Breakfast Fact Sheet
Breakfast Infographic
- Breakfast Meal Pattern
USDA Regulations, Policy Memos, and Guidance Materials for Nutrition Standards
Final Rule – Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines
Final Rule Implementation Timeline in School Meals
Policy Memo Updates
- SP 19-2024, CACFP 07-2024, SFSP 12-2024 Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- SP 01-2025 Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meal
- SP 02-2025 Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit Flexibility in the School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators
Meal Pattern
- Breakfast Program Operations
- Menu Planning Tools
- Menu Certification
- Crediting
- Offer versus Serve
- Onsite Review
- Water Availability - Schools must make potable water available to children at no charge where meals are served during the meal service.
- Record Keeping
- Signage for a Reimbursable Meal
Signage for identifying a reimbursable meal must be posted in a visible area near the meal service line prior to the point of service, informing students how to select a reimbursable meal.
- Breakfast Policies
Schools participating in the School Breakfast Program must inform families of the availability of breakfast. A notification of the availability of breakfast must be relayed prior to or at the beginning of the school year in the informational packets sent to households with free and reduced price meal applications for the new school year. Additionally, schools should send reminders regarding the availability of the School Breakfast Program multiple times throughout the school year.
All public schools with a 15% or higher free and reduced rate are required to operate the School Breakfast Program.
- Breakfast Service Methods
- Resources