How often do I need to serve a whole grain-rich item?
TDA requires at least one whole grain-rich (WGR) item served per day in your CACFP meal pattern. It doesn’t matter which meal — breakfast, lunch, snack, or supper — but every day on your menu must include at least one grain identified as WGR.
How do I know if a grain is “whole grain-rich”?
A whole grain-rich item meets one of these criteria:
- The first ingredient (or first grain ingredient) on the label is a whole grain
- The product carries a Whole Grain Stamp (e.g., from the Whole Grains Council)
- The product is on the WIC-approved whole grain list
- The manufacturer provides a formulation statement showing it meets WGR criteria
Common WGR items: whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain pasta, whole wheat tortillas, whole grain cereal (WIC-approved). Common items that are NOT WGR despite sounding healthy: white wheat bread, multigrain bread (if first ingredient is enriched flour), most crackers, most breakfast pastries.
What if a day on my menu doesn’t have a WGR item?
We’ll flag it in your menu review at submission and ask for a substitution. Quick fixes:
- Replace a missing-WGR grain slot with whole wheat sliced bread
- Substitute brown rice for white rice
- Swap to a WGR cereal (WIC-approved varieties)
We’ll work with you to identify the missing day and suggest a substitution that doesn’t disrupt your meal plan.
Can flavored items like cinnamon raisin bread or cereals count as WGR? Only if the whole grain is the first ingredient. However, be careful with cereals and sweet items:
- Breakfast Cereals must meet two rules: whole grain must be the first ingredient and they cannot have more than 6 grams of sugar per dry ounce.
- Grain-Based Desserts (like toaster pastries, sweet rolls, or cookies) are not reimbursable under CACFP at all, even if they are made with whole grains.