04/20/2026
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ
On March 19, 2026, USDA Team Nutrition released the updated Crediting Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). If you operate the CACFP โwhether as a sponsor, provider, or centerโthis is one of those key resources that keeps you in compliance. At its core, the Crediting Handbook helps answer the question, โโDoes this food count toward the meal pattern?โ
While the handbook has been rewritten to align with current USDA policy wording and make it easier to use, nothing else has changed. Specifically, there are
โ๏ธ No changes to CACFP meal pattern requirements,
โ๏ธ No new policy tied to the 2025โ2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and
โ๏ธ Regulations remain unchanged
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
The update focuses on usability. The goal is faster, clearer decision-making without having to interpret dense policy language. Here are the most meaningful additions:
https://www.myfoodprogram.com/the-revised-usda-crediting-handbook-for-cacfp-is-here/