Am I going to lose money because the Tier II reimbursement rate is not going to cover the cost of my food?

You never lose money when you are on the Food Program.  It’s true that your reimbursement check may not pay for the food you buy for your business. But it’s always better to get some money for the food you are buying than to receive nothing at all.  Think of being on the Food Program like having a job.  The Food Program is paying you to do some paperwork.  If you were on the Food Program you would still have to prepare a menu, buy the food, cook it and serve it.  How much are you being paid per hour for doing the paperwork required by the Food Program?  If you spend three hours per week on paperwork, that is 156 hours per year.  If you care for four children and receive the lower Tier II rate, you earn $1,800 a year ($450 per child x 4).  Your hourly rate is $11.54 per hour ($1,800 divided by 156 hours.)  If you spent less time on paperwork, your hourly earnings would go up.  It is certainly worthwhile to stay on the Food Program and earn more that $11 per hour.