Texas DAHS & CACFP Nutrition Requirements
Understanding the intersection of federal CACFP standards and Texas state requirements is the foundation of compliance for adult day care.
Federal CACFP vs. Texas DAHS
The Child and Adult Care Food Program is federal. Texas DAHS administers it within the state. Both layers matter—federal sets minimums, Texas can add requirements.
Meal Pattern Requirements (Adult Day Care)
One meal plus two snacks per day is the standard CACFP funding model for adult day care. The meal must include:
- Protein: Meat, poultry, fish, beans, tofu, nuts, or dairy
- Grains: Bread, cereal, pasta (½ must be whole grain, starting 2023)
- Fruit: Fresh, canned, or frozen
- Vegetable: Fresh, canned, or frozen
- Milk: Low-fat or fat-free
Snacks require a component from two different groups (e.g., fruit + dairy, or grain + protein).
Portion Sizes
Portions differ significantly from child care. Adult portions are larger:
- Protein: 3 oz (vs. 2 oz for child care)
- Grain: 2 slices bread or 1 cup cereal (vs. 1 slice or ½ cup)
- Fruit: ½ cup (same as child care)
- Vegetable: ½ cup (same as child care)
- Milk: 1 cup (vs. ¾ cup for child)
Getting portion sizes wrong is a common finding. Use scaled production sheets that account for your participant count.
Whole-Grain Requirements
As of July 2023, half of all grain components must be whole-grain. This applies to every meal. Documentation must show which products are certified whole-grain.
Product Documentation (PFS & CN Labels)
Every multi-ingredient product needs:
- Product Formulation Statements (PFS): Ingredient list and nutritional data
- CN Labels: Credits toward CACFP meal components
These are the most commonly missed documentation in audits. Suppliers can often provide them, but you must request and file them.
Special Diet & Medical Accommodations
Centers must accommodate special diets (allergies, texture modifications, medical needs). Documentation includes:
- Physician or RD-signed medical statements
- Menu modifications or alternatives provided
- Tracking that accommodations were followed
Texas State Additions
Beyond federal CACFP, Texas DAHS may require:
- Monthly monitoring of food temperatures and safety
- Staff training documentation
- Specific food service documentation formats
The Compliance Challenge
Most findings happen because:
- Directors don't know portions differ for adults vs. children
- Whole-grain tracking is incomplete
- PFS and CN labels aren't collected upfront
- Production records don't match menus
These are all fixable with the right system. That's what audit-ready menus and scaled production sheets do—they bake compliance into your monthly routine.