Through the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, the USDA made their first major changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) since 1968. The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service released the final rule for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern on Monday, April 25, 2016. Under the new CACFP nutrition standards, meals and snacks served will include a greater variety of vegetables and fruit, more whole grains, and less added sugar and saturated fat. The new standards for meals and snacks served in the CACFP are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The USDA is providing guidance, resources, best practices, and training for CACFP centers and day care homes to support them. All CACFP agencies must comply with the new meal pattern (NMP) standards by October 1, 2017. For details on the NMP requirement, visit the USDA CACFP Nutrition Standards for CACFP Meals and Snacks webpage.