Meal Program Snacks

A snack is another feeding option under the Meal Program and consists of a minimum of two nutritional components. The nutritional requirements for snacks are clearly outlined by United States Department of Education (USDA) regulations. To be reimbursable, snacks must meet or exceed these minimum standards. The current reimbursement rate for snack is:

Free Snack    -- $0.74

The snack option is most often used in combination with a meal for longer running afterschool programs. In 2008, only about a 25% of sponsors offered a snack without a meal. While we recommend serving a meal, in certain circumstances running a snack-only program can make sense.