Let’s look at sugar limits for cereal and yogurt in the CACFP.   Cereals served in the CACFP must have no more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce. Yogurts served in the CACFP must have no more than 23 grams of sugar per 6 ounces. Team Nutrition has two worksheets with accompanying training webinars on how to find cereals and yogurts that meet these sugar limits. The titles worksheets are “Choose Breakfast Cereals That Are Lower in Added Sugars” and “Choose Yogurts That Are Lower in Added Sugars.”

Grain-based desserts such as toaster pastries, donuts, cereal bars, etc. may not be served as part of a reimbursable meal or snack in the CACFP. This gives you the chance to serve other foods that provide participants with the nutrients needed for good health. One example of this might be to serve meat and meat alternates in place of grain items at breakfast up to three times per week. Some meat/meat alternates you could serve as part of a reimbursable breakfast include be eggs, yogurt, turkey sausage, cheese, and peanut and soy butter. You may serve meat/meat alternates in place of grains up to three times per week, no matter how many times per week your day care is open.