Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the Child and Adult Care

Food and Nutrition Service

1- through 5-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

Adults at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper

Grain Item and Size

Serve at Least

½ oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least 2 oz.

eq., which equals

about…

Pita Bread/Round

(whole grain-rich or enriched)

at least 56 grams*

¼ pita or 14 grams

1 pita or 56 grams

Popcorn 1 ½ cups or 14 grams

6 cups or 56 grams

Pretzel, Hard, Mini-Twist

(about 1 ¼” by 1 ½”)**

7 twists or 11 grams

⅔ cup)

27 twists (~1 cup)

or 44 grams

61 sticks (~1 cup)

or 44 grams

1 pretzel or 56 grams

1 cup cooked

or 56 grams dry

Rice Cake

at least 8 grams*

1 ½ cakes or 11 grams 3 cakes or 22 grams 5 ½ cakes or 44 grams

Rice Cake, Mini

(about 1 ½” across)**

7 cakes or 11 grams 14 cakes or 22 grams 28 cakes or 44 grams

Taco or Tostada Shell, Hard

at least 14 grams*

1 shell or 14 grams 2 shells or 28 grams 4 shells or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Corn

(about 6”)**

1 tortilla or 14 grams 2 tortillas or 28 grams 3 tortillas or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Flour

(about 6”)**

½ tortilla or 14 grams 1 tortilla or 28 grams 2 tortillas or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Flour

(about 8”)**

¼ tortilla or 14 grams ½ tortilla or 28 grams 1 tortilla or 56 grams

Waffle at least

34 grams*

½ waffle or 17 grams 1 waffle or 34 grams 2 waffles or 68 grams

Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Grains are an important part of meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). To make sure children

and adults get enough grains at CACFP meals and snacks, required amounts for the grains component are listed in

the meal pattern as ounce equivalents (oz. eq.). Ounce equivalents tell you the amount of grain in a portion of food.

More training, menu planning, and nutrition education materials for the

CACFP can be found at https://teamnutrition.usda.gov.

20 cheese crackers

(1” by 1”) = 1 oz. eq.

How Much Is 1 Ounce Equivalent?

12 thin wheat crackers

(1 ¼” by 1 ¼”) = 1 oz. eq.

5 woven whole-wheat crackers

(1 ½” by 1 ½”) = 1 oz. eq.

Using the Grains Measuring Chart

The Grains Measuring Chart on pages 2-4 tells you how much of a grain item you need to serve to meet

CACFP meal pattern requirements. To use this chart:

Find the grain you want to serve under

the “Grain Item and Size” column.

Check if the chart lists a size or weight

by the name of the grain. If the chart:

Lists a weight for the grain, such as at least

56 grams, then use the Nutrition Facts label

for the item you want to serve to make sure it

weighs the same, or more than, the grain on

the chart. See page 5.

Does not list a weight or size for the grain,

then you do not need to check the size or

weight of the product before using the chart.

Lists a size for the grain, such as about

1 ¼” by 1 ½”, then check if the item is the

same size, or larger than, this amount.

See page 6.

1 3

Find the column for the age of your

participants and the meal or snack you are

serving. This column lists the amount of

a grain you will need to serve to meet the

meal pattern requirement for grains.

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Grains Measuring Chart for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Age Group and Meal

1- through 5-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

6- through 18-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

Adults at Snack only

Adults at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper

Grain Item and Size

Serve at Least

½ oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

1 oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

2 oz. eq., which

equals about…

Bagel (entire bagel)

at least 56 grams*

¼ bagel or 14 grams ½ bagel or 28 grams 1 bagel or 56 grams

Bagel, Mini (entire bagel)

at least 28 grams*

½ bagel or 14 grams 1 bagel or 28 grams 2 bagels or 56 grams

Biscuit at least 28 grams* ½ biscuit or 14 grams 1 biscuit or 28 grams 2 biscuits or 56 grams

Bread (whole grain-rich or

enriched) at least 28 grams*

½ slice or 14 grams 1 slice or 28 grams 2 slices or 56 grams

Bun or Roll (entire bun

or roll) at least 28 grams*

½ bun/roll or 14 grams 1 bun/roll or 28 grams 2 buns/rolls or 56 grams

Cereal Grains (barley,

bulgur, quinoa, etc.)

