CACFP Afterschool Snacks

Overview
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses afterschool programs for the snacks they serve to children 18 and under. Typically, afterschool programs that use CACFP are community-based programs.

To participate in CACFP, afterschool providers must offer educational or enrichment activities. Because of this requirement, athletic programs that compete in leagues and do not have other activities do not qualify for the snack program.

Reimbursement Rate
The federal reimbursement rate for afterschool snacks is adjusted annually to keep up with the cost of inflation. To find out how much afterschool programs can receive per snack this year, check out the current reimbursement rates for CACFP. If the afterschool program is located in a low-income area or serves predominantly low-income children, the program receives the highest rate of reimbursement (also known as the “free rate”) for all of the snacks served.

Nutrition Guidelines
All snacks served through CACFP must meet USDA nutritional guidelines and include at least 2 of the following:

• 1 serving of milk
• 1 serving of fruits and/or vegetables
• 1 serving of grains
• 1 serving of protein

A snack can be as simple as a peach and low-fat yogurt or a fruit muffin and a glass of low-fat milk.

The state child nutrition agency can provide afterschool programs with additional information about the nutritional guidelines and help them plan menus that meet the USDA requirements. Also, check out FRAC’s model afterschool menus.

Get Started
To begin serving snacks at an afterschool program, contact the state child nutrition agency (LINK) that oversees CACFP.

For more information, check out Frequently Asked Questions.