Children and adults enrolled at participating Texas day care sites can receive meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, with charges and eligibility depending on the setting and household circumstances, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. The department’s release includes income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The federally funded program, known as CACFP, operates at more than 12,000 Texas sites, including child care centers, home-based day cares, adult day care centers and afterschool programs. TDA administers the program, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture funds the meals and sets nutrition standards. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said participating organizations serve about 200 million meals and snacks annually.
When meals are included or free
At participating centers and day care homes that include meals in tuition, enrolled participants receive meals without a separate charge. At eligible at-risk afterschool programs, meals are free for all program participants.
Where meals are charged separately from tuition, the release identifies several groups that automatically qualify for free meals:
- Children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, and children enrolled in Early Head Start, Head Start or Even Start programs.
- Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts.
- Adults receiving SNAP or FDPIR benefits, Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Participants who do not qualify through those categories may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. Enrollment at a participating site does not, by itself, mean every participant qualifies for free meals when meals are billed separately.
Income eligibility guidelines
The following total-income guidelines apply from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The table distinguishes free-meal and reduced-price-meal thresholds for each household size and income period. Twice monthly and every two weeks are separate income periods.
| Household size | Annual income | Monthly income | Twice-monthly income | Every-two-weeks income | Weekly income | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Reduced-price | Free | Reduced-price | Free | Reduced-price | Free | Reduced-price | Free | Reduced-price | |
| 1 | $20,748 | $29,526 | $1,729 | $2,461 | $865 | $1,231 | $798 | $1,136 | $399 | $568 |
| 2 | $28,132 | $40,034 | $2,345 | $3,337 | $1,173 | $1,669 | $1,082 | $1,540 | $541 | $770 |
| 3 | $35,516 | $50,542 | $2,960 | $4,212 | $1,480 | $2,106 | $1,366 | $1,944 | $683 | $972 |
| 4 | $42,900 | $61,050 | $3,575 | $5,088 | $1,788 | $2,544 | $1,650 | $2,349 | $825 | $1,175 |
| 5 | $50,284 | $71,558 | $4,191 | $5,964 | $2,096 | $2,982 | $1,934 | $2,753 | $967 | $1,377 |
| 6 | $57,668 | $82,066 | $4,806 | $6,839 | $2,403 | $3,420 | $2,218 | $3,157 | $1,109 | $1,579 |
| 7 | $65,052 | $92,574 | $5,421 | $7,715 | $2,711 | $3,858 | $2,502 | $3,561 | $1,251 | $1,781 |
| 8 | $72,436 | $103,082 | $6,037 | $8,591 | $3,019 | $4,296 | $2,786 | $3,965 | $1,393 | $1,983 |
| Add for each additional family member | +$7,384 | +$10,508 | +$616 | +$876 | +$308 | +$438 | +$284 | +$405 | +$142 | +$203 |
Applications and participating sites
Families can obtain household eligibility applications from participating child care and adult day care centers. TDA says application information is confidential and used only to determine eligibility and verify information.
Caregivers seeking free meals for a foster child should contact their participating child care center or day care home for assistance. Parents or guardians who become unemployed may apply for free or reduced-price meals for their children at any point during unemployment.
To locate a participating center or day care home, call (877) TEX-MEAL.
Based on a news release from the Texas Department of Agriculture. Read the original TDA release: CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM BRINGS GOOD NUTRITION TO DAY CARE SETTINGS IN TEXAS.
