Summer vacation is something all children look forward to, but unfortunately hunger doesn’t take a vacation. More than 21 million American children depend on free, or reduced-price school meals, during the school year, and when school cafeterias close, many of these children lose their most important source of balanced nutrition and are at risk of going hungry.

Join #FoodFri on Friday, May 15, 2015, 1pm Eastern, to chat with @MomsRising and our expert co-host, @USDANutrition, to discuss summer meals for kids and teens. 

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its tireless partners are working to provide nutritious meals to hungry kids throughout the summer. The Summer Food Service Program provides free summer meals for kids and can be an important source of nutritious food for children and youth during the long summer break. Many of the sites offering meals also provide recreation and enrichment programs, which means that children are not only well-fed, but are taking part in activities that will keep them active and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall.

Join us on Friday, May 15, 2015, 1pm Eastern, and don't forget to spread the word! Together, we are a powerful force for children!

To join and follow the conversation on Twitter use the #FoodFri Hashtag in each tweet.

You can also follow the chat on Twubs.com/FoodFri. Twubs allows you to follow MomsRising’s registered hashtags by creating an account. Below I have noted the steps.

1. Create an account using an email or your Twitter account.
2. Enter the desired hashtag, #FoodFri, #WellnessWed or #EcoTipTue, in the search box found at the top of the page. Click Enter. A new page will open with the desired chat.
3. Find the “Join This Twub” button found on the right-hand side bar and join the group.
4. Adjust the speed of the conversation to your liking. Options are: Fast, Medium, Slow, Slower, or Slowest.
5. Introduce yourself and join the conversation, by entering your comment, tips, or questions in the “Tweet to #FoodFri as [YourName] box”
6. Or, respond to a specific tweet by hovering over the right-hand side of the individual’s tweet and selecting one of the icons.

More about our #FoodFri Featured Expert Co-Host(s):

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USDA Food and Nutrition Service is working to effectively and efficiently end hunger and improve nutrition in America.

Providing access to nutritious, balanced meals for children and teens in a safe environment throughout the summer is a priority for USDA. While USDA and its partners have made great strides in reaching hungry children when schools are out of session, it is our goal to provide access to nutritious meals to all eligible children. This year, we hope to serve 200-million meals throughout the summer. The key to doing that is educating parents and children about the importance of nutrition during the summer and making sure they know where they can find a meal site near them.

To learn more about the USDA, head on over to their website, www.fns.usda.gov. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.