¼ cup cooked or

14 grams dry

½ cup cooked or

28 grams dry

1 cup cooked or

56 grams dry

Cereal, Ready-to-Eat:

Flakes or Rounds

½ cup or 14 grams 1 cup or 28 grams 2 cups or 56 grams

Cereal, Ready-to-Eat:

Granola

⅛ cup or 14 grams

¼ cup or 28 grams ½ cup or 56 grams

Cereal, Ready-to-Eat:

Puffed

¾ cup or 14 grams 1 ¼ cup or 28 grams 2 ½ cups or 56 grams

Corn Muffin

at least 34 grams*

½ muffin or 17 grams 1 muffin or 34 grams 2 muffins or 68 grams

Cracker, Animal

(about 1 ½” by 1”)**

8 crackers or 14 grams 15 crackers or 28 grams

30 crackers (~1 cup)

or 56 grams

Cracker, Bear-Shaped,

Sweet (about 1” by ½”)**

12 crackers (~¼ cup)

or 14 grams

24 crackers (~½ cup)

or 28 grams

48 crackers (~1 cup)

or 56 grams

Cracker, Cheese, Square,

Savory (about 1” by 1”)**

10 crackers or 11 grams

20 crackers (~⅓ cup)

or 22 grams

40 crackers (~⅔ cup)

or 44 grams

Cracker, Fish-Shaped

or Similar, Savory

(about ¾” by ½”)**

21 crackers (~¼ cup)

or 11 grams

41 crackers (~½ cup)

or 22 grams

81 crackers (~1 cup)

or 44 grams

*Check that the item you want to serve weighs this amount, or more. See “Using the Nutrition Facts Label” on page 5

for more information.

**Check that the item you want to serve is about this size or larger. See “Grains Measuring Tools” on page 6

for more information.

Age Group and MealAge Group and Meal

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Grains Measuring Chart for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Age Group and Meal

1- through 5-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

6- through 18-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

Adults at Snack only

Adults at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper

Grain Item and Size

Serve at Least

½ oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

1 oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

2 oz. eq., which equals

about…

Cracker, Graham

(about 5” by 2 ½”)**

1 cracker or 14 grams 2 crackers or 28 grams 4 crackers or 56 grams

Cracker, Round, Savory

(about 1 ¾” across)**

4 crackers or 11 grams 7 crackers or 22 grams 14 crackers or 44 grams

Cracker, Saltine

(about 2” by 2”)**

4 crackers or 11 grams 8 crackers or 22 grams 16 crackers or 44 grams

Cracker, Thin Wheat,

Square, Savory

(about 1 ¼” by 1 ¼”)**

6 crackers or 11 grams 12 crackers or 22 grams 23 crackers or 44 grams

Cracker, Woven Whole-

Wheat, Square, Savory

(about 1 ½” by 1 ½”)**

3 crackers or 11 grams 5 crackers or 22 grams 10 crackers or 44 grams

Croissant

at least 34 grams*

½ croissant or 17 grams 1 croissant or 34 grams 2 croissants or 68 grams

English Muffin (top and

bottom) at least 56 grams*

¼ muffin or 14 grams ½ muffin or 28 grams 1 muffin or 56 grams

French Toast Stick

at least 18 grams*

2 sticks or 35 grams 4 sticks or 69 grams 8 sticks or 138 grams

Grits

¼ cup cooked or

14 grams dry

½ cup cooked or

28 grams dry

1 cup cooked or

56 grams dry

Melba Toast

(about 3 ½” by 1 ½”)**

2 pieces or 11 grams 5 pieces or 22 grams 8 pieces or 44 grams

Muffin and Quick Bread

(banana, etc.)

at least 55 grams*

½ muffin/slice or

28 grams

1 muffin/slice or

55 grams

2 muffins/slices or

110 grams

Oatmeal

¼ cup cooked or

14 grams dry

½ cup cooked or

28 grams dry

1 cup cooked or

56 grams dry

Pancake

at least 34 grams*

½ pancake or 17 grams 1 pancake or 34 grams 2 pancakes or 68 grams

*Check that the item you want to serve weighs this amount, or more. See “Using the Nutrition Facts Label” on page 5

for more information.

**Check that the item you want to serve is about this size or larger. See “Grains Measuring Tools” on page 6

for more information.

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Grains Measuring Chart for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Age Group and Meal

1- through 5-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

6- through 18-year-olds

at Breakfast, Lunch,

Supper, Snack

Adults at Snack only

Adults at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper

Grain Item and Size

Serve at Least

½ oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

1 oz. eq., which equals

about…

Serve at Least

2 oz. eq., which equals

about…

Pasta (whole grain-rich

or enriched, all shapes)

¼ cup cooked or

14 grams dry

½ cup cooked or

28 grams dry

1 cup cooked or

56 grams dry

Pita Bread/Round

(whole grain-rich

or enriched) at least

56 grams*

¼ pita or 14 grams ½ pita or 28 grams 1 pita or 56 grams

Popcorn 1 ½ cups or 14 grams 3 cups or 28 grams 6 cups or 56 grams

Pretzel, Hard, Mini-Twist

(about 1 ¼” by 1 ½”)**

7 twists (~⅓ cup)

or 11 grams

14 twists (~⅔ cup)

or 22 grams

27 twists (~1 cup)

or 44 grams

Pretzel, Hard, Thin Stick

(about 2 ½” long)**

16 sticks or 11 grams 31 sticks or 22 grams 62 sticks or 44 grams

Pretzel, Soft

at least 56 grams*

¼ pretzel or 14 grams ½ pretzel or 28 grams 1 pretzel or 56 grams

Rice (all types)

