Afterschool programs serve a snack in order to keep children focused and engaged throughout the afternoon. Yet, for many children a snack is not enough. Children eat lunch hours before the afterschool program, sometimes as early as 10:30 in the morning, and need more than a small snack to make it through the afternoon. In addition, many families are struggling financially, and programs that provide a nutritious meal after school make it easier for parents to make ends meet and keep children from being hungry. 

This two-page fact sheet tells you the basics of the new CACFP Meal program and how to get started.