The Child and Adult Care Food Program

In Utah, the Child and Adult Care Food Program is a key source of support for improving the nutritional quality of meals and snacks served to children and adults in day care.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federally funded program that gives meal reimbursements to child care centers, adult day care centers and child care homes for serving nutritious meals. This site focuses on Family Child Care Homes Programs (FDCH).

The objectives of the Family Child Care Homes Program is to:

Participating homes agree to serve meals as outlined in the FDCH meal pattern guidelines; serve creditable foods; keep daily meal participation records and attendance records; keep menus and other records; attend training sessions as outlined by the State Agency and/or sponsoring organizations; send monthly records to the sponsoring organizations.

Any Child Care Home providing care for children in Utah may participate in the FDCH Food Program provided the following requirements are met:

FDCH Sponsors are public or private nonprofit organizations approved by the Utah State Office of Education, Child Nutrition Programs to perform administrative functions that include:

Who gets FDCH meals and snacks?

Children age 12 and younger are eligible to receive up to two; meals and one snack, each day, at a day care home, through FDCH.

Child Day Care Homes are paid reimbursement for planning and serving meals that follow the FDCH meal pattern guidelines. These facilities may request approval for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon and evening).

How much reimbursement will I receive?

Child Day Care Homes are reimbursed for meals and snacks served to participants at rates dependent on home eligibility, tiering and in some cases child’s eligibility for free, reduced-price, or paid meals.

FDCH Meal Pattern

(This chart lists the amounts and types of food to be served to participants of the FDCH).

1-2
year olds

3-5
year olds

6-12
year olds

BREAKFAST:
Milk (fluid only)
½ cup
¾ cup
1 cup
Fruit and/or vegetable
¼ cup
½ cup
½ cup
Bread/Grain
½ serving
½ serving
1 servings
Hot Cereal
¼ cup
¼ cup
½ cup
Cold Cereal
¼ cup or
⅓ ounce
⅓ cup or
½ ounce
¾ cup or
1 ounce
SNACK
(Select 2 of the 4 components)
Milk (Fluid only)
½ cup
½ cup
1 cup
Fruit and/or vegetable
½ cup
½ cup
¾ cup
Meat/Meat Alternate
½ ounce
½ ounce
1 ounce
Bread/Grain
½ serving
½ serving
1 serving
Hot Cereal
¼ cup
¼ cup
½ cup
Cold Cereal
¼ cup or
⅓ ounce
⅓ cup or
½ ounce
¾ cup or
1 ounce
LUNCH OR SUPPER
Milk (fluid only)
½ cup
¾ cup
1 cup
Fruit and/or vegetables
(2 different types)
¼ cup (total)
½ cup (total)
¾ cup (total)
Meat/Meat Alternate:
meat, poultry
1 ounce
1½ ounces
2 ounces
or egg
½
¾
1
or cheese
1 ounce
1½ ounces
2 ounces
or cooked
dry beans
¼ cup
3/8 cup
½ cup
or peanut butter,
or other nut butters
2 Tbsp.
3 Tbsp.
4 Tbsp.
or yogurt
4 ounces
6 ounces
8 ounces
or nuts, seeds
½ ounce*
¾ ounce*
1 ounce*
Bread/Grain
½ serving
½ serving
1 serving

*Nuts and seeds may be credited toward meeting only 1/2 of the meat/meat alternate requirement. Nuts and seeds are not recommended for children under three years of age.

How do I sign up for the Family Child Care Homes Program in Utah?

Day Care Homes must participate in the FDCH under a sponsoring organization. The Orem Child Care Nutrition Program, Inc. (OCCNPG) is one of the food program sponsoring organizations in Utah that can assist you.

Income Eligibility GuidelinesIncome Eligibility(PDF)
Effective July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021