¼ cup cooked

or 14 grams dry

½ cup cooked

or 28 grams dry

1 cup cooked

or 56 grams dry

Rice Cake

at least 8 grams*

1 ½ cakes or 11 grams 3 cakes or 22 grams 5 ½ cakes or 44 grams

Rice Cake, Mini

(about 1 ¾” across)**

7 cakes or 11 grams 13 cakes or 22 grams 25 cakes or 44 grams

Taco or Tostada Shell,

Hard at least 14 grams*

1 shell or 14 grams 2 shells or 28 grams 4 shells or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Corn

(about 5 ½”)**

¾ tortilla or 14 grams 1 ¼ tortillas or 28 grams 2 ½ tortillas or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Flour

(about 6”)**

½ tortilla or 14 grams 1 tortilla or 28 grams 2 tortillas or 56 grams

Tortilla, Soft, Flour

(about 8”)**

¼ tortilla or 14 grams ½ tortilla or 28 grams 1 tortilla or 56 grams

Waffle

at least 34 grams*

½ waffle or 17 grams 1 waffle or 34 grams 2 waffles or 68 grams

*Check that the item you want to serve weighs this amount, or more. See “Using the Nutrition Facts Label” on page 5

for more information.

**Check that the item you want to serve is about this size or larger. See “Grains Measuring Tools” on page 6

for more information.

12%

Nutrition Facts

Calories 280

Amount per serving

Total Fat

Saturated Fat 1.5g

Trans Fat 0g

% Daily Value*

4 servings per container

Serving size 3 Pancakes (117g)

-5-

Using the Nutrition Facts Label

Some items on the Grains Measuring Chart may have weights listed by the name of the item.

Follow the steps below to see if your grain meets the minimum weight listed in the chart:

Find the grain item and its

minimum weight in the

Grains Measuring Chart.

For example, the minimum

weight for a pancake is at

least 34 grams.

Age Group and Meal

1- through 5-year-

olds at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper, Snack

6- through 18-year-

olds at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper, Snack

Adults at Snack only

Adults at Breakfast,

Lunch, Supper

Grain Item

and Size

Serve at Least

½ oz. eq., which

equals about…

Serve at Least

1 oz. eq., which

equals about…

Serve at Least

2 oz. eq., which

equals about…

Pancake

at least 34 grams*

½ pancake or

17 grams

1 pancake or

34 grams

2 pancakes

or 68 grams

Look at the Nutrition Facts label of the grain you wish to serve. Find the weight of the serving

size (usually provided as grams (g)). One serving of Brand P pancakes weighs 117 grams.

Using the Nutrition Facts label, nd how many items are

in one serving. There are three pancakes in one serving of

Brand P pancakes.

If there is more than one of an item in a serving, you will

need to divide to nd the weight of each item. For example,

the serving size of Brand P pancakes is three pancakes.

Divide the serving weight by the number of items in one

serving to nd the weight of each item.

Compare the weight of one item to the minimum weight listed in the

Grains Measuring Chart (from Step 1). Is your item the same weight as,

or heavier than, the minimum weight?

Yes: Use the Grains Measuring Chart to see how much of

your grain to serve to meet CACFP meal pattern

requirements. In the example above, pancakes

must weigh at least 34 grams in order to use the

Grains Measuring Chart. Because each Brand P

pancake weighs 39 grams, you may use the chart as a

guide to the minimum serving amount.

✗

No: Use another method to determine how much of a grain

item to serve. See “What If My Grain Is Different?” on page

6 for more information.

117 grams

Serving Weight

3 pancakes

Serving Size

39 grams per pancake

Weight of Each Item

Brand P Pancakes

0 1” 2” 3” 4” 5” 6” 7” 8”

Are There Other Menu Planning Considerations?

If you serve an item that is larger, or weighs more, than what’s listed on the Grains Measuring Chart, then you

might serve more grains than required by the CACFP meal pattern. The Grains Measuring Chart can help make

serving enough grains easier. However, the tools described under “What If My Grain Is Different?” can also help

you determine how much of an item to serve to meet the meal pattern without serving more than what is needed.

What If My Grain Is Different?

Is the grain item you want to serve:

• Smaller than the item listed on the Grains Measuring Chart?

• Lighter in weight than the item listed on the Grains Measuring Chart?

• Not listed on the Grains Measuring Chart?

If so, you will need to use another way to tell how much to serve in

order to meet CACFP meal pattern requirements. You could:

• Enter information from the Nutrition Facts label into the Food Buying

Guide for Child Nutrition Program’s (FBG) Exhibit A Grains Tool.*

This tool will let you know how many ounce equivalents of grains are

in one serving of the item.

• Use the FBG Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW)* to determine the

ounce equivalents per serving for standardized recipes.

*Available at https://foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov.

Grains Measuring Tools

Compare your food to the guides below to see if it is the same size or larger than the item listed on the

Grains Measuring Chart.

2” by 2” square

1 ¾” round across

1” by 1”

square

Guides appear as actual size when this worksheet is printed at 100% on standard 8 ½” by 11” paper.

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FNS-862 October 2019

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