School nutrition programs are on the rise, having increased from 42% in 2006 to 51% in 2009.¹
More than 1.2 million children get an afterschool snack every day. Another 247,151 receive daily afterschool snacks through USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). ²
Eight million children are enrolled in afterschool programs. More than 40% of them are eligible for free or reduced lunch.²
Quality snacks don’t have to be complicated. The Food Research and Action Center says a ham sandwich, cucumber slices, an apple and a carton of low-fat milk is a good example of an easy, nutritious meal.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act provides additional funding and reimbursement for child nutrition and afterschool snack programs, encouraging more districts to provide afterschool nutrition to low-income children and expand CACFP suppers nationally.