Crediting Fruits in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet - May 2022, Slightly Revised August 2024

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Tip sheet explaining how fruits and 100% fruit juice credit toward reimbursable meal and snack requirements in U.S. Child Nutrition Programs, including NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and SFSP. Covers acceptable fruit forms (fresh, frozen, dried, canned, pasteurized juice), minimum creditable amounts, rules for pureed fruits and whole dried fruit, and separating fruit/vegetable mixtures. Includes specific guidance for serving fruit juice, program-based limits, and products that do not contribute to meal pattern requirements, plus coconut treatment and effective dates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Fruit Requirements

Coconut Credits in Child Nutrition Programs

Fruit Juice

Serving Fruit and Fruit Juice in Child Nutrition Programs

Products That Do Not Contribute Toward the Meal Pattern Requirements

Serving Rules by Program

Crediting Fruits in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet Fruits are a required component for reimbursable meals in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Preschool lunch meal pattern, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) lunch and supper meals. However, this requirement can also be met with a vegetable (with the exception of NSLP) . Fruits may be served as part of a reimbursable meal to fulfll the combined fruits and vegetables requirement for Preschool and CACFP breakfasts, as well as in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) . They may also be served as one of the two required meal components for a reimbursable snack in all Child Nutrition Programs. Fruit Requirements • Fruits may be fresh, frozen, dried, canned (packed in water, fruit juice, or light syrup), and/or pasteurized, full-strength fruit juice, referred to as 100% juice. Examples of creditable fruits can be found in the "Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs" (FBG) at [https://foodbuyingguide](https://foodbuyingguide). [fns.usda.gov/](fns.usda.gov/) . • The minimum creditable serving size for fruit is 1/8 cup. Note: Minimum creditable amounts do not apply to the infant meal pattern. • Pureed fruits credit as juice when served in a smoothie. • Fruits credit toward a meal based on the volume served (except for dried fruit) . Whole dried fruit and whole dried fruit pieces credit at twice the volume served in school meal programs and CACFP. Example: 1/8 cup of dried cranberries credits as 1/4 cup fruit. 1/8 cup of any fruit is the minimum serving size that may be creditable. For example, although dried fruit credits as twice the volume served, 1/16 cup (1 Tbsp) of dried fruit cannot be ofered to count as 1/8 cup, because 1/16 cup is less than the minimum serving size that may be creditable. Note: In SFSP and NSLP afterschool snack service (NSLP afterschool snacks), dried fruit credits as volume served. Dried fruit credits as twice the volume served in NSLP afterschool snacks by no later than July 1, 2025. • Menu items in school meal programs and CACFP that are mixtures of fruits and vegetables (e.g., fruit salsa made with peaches and red peppers), must be credited separately for the fruits and the vegetables components. More training, menu planning, and nutrition education materials can be found at [TeamNutrition.USDA.gov](TeamNutrition.USDA.gov). FNS-931 • May 2022, Slightly Revised August 2024 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Coconut Credits in Child Nutrition Programs • Coconut (fresh or frozen) credits as a fruit based on the volume served. • Like other dried fruit, dried coconut credits at twice the volume served in school meal programs, CACFP, and NSLP afterschool snacks (by July 1, 2025) . • Coconut water, labeled as 100% juice, credits as fruit juice per volume served. Products that Do Not Contribute Toward the Meal Pattern Requirements ✘ Snack-type foods made from fruits (e.g., fried banana chips, fruit drops, fruit strips) ✘ Freeze-dried fruits (unless rehydrated) ✘ Pickle relish, jam, jelly, or other condiments ✘ Home-canned products (for food safety reasons) ✘ Coconut four, coconut milk, and coconut oil Fruit Juice • Pasteurized, 100% fruit juice (in either liquid, gelled, or frozen form) may be used to meet the fruits requirement of reimbursable meals or snacks. • Juice concentrates can be used only when reconstituted to 100% juice, and can be served either as liquid, gelled, or frozen juice. • Juice may be used as one component of a snack when the other component is not a beverage (e.g., fuid milk) . • Juice does not credit when used as an ingredient in another food or beverage product, with the exception of smoothies. Serving Fruit and Fruit Juice in Child Nutrition Programs NSLP Afterschool Snack Service Summer Food Service Program • 100% fruit juice may count toward the entire frui

FAQs

What fruit forms are creditable in child nutrition meal patterns?

Fruits may be fresh, frozen, dried, canned (packed in water, fruit juice, or light syrup), pasteurized full-strength fruit juice (100% juice), and pureed fruits as juice when served in a smoothie.

What is the minimum creditable serving size for fruit?

The minimum creditable serving size for fruit is 1/8 cup. Minimum creditable amounts do not apply to the infant meal pattern.

How does 100% fruit juice count for fruits in different programs?

100% fruit juice may count toward the entire fruits component for NSLP afterschool snack service and SFSP rules, and for some lunch/supper contexts up to 1/2 of the fruits requirement. CACFP guidance prohibits fruit and vegetable juices and limits how pasteurized 100% juice can be used for certain requirements.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine