NC CACFP Seasonal Menus - WINTER - Updated 01/2025

Sep 27, 2026

Winter seasonal menus for North Carolina under the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Provide standardized recipe lists and week-based meal pattern schedules covering breakfast, lunch or supper, and snack selections, with specified food groups and serving guidance. Include whole-grain-rich indicators (WG/WW/WGR), a seasonal produce code (NC = Seasonal NC Produce), and detailed fluid milk age-based requirements plus notes for substitutions. Designed to promote dietary variety and local, seasonal eating within CACFP compliance expectations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Winter—Week 1

Breakfast Meal Pattern

Lunch or Supper Meal Pattern

Snack Meal Pattern

Winter—Week 2

Breakfast Meal Pattern

Lunch or Supper Meal Pattern

Snack Meal Pattern

Winter Seasonal Menus + Standardized Recipes Standardized Recipes • Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal • Barbecue Beef Sliders • Meatballs and Marinara • Ground Turkey Wraps • Mini Salmon Loaves • Brown Rice Pilaf • Baked Carrot Fries with Yogurt Sunflower Seed Butter Dip • Ropa Vieja • Chicken Alfredo w/ a Twist • Baked Tilapia • Winter Greens • Bean & Cheese Quesadilla • Grilled Ham, Cheese and Tomato Sandwich • Salad Dressing • Herb Bagel Bites • Honey Lime Chicken • Whipped Sweet Potatoes • Greens and Beans Soup • Rice Vegetable Casserole • Underground Candy • Chicken Flatbread Pizza • Stir-Fry Pork • Roasted Fish Crispy Slaw Wrap • Chicken Stir Fry • Chic’ Penne • Barbecued Chicken • Local Harvest Bake • Baked Sweet Potatoes and Apples Updated 01/2025 What’s in Season in North Carolina? • Apples • Beets • Bok choy • Cabbage • Carrots • Collards • Greens • Kale • Lettuce • Peanuts • Pecans • Spinach • Sweet Potatoes • Turnips Institution Name: Agreement \#: NC CACFP Seasonal Menus—WINTER | Winter—Week 1 | MONDAY Date: | TUESDAY Date: | WEDNESDAY Date: | THURSDAY Date: | FRIDAY Date: | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Breakfast Meal Pattern | | | | | | | RECIPES & LINKS | Baked Apple
Cinnamon Oatmeal | | | | | | Fluid Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | | Vegetable/Fruit | ApplesNC | Raspberries | Diced Peaches | Banana Slices | Strawberries | | Grains | Oatmeal w/ Cinnamon | Cheerios | | WG English Muffin | WG Waffle | | Meat/Meat Alternates** | | | Yogurt | | | | Other Foods (optional) | | | | | | | Lunch or Supper Meal Pattern | | | | | | | RECIPES & LINKS | Barbecue Beef Sliders | Meatballs and Marinara | Ground Turkey Wraps | Mini Salmon Loaves | Brown Rice Pilaf | | Fluid Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | Milk* | | Vegetable | Sweet Potato FriesNC | Leafy Greens SaladNC and
Marinara Sauce | CarrotNC and Peas | Sautéed KaleNC and
Onion | Onion, Mushrooms, Peppers, Tomato
Paste and SpinachNC | | Vegetable/Fruit | Cantaloupe | Grapes | Strawberries | Apple SlicesNC | Dried Cranberries and Orange Wedges | | Grains | WG Roll | WG Linguine Noodles | WW Tortilla | WG Couscous, WW Bread Crumbs | Brown Rice | | Meat/Meat Alternates | Beef | Beef Meatball | Ground Turkey, Cheddar Cheese | Salmon | Chicken | | Other Foods (optional) | | | | | | | Snack Meal Pattern (Choose Two Food Groups for Snack) | | | | | | | RECIPES & LINKS | | | | | Baked Carrot Fries
Yogurt Sunflower Seed Butter Dip | | Fluid Milk* | | | | | | | Vegetable | Celery Sticks | Cherry Tomatoes | Pepper Sticks | | Baked Carrot Fries | | Fruit | | | | Blueberries | | | Grains | | WG Triscuits | WG Pretzels | Multigrain Cheerios | Yogurt Dip (Greek yogurt and sunflower seed butter) | | Meat/Meat Alternates | Cheddar Cheese Cubes | | | | | | Other Foods (optional) | | | | | | WG, WW, and WGR indicate whole grain-rich foods. NC = Seasonal NC Produce *Fluid Milk: 1 year old: Unflavored whole milk; 2-5 years old: Unflavored fat-free (skim) or unflavored low-fat (1%) milk; 6 years and older: Unflavored fat-free (skim) or unflavored low-fat (1%) milk, flavored fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk. Breastmilk may substitute for cow's milk at any age. Non-dairy beverages may be served with appropriate documentation. **Meat or Meat Alternate: Can be served in place of grain up to 3 times per week at breakfast. These cycle menus are designed to promote dietary variety, support seasonal, locally grown foods and comply with USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines. Use along with the CACFP Meal Patterns, the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs , and the Crediting Handbook for the CACFP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Updated 01/2025 Institution Name: Agreement \#: NC CACFP Seasonal Menus—WINTER | Winter—Week 2 | MONDAY Date: | TUESD

FAQs

What meals and food groups are covered in the winter CACFP menus?

The menus provide breakfast, lunch or supper, and snack meal patterns, each organized by required food groups and included recipe references where listed.

What does “NC” mean in the menu items?

“NC” indicates Seasonal NC Produce, identifying produce that is seasonal in North Carolina.

How is fluid milk defined for different age groups?

Fluid milk requirements vary by age: 1-year-olds use unflavored whole milk, ages 2–5 use unflavored fat-free (skim) or unflavored low-fat (1%) milk, and ages 6+ use fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) options with flavored low-fat/fat-free allowed. Breastmilk can substitute at any age.

Sep 27, 2026

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