Meals containing breast milk may be claimed when the infant is 4 months old or older and when the center or day care home provider provides at least one other required meal component.

Formula served must be iron-fortified infant formula. The formula must be intended as the sole source of food for normal, healthy infants, and must be served in the liquid state at the manufacturer's recommended dilution.

Infant cereal must be iron-fortified, dry infant cereal. Infant cereal is often mixed with breast milk, formula or milk.

Fruit juice must be full-strength.

Bread or crackers must be made from whole-grain or enriched meal or flour.

Nuts, seeds or nut butters are allowed as a meat alternate.

Whole milk may be served at 8 months of age as long as the infant is consuming approximately 1/3 of his/her calories as a balanced mixture or cereal, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. (A policy change in the near future will not allow whole milk to be served to children less than one year old. Contact your State agency or sponsor for information.)