Breakfast Meal Pattern Grades K-12

 As a menu planner: Make sure every possible reimbursable meal has 4 items from 3 components. Make sure every possible planned reimbursable meal includes at least 1 oz. eq. of “real” grain. Make sure students and food service workers are aware of what items make a meal.

 Food Component Grain (optional meat/meat alternate) Fruit (vegetable) Milk  Food Item The minimum required portion size = one food item  ½ cup of fruit = 1 food item  1 oz. eq. grain = 1 food item

 Food Component Grain (plus optional meat/meat alternate) Fruit (and/or vegetable) Milk  Examples: Muffin, grapes and milk Whole wheat bagel, fresh orange and milk Pancakes, sausage link, hash brown and milk Cereal, cheese stick, apple juice and milk

 Counting food items: 1 oz. eq. of grain = one item 2 oz. eq. grain = two items  Example: 2 oz. eq. muffin = two items  Example: 2 oz. eq. muffin, grapes, and milk = 4 food items

 Foods with grains and meat Example: An egg sandwich = 1 oz. eq. grain and 1 oz. eq. meat/meat alternate:  Two items under the grains component, OR  One item and the meat is an “extra”

NoneGrainExtra Do not need to plan a meat/meat alternate with every meal. If no meat/meat alternate planned, make sure to plan 4 items with each meal. Meal Plan Examples: One 2 oz. eq. grain, ½ cup fruit, 1 milk Two 1 oz. eq. grains, ½ cup fruit, 1 milk 1 oz. eq. grain, two ½ cups of fruit, 1 milk Can plan meat every day as long as always offer 1 oz. eq. of “real” grain item. 1 oz. eq. of meat/meat alternate is considered one of the four items. Students can decline the “real” grain and just take the meat item. Meal Plan Example: 1 oz. eq. grain, 1 oz. eq. meat (counting as grain), ½ cup fruit, 1 milk Option if you are already offering 4 items. If you plan meat/meat alternate as extra, will not count as an item toward the reimbursable meal. Consider these as a “freebies.” Extras still count toward calories and saturated fat. Meal Plan Example: One 2 oz. eq. grain, 1 oz. eq. meat counting as extra, ½ cup fruit, 1 milk

 Daily Menu 1 oz. eq. “Real” Grain 3 Food Components 4 Food Items

 Clarification Not about choices or the way students are served their food This is giving them the ability to decline food item(s) Not mandatory for any grade grouping  Goals To reduce food waste To give students choices  Requirements Must offer all of the options

 Difference between choices and offer versus serve Each student must take 4 food items, but they have choices of which 4 food items to take. ComponentMenu Item FruitPeaches or Apples GrainMuffin (2 items) or Cereal (2 items) Milk1% White Milk or Fat Free Chocolate

 Reminder! For SY , students can decline the fruit and/or vegetable.  Changes Students must have at least 3 food items on their tray for a reimbursable meal.

Is this reimbursable?

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN 8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 cup cereal= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN 8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 cup CEREAL = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Is This a Meal?

Declines two food items: Cereal and Milk Takes two food items: Muffin and Fruit Must have three food items on tray!

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN 8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 cup cereal= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Is This a Meal?

Declines one food item: Milk Takes three food items: Cereal, Fruit, and Muffin

½ cup VEGETABLE 8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 cup cereal=1 oz. eq. GRAIN

½ cup VEGETABLE 8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 cup CEREAL =1 oz. eq. GRAIN Is This a Meal?

Declines one food item: Cereal Take three food items: Grapes, Hash browns, and Milk Remember you must offer a grain item with every meal, but the student doesn’t have to take that grain item

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT Biscuit = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Egg/Cheese =1 oz. eq. meat/meat alternate= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT 1 oz. eq. MEAT/MEAT ALTERNATE 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Is This a Meal?

Declines two food items: Egg/Cheese Sandwich Takes two food items: Fruit Juice and Milk Remember offering only 4 items with two items in a combination dish, students cannot decline this dish.

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT Is This a Meal? Biscuit = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Egg/Cheese =1 oz. eq. meat/meat alternate= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Declines one food item: Fruit Juice Takes three food items: Egg and Cheese Sandwich and Milk Remember for SY students are allowed to decline fruit and vegetable

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT Biscuit = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Counting Meat/Meat Alternate as an EXTRA 4 oz. yogurt= 1 oz. eq. meat/meat alternate= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT Is This a Meal? 4 oz. YOGURT = 1 oz. eq. MEAT ALTERNATE = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Counting Meat/Meat Alternate as an Extra Count only 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Declines one food item: Egg and Cheese Sandwich Take three food items: Fruit Juice, Yogurt, and Milk Remember, if only counting the 1 item on the combination dish, student can decline it.

8 oz. MILK 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT Is This a Meal? 4 oz. YOGURT = 1 oz. eq. MEAT ALTERNATE = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Biscuit = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN Counting Meat/Meat Alternate as an EXTRA

Declines two food items: Fruit and Yogurt Takes two food items: Egg and Cheese Sandwich and Milk Remember, you can’t pick and choose whether to count the combination dish as one or two items. The menu planner needs to determine what they are counting and stick with it.

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS Is This a Meal?

Declines one food item: Fruit Takes three food items: Muffin and Milk

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS 1 oz. String Cheese = 1 oz. eq. Meat Alternative = EXTRA

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS 1 oz. String Cheese = 1 oz. eq. Meat Alternative = EXTRA Is This a Meal?

Declined two items: Muffin Takes two items: Apple and Milk Remember an extra doesn’t count as an item toward the reimbursable meal.

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 1 oz. String Cheese = 1 oz. eq. Meat Alternative = EXTRA Is This a Meal? 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS

Declines one food item: Milk Takes three food items: Muffin and Apple Remember, any item that is an “extra” doesn’t count as an item toward a reimbursable meal.

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 28 grams Toast= 1 oz. eq. GRAINS 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT

8 oz. MILK 1/2 cup FRUIT 28 grams Toast= 1 oz. eq. GRAINS Is This a Meal? 4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUIT

Declines one food item: Toast Takes three food items: Apple, Fruit Juice, and Milk

 Reimbursable meals are all based on what you planned and what is taken. Must plan at least 4 items from 3 components Determine if the items you provide will count as creditable items or if they are “extras” If they are “extras” these won’t count toward your 4 items or 3 components Share these plans with cashiers!