Federal Food Assistance

Federal food assistance programs are designed to give low-income adults and children the opportunity to maintain healthy diets and meet basic nutritional requirements, according to the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA. There are several programs provide food for schools, pregnant women and elderly adults who meet the necessary federal guidelines.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

• SNAP gives electronic benefits to households that meet a certain income criteria. Household incomes must fall at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and the electronic benefits can be used like cash at the majority of grocery stores.

Women, Infants and Children

• WIC provides supplemental foods, nutritional education and health care referrals for pregnant women and women with infants and children 5 and under who live at or below 185 percent below the federal poverty level.

School Meals

• The school meals program gives low-income students the chance to have nutritious lunches and after school snacks, and offers school nutritional education. In selected low-income elementary schools federal food programs provide fresh fruits and vegetables. The school breakfast program encourages healthy eating strategies and the special milk program provides milk to children who are ineligible for other federal food programs.

Child & Adult Care Food Program

• CACFP is a program that provides affordable day care for the elderly and children who live in low-income households. Over 3.2 million children and 112,000 elderly adults are given healthful meals and snacks on a daily basis through this program, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.