Senate Nutrition Bill Could Benefit Kids

Changes in the Child Nutrition Act that the Senate Agriculture Committee approved last week could improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), according to the Food Research & Action Council. The Senate bill:

• Allows an additional snack for kids in care for nine or more hours a day.
• Simplifies eligibility for for-profit childcare centers.
• Reduces paperwork for parents, providers and sponsors.
• Requires USDA to encourage CACFP institutions to work with state agencies, school districts, and schools to access donated commodity foods.
• Allows residential childcare institutions to choose to participate in CACFP in addition to the National School Lunch Program.
• Provides for nutrition education for parents and participants emphasizing the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and health.

Source: Food Research & Action Council, 1/18/16, Child Nutrition Programs