1. Head Start Breakfast Shopping and Meal Service Tips

2. Objectives
Know CACFP meal pattern requirements for reimbursable breakfast
Become familiar with preferred nutrition guidelines for Head Start breakfasts
Understand meal preparation restrictions in classroom
Feel more confident about shopping and serving Head Start breakfast

3. CACFP Breakfast Requirements: Components and Serving Size
Grain/Bread Cereal
1/3 cup dry cereal or
½ slice bread or
¼ cup dry hot cereal (oatmeal) or
~10g or ½ serving crackers
Fluid milk
6 oz or ¾ cup
Fruit/Vegetable
½ cup

4. Breakfast Nutrition Standards: CACFP and HCAP
Grains/Bread
Must contain enriched flour
Preferred whole grains: 100% whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal
Must contain less than 6 grams sugar/serving
Fluid Milk
Plain, 1% milk
Fruit/Vegetable
Fresh or canned (not dried)
Canned should be in juice or light syrup
No 100% fruit juice served with breakfast

5. Breakfast: Meal Preparation Restrictions
Classrooms not all approved for meal preparation, only service
No heating, toasting, microwaving
No cutting
No sanitizing of serving utensils, bowls, plates, etc
Foods purchased should require little preparation
Food served on and with disposable plates, utensils, cups
Food stored (ex: fruit, cereal) in disposable zip-lock bag or other container

6. Shopping for Breakfast
Budget- $1.00/child/meal
Includes grain, fruit and milk
Next slides:
Reading labels for cereal and fruit
Suggested cereals and grains
Example meal/menu items

7. Reading Food Labels- Grains
What were the nutrition requirements for grains?
Enriched flour
Less than 6 grams sugar per serving
Prefer 100% whole wheat or whole grain
What was the serving size?
1/3 c dry cold cereal
10 grams crackers
¼ c dry hot cereal

8. Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added
Whole Grain
Less than 6 grams Sugar
Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added

9. Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added?
Sugar?
Whole Grain ?

10. Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added?
Sugar?
Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added?
Whole Grain ?

11. Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added?
Sugar?
Enriched- Vitamins, minerals added?
Whole Grain ?

13. Other Grains Oats Crackers Quick Oats (1-minute Oats)
Can soak in 1/2 cup milk and fruit for 1-2 minutes instead of heating
¼ cup dry oats = 1 serving
Crackers
Plain animal crackers, Graham Crackers, BelVita Crackers (All are enriched and low sugar)
1 serving = 10 grams or 1 cracker/ ½ c animal crackers

14. Serving Size = 1 full sheet/child
Enriched flour
Help add variety
Not whole grain so limit 1x/week

15. Serving Size = 4-6 crackers/child
Enriched flour
Help add variety
Not whole grain so limit 1x/week

16. Serving Size = 1 biscuit/child
Enriched flour and Whole grain
Help add variety

17. Reading Food Labels- Fruit
What were the nutrition requirements for fruit?
Fresh or frozen
Canned in juice or light syrup
No 100% juice
What was the serving size?
½ c

21. Breakfast Meal Service
Recommend “family style” to:
Encourage children to make decisions and develop motor skills
Help teachers/staff reduce morning responsibilities

22. Family Style Meal Service
Meal components on table available for children
Enough on the table for each child to take minimum serving
Place cereal or fruit in larger bowl and allow children to pass and serve themselves
Teacher should pour milk from gallon for child

23. Measuring Portions for Meal Service
Use 9 oz milk cup to estimate servings
Use milk cup as scoop
1 scoop = 3 servings dry cereal or 4 servings dry hot cereal
1 scoop = 2 servings fruit (canned or fresh)
Crackers or bread can be counted and placed on larger plate for children to pick from

24. Tips to Make this Easier
Pre-portion cereal or fruit for breakfast ahead of time
If similar number of children sit at each table daily, portion out meal components and place in zip lock bag the day prior and pour into larger bowl on day of meal service
Be sure to label with date and contents of bag
After meal service dispose of zip lock bag

25. Breakfast Meal Idea Breakfast No-Heat Muesli Teachers challenge!
¼ cup quick oats
½ child’s serving milk (3 oz)
½ cup canned peaches with juice
Place components on table, allow child to add milk and fruit to oats and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Once oats are soft will taste like sweet peachy oatmeal
Teachers challenge!
Share with us your creative, no heat, easy to serve breakfast ideas

26. Recommended Grains/Breads
Cheerios
OK to have Honey Nut cheerios if mixed with Plain Cheerios ½ and ½ to lower total sugar content
Kix
Life Cereal
Rice Crispies or Crispy Rice
Animal crackers- Plain
Graham crackers- Honey flavor
BelVita breakfast biscuit- Golden oat flavor
Quick oats

27. Recommended Fruit Bananas
Canned fruits, diced, in own juice or light syrup
Pre-cut fresh fruits (if within budget )
No sugar added applesauce