Meal Patterns and Menu PlanningLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Meal Patterns and Menu Planning

Meal Patterns and Menu Planning

School Nutrition Program (SNP) resources are available below and in the section links on the right column of this page to assist sponsors with menu planning, meal pattern compliance, food production, crediting food, and special dietary needs.  Information on snacks can be found in the Afterschool Snack section of the website. Sample forms for use in maintaining records to document compliance with meal requirements are located below.

*Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.

Meal Patterns

*Meal Pattern Chart - Afterschool Snack PDF Version 61Kb (7/28/08) Native Version 35Kb (7/28/08)
     Meal pattern requirements for the Afterschool Snack component of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
*Meal Pattern Charts - School Lunch and Breakfast PDF Version 1Mb (10/3/07) Native Version 1Mb (10/3/07)
     Meal pattern requirements for traditional and enhanced food based menu planning for the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) as published in the USDA Food Buying Guide.
Breakfast Meal Pattern - Enhanced Food Based PDF Version 54Kb (12/12/05) Native Version 37Kb (12/12/05)
     Meal pattern listing the types and quantities of food required for a reimbursable school breakfast.
Breakfast Meal Pattern - NuMenus PDF Version 56Kb (12/12/05) Native Version 39Kb (12/12/05)
     Meal pattern listing the types and quantities of food required for a reimbursable school breakfast using nutrient analysis.

Menu Planning


* Dietary Guidelines for Americans - These guidelines are the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. They are jointly issued and updated every 5 years by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS).

* Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA) - Click on Pen & Ink Changes (2003) for updates. In 2002 this was redesigned and updated, including color-coded tabs for each section, pictures, new charts and graphics.

* Menu Planner for Healthy School Meals (USDA) - Nutrition resource with chapters on meeting dietary guidelines and nutrition goals, food-based menu planning and nutrient standards, nutrient analysis, and basic principles and processes of menu planning.

* Menu Planning in the National School Lunch Program (USDA) - Schools must select one of the four menu planning approaches for healthful and appealing meals.

* Menu Planning in the School Breakfast Program (USDA) - Schools must select one of the five menu planning approaches for healthful and appealing meals.

* Menu Planning Approaches - Alternate (USDA) -  Calorie and nutrient requirements for meals planned using alternate menu planning approaches for the School Meals Programs - November 2007 memo.

* Offer versus Serve (USDA) - Training manual for school districts to use with their schools. It contains training packets for traditional food-based, enhanced food-based, and nutrient standard menu planning.


Dietary Guidelines PDF Version 9Mb (8/6/08)
     Recommendations for incorporating the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans into School Nutrition Programs - December 2007 memo and ten fact sheets.
Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value / Aerated Beverages PDF Version 26Kb (9/25/08)
     Aerated beverages are categorized as "Soda Water," a food of minimal nutritional value under the Competetive Food Services Regulation - September 2008 USDA technical assistance memo.
Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value / Competitive Foods PDF Version 108Kb (11/7/08) Native Version 79Kb (11/7/08)
     Rule on foods of minimal nutritional value and competitive foods that are prohibited from sale in the food service area during lunch and breakfast for the School Nutrition Programs.
List of Exemptions Under the Competitive Food Services Regulation PDF Version 156Kb (3/4/08)
     Food products that are not considered to be of minimal nutritional value and may be sold in the school cafeteria during meal periods – December 2006 USDA technical assistance memo.
Menu Planning Options PDF Version 111Kb (7/26/07) Native Version 74Kb (7/26/07)
     Menu planning options for Minnesota schools participating in the School Nutrition Programs.
Menu Planning Resource Links PDF Version 72Kb (2/26/07) Native Version 36Kb (2/26/07)
     Links to public and private agency web sites that offer resources to assist in menu planning for Child Nutrition Programs.
Monthly Menu (blank form) PDF Version 20Kb (10/31/07) Native Version 30Kb (10/31/07)
     Template for recording the monthly menu.
Substitution of School Lunches for CACFP Meals PDF Version 20Kb (9/25/06) Native Version 43Kb (9/25/06)
     Option for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) menu planning approaches to be used at Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sites that obtain meals from schools participating in NSLP - September 2006 memo.
Use of vending machines in school meal programs PDF Version 131Kb (3/11/08) Native Version 64Kb (3/11/08)
     Use of vending machines to serve meals in School Nutrition Programs - February 2007 and March 2008 memos.