USDA's child nutrition programs provide a nutritional safety net for children and account for a quarter of USDA's domestic food and nutrition assistance outlays. ERS conducts research and evaluation studies of child nutrition programs and applies behavioral economic theory to study efforts to promote child nutrition. Information about program eligibility requirements, benefits, and the application process is available from the Food and Nutrition Service. ERS research focuses on five major domestic food assistance programs administered by USDA that exclusively or primarily serve the nutritional needs of children:

• National School Lunch Program,
• School Breakfast Program,
• Child and Adult Care Food Program,
• Summer Food Service Program, and
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

Last updated: Friday, July 13, 2012

For more information contact: Joanne Guthrie