Legislation reauthorizing the child nutrition programs was passed Dec. 2, 2010. Find out how your Representative voted.
The following programs are authorized under the Child Nutrition Act.
- The National School Lunch Program guarantees that millions of low-income children receive a healthy lunch during their school day.
- The School Breakfast Program ensures that children across the country can get a healthy breakfast at school. As with the case of school lunches, children are eligible for free, reduced price, or paid breakfasts based on their families’ incomes.
- The Child and Adult Care Food Program reimburses child care centers, Head Start Programs, family child care homes, homeless shelters, and after-school programs for snacks and meals served to children.
- The Summer Food Service Program ensures that children (18 and under) who depend on school lunch and breakfast during the school year still have access to free, nutritious meals and snacks during the summer when school is out.
- The After-School Snack and Meal Program bridges the hunger gap between lunch and dinner for children who participate in after-school programs. It provides federal funds to private nonprofit and public organizations (including schools) so they can serve nutritious snacks and, in eight states, meals as part of after-school programs.
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and access to healthcare to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five.
