Family-style meals are a meal service approach in which children and adults eat together at the table, and children are served all required meal components. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, with developmentally appropriate support from adults.

During family-style meals:

• Foods are placed in shared serving bowls or pitchers on the table.

·       Children are served all required CACFP meal components in the minimum required portions using proper measurements and serving utensils.

• Adults sit with children, eat the same foods when possible, and model healthy eating habits, polite conversation, and positive mealtime behaviors.

• Adults support children’s independence while ensuring safety, sanitation, and inclusion of all meal components.

Family-style meals promote:

• Self-regulation of hunger and fullness

• Independence and fine motor skill development

• Social interaction and language development

• Positive attitudes toward food and mealtime routines

• Polite conversation and positive mealtime experiences

Family-style meal service is implemented in a way that is developmentally appropriate and CACFP-compliant, recognizing that infants are fed individually based on readiness and individualized feeding plans.