Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Priority

Allow child care centers and homes the option of serving a third meal

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Research has demonstrated the Child and Adult Care Food Program’s clear role in helping to assure good nutrition and high-quality, affordable child care. As parents work longer hours to make ends meet, many more young children are spending more of their waking hours in child care on work days. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization should allow child care centers and homes the option of serving an additional meal service (typically this would be a supper or an afternoon snack), as was previously allowed.

Congress should restore CACFP support to the full complement of meals young children need and stop short-changing young children at a time when they can least afford it.

• National child care standards, based on the best nutrition and child development science, specify that young children need to eat small healthy meals and snacks on a regular basis throughout the day.
• Child care centers and homes used to receive funding for three meals, until Congress in 1996 cut out one meal to achieve budget savings. This penny-wise and pound-foolish step harms children’s nutrition and health and weakens child care.