Home > Federal Nutrition Programs > Afterschool Nutrition Programs

The Afterschool Nutrition Programs operate through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which allows schools, local government agencies, and private nonprofits to serve a meal and a snack to children after school, on weekends, and during school holidays. They also operate through the National School Lunch Program, which allows schools to provide a snack after school. Find out about reimbursement rates for meals and snacks.

Latest Report: Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation – October 2023

FRAC’s latest Afterschool Report measures the reach of the Afterschool Nutrition Programs in October 2023, with comparisons to October 2022, nationally and in each state.

Read the report

Back to School 2024

It’s Back-to-School time, which means it’s time to raise your hand for Healthy School Meals for All!

More and more states are providing free school meals to all children, no matter their household income. But our work is far from over. We need Healthy School Meals for All nationwide so that every child in every state has the nutrition they need to learn and thrive. Urge your Members of Congress to act today. Hungry children can’t wait.

Raise Your Hand for Healthy School Meals for All

Quick Facts

  • Over 1.23 million children received an afterschool supper and nearly 1.25 million children received an afterschool snack on an average day in October 2023.
  • Funding for afterschool meals became available nationwide through the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, so there is much work to do to increase the number of children who participate.
  • School-aged children have higher daily intake of fruits, vegetables, milk, and key nutrients like calcium, vitamin A, and folate on days they eat afterschool meals compared to days they do not.
  • Offering afterschool meals can help draw children into educational and enrichment activities and programming after school.

Stay Informed

Register for FRAC’s Afterschool Meals Matter conference calls and webinars.
Subscribe to the Meals Matter: Afterschool & Summer Newsletter.

  • Strategies to Expand the Afterschool Nutrition Programs
    Building a stronger sustainable program, improved policies, and expanded partnerships with national, state, and local stakeholders are key strategies to increasing participation in the Afterschool Meal Program. Find out how to develop a more sustainable Afterschool Meal Program.
  • Serving Afterschool Meals and Snacks in Rural Communities
    The Afterschool Nutrition Programs fill the hunger gap that exists after school for millions of low-income children in rural communities. These programs provide federal funding to afterschool programs operating in low-income areas to serve meals and snacks to children 18 and under after school, on weekends, and during school holidays. Learn more in our fact sheet: Rural Hunger in America: Afterschool Meals.

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