2013-14 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”

None Grain Extra• 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 milkTwo 1 oz. eq. grains, ½ cup fruit, 1 milk1 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 1 food

item• 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.

Component Menu ItemFruit Peaches or ApplesGrain Muffin (2 items) or Cereal (2 items)Milk 1% White Milk or Fat Free Chocolate

Reminder! • For SY 2013-14, students can decline any 1

food item. Including a fruit and/or vegetable.

Changes• No matter how many food items (not

choices) offered as a reimbursable meal, students can only decline 1 food item

Is this reimbursable?

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT1 cup cereal= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT1 cup CEREAL = 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Is This a Meal?

•Declined too many items:Cereal and Milk

Can only decline one item!

2 oz. muffin= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT1 cup cereal= 1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Is This a Meal?

•Declined only 1 of the 4 food items: Milk

½ cup VEGETABLE 8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT1 cup cereal=1 oz. eq. GRAIN

½ cup VEGETABLE 8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT1 cup CEREAL =1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Is This a Meal?

•Declined only one item: Cereal

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 FRUITBiscuit = 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 FRUIT1 oz. eq. MEAT/MEAT ALTERNATE

1 oz. eq. GRAIN

Is This a Meal?

•Declined 2 items: Egg/Cheese and Biscuit

Remember when counting 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

•Declined only 1 item: Fruit

Remember for SY 2013-14 students allowed to decline fruit and vegetable

8 oz. MILK

4 oz. 100% Juice= ½ cup FRUITBiscuit = 1 oz. eq. GRAINCounting 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 only on:Egg and Cheese Sandwich

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. GRAINCounting Meat/Meat Alternate as

an EXTRA

•Student declined too many items: Fruit and Yogurt

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 FRUIT 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS

8 oz. MILK

1/2 cup FRUIT 4 oz. Muffin = 2 oz. eq. GRAINS

Is This a Meal?

•Declined only one item:Fruit

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 2 items: 2 oz. eq. Muffin

Remember an item that counts as 2 grains cannot be declined.

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

•Declined one food item: 1 oz. eq. Grain

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!