When claiming food expenses using the standard meal allowance rate (I got the IRS to pass this in 2003) you can claim up to 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 supper and 3 snacks per day, per chid. If the parent provides the entire food from home, you can't count that meal. But if the parent brings a snack and you provide juice, you can count this as a deductible snack.

When using the standard meal allowance rule, keep records showing which kids ate which meals and snacks each day. You don't need receipts or menus. You can use the Minute Menu Meal Report for this purpose.

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