The CACFP food program reimburses meals served at a per-meal rate that varies by meal type and tier. Counts times rates — summed across meal types — gives the reimbursement.
The example
Breakfasts, lunches, snacks at their rates.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Counts × rates | summed |
| 3 | Reimbursement | → total $ |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Tally meal counts by type (breakfast, lunch, supper, snack) from attendance/meal records.
- Multiply each by its reimbursement rate and sum with SUMPRODUCT.
- Rates depend on the tier (Tier I/II) — pull the right rate column.
- Only eligible, served meals count — tie counts to attendance.
Counts must be defensible — served and eligible. CACFP reimburses only meals actually served to enrolled, eligible children, within the day’s allowed meal count, so meal tallies should reconcile to attendance. SUMPRODUCT(counts, rates) is the easy part; the audit-proof part is the underlying records. Rates and tiers are set annually by USDA/your sponsor — this is illustrative, not program guidance.
Try it: interactive demo
Counts and rates: breakfast, lunch, snack.
Variations
One meal type
Count × rate:
By tier
Right rate column:
Meals per child
Average served:
Pitfalls & errors
Served and eligible. Count only meals actually served to eligible children.
Right tier rates. Tier I and II differ — use the correct rates.
Not program guidance. Rates/rules are set by USDA/your sponsor.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate CACFP meal reimbursement in Excel?
How do I handle tiers?
What meals count?
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