Here’s How The Government Keeps Kids K-12 Fed

If so, look at this list of food assistance programs from the government made with kids in grades K-12 in mind.

If you’ve thought about applying for food assistance programs in the past to keep food on your family’s table, you probably know about food stamps or SNAP. You may also know about WIC if you have any babies or very young children.

While either of those programs can give your children’s nutrition a significant boost, many more exist that can do the same.

The USDA is in charge of these programs. As you’ll see, they can help kids from kindergarten to high school ensure they never have to study on an empty stomach.

School Breakfast Program

School days are long. Could you imagine having to endure one without eating a sufficient breakfast? Such a task would be tough to do for one day, let alone five days per week.

Thanks to the School Breakfast Program, breakfast is not an issue, as qualifying K-12 kids can get their morning meal for free each day that school is in session.

National School Lunch Program

Getting a healthy start in the morning with a good breakfast is great. What about lunch, though? Some kids come from families with very little money for food, meaning they could go to school without lunch while their classmates get to eat.

The National School Lunch program tackles this problem with lunches that are balanced and nutritious and free or at least affordable.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

With breakfast and lunch out of the way, what about what happens after school? Your kids can still get hungry then, which is what the Child and Adult Care Food Program addresses.

Through this program, kids can get food while in afterschool programs, childcare centers, or emergency shelters.

Summer Food Service Program

While the three food assistance programs above keep kids K-12 fed when school’s in session, the Summer Food Service Program ensures they get to eat while they’re on break. This is a great relief for many low-income parents who wonder how they’ll feed their children when classes are out.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the United States. The USDA made a major move to attack it by instituting the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Since many low-income households lack the funds for food, nutritious fruits and veggies may get skipped at the store in favor of cheaper options. This program gives kids from such families the chance to enjoy these healthy foods to get proper nourishment and combat obesity at the same time.

Special Milk Program

When you think of foods that kids need to grow, milk is near the top of the list. It can be quite expensive, however, making milk a tough buy for low-income parents. With the Special Milk Program, kids who do not participate in other food programs get this essential food for free.