject	Reference Number
3/2013	The USDA	Final Rule	Nutrition Standards in the NSLP and the SBP - Final Rule	SP 31-2013

Calendar Year 2012

Calendar Year 2011 and prior

Questions and Answers

Contacts

For questions email your School Nutrition Program meal pattern questions to SNPinfo@cde.ca.gov. To join the NSD's mailing list, you can subscribe to the School Nutrition Program Mailing List.