Dairy in Schools FAQ

We’re answering commonly asked questions about serving dairy foods at school and our resources to support youth wellness.


Dairy in School Meals

Federal regulations, through the Healthy Hungry-Free Kid Act, require school meal programs to meet specific nutrition standards. The standards are developed using the latest nutrition science as advised by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Milk is offered as a part of the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs because dairy provides valuable nutrition in a small and inexpensive package. Schools can choose to offer fat free and low fat (1%) milk, either in white or flavored milk, as well as yogurt and cheese.

No. The federal regulations for school meals require milk to be offered as a component of a reimbursable school breakfast or lunch. 

Dairy can be found in many areas of school breakfast and lunch, including pizza, salads, overnight oats, yogurt parfaits and smoothies!

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act mandates that the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs allow schools to only serve low fat and fat free white and flavored milk, as advised by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines recommend three daily servings of low fat and/or fat free dairy foods.

To receive lactose-free milk at school, your child simply needs to ask for it. For students with a medical or other special dietary need, milk substitute beverages can be made available at school upon written request by a medical professional, parent or legal guardian. Please check with your state Department of Education to see if they have additional requirements.

Real cow’s milk offers a unique package of nine essential nutrients in one 8 ounce serving, while non-dairy alternatives often do not provide the same nutrient profile and often contain added ingredients like salt, syrups, thickeners and sugars. Due to these differences, only fortified soy beverages that meet the current USDA nutrition standards required for the milk component of school meals are allowable.

Many schools have been successful in integrating smoothies into their reimbursable meal menus. Depending on the recipes used, schools can credit smoothies as milk, yogurt and fruit. Consult USDA’s smoothie guidance to learn how to properly credit smoothies.

Check out our Smoothie School Kit for delicious and nutritious smoothie recipes that can get reimbursable meal credit for fruits, vegetables and yogurt thanks to updated USDA guidelines.

Coffee bars are becoming increasingly popular in high schools and must comply with USDA Smart Snack guidelines. They serve popular coffee-like beverages, such as mochas, lattes and cappuccinos, which are all made with milk. These beverages often contain milk, sugar-free flavoring and less caffeine than a half cup of coffee.

School food service directors can control the sugar, caffeine, calories and portion size for each drink, and many of these beverages contains milk, which is a great source of calcium, vitamin D and potassium in student’s diets.

Kids love cold milk! Strive for a milk temperature of 35°F at all points of meal service. Use this checklist to help ensure milk quality, safety and fresheness is at its best.

Flavored Milk

/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/School-Milk-is-Critical-to-Child-Nutrition.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requires that milk be consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which requires school milk, including flavored milk, be low fat (1%) or fat free.

The small amount of added sugars in flavored milk is an acceptable trade-off for the nutrients provided. Keeping nutrient-rich, flavored milk on the school menu helps ensure children get key vitamins and minerals that they need for strong bones and healthy bodies.

Yes. Flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, including calcium and vitamin D — nutrients of concern that many kids fail to get enough of, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While there may be a small amount of added sugar in flavored milk, a child having fat free or low fat flavored milk is a much better choice than a child having no milk at all. 

not detract from its nutritional benefits, but it may help improve the appeal of milk. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics points out, that when sugar is used along with nutrient-rich foods and beverages, it can be a powerful tool to increase the overall quality of a child’s diet. Flavored milk contains the same thirteen essential nutrients as white milk, including calcium and vitamin D — nutrients of concern that many kids fail to get enough of. 

Like white milk, flavored milk is a good or excellent source of thirteen essential nutrients, with a difference of approximately 12g of added sugar (approximately 7.5g of added sugar in flavored milk served in schools).

The Ohio High School Athletic Association and West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission recognize that being active and enjoying great-tasting healthy foods, like nutrient-rich chocolate milk, can help students feel their best and be at the top of their game. That’s why chocolate milk has been designated as the Official Beverage for Ohio and West Virginia student athletes.

Farm to School

Farm to School is a national initiative through which schools buy and feature locally produced, farm-fresh foods on their menus to teach students about where their food comes from. Farm to School empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities.

Milk is more local than you may think. Ohio and West Virginia dairy farmers play an important role in producing nutritious milk year-round that arrives at schools in as little as 72 hours after leaving the farm.

Check out our Ohio and West Virginia Farm to School kits for downloadable resources to teach students about milk’s journey from farm to school.

Most Americans live within 100 miles of a dairy farm. Check out these Ohio and West Virginia maps to find the closest dairy farms to you. 

Milk is the ultimate fresh and local beverage, as it travels from dairy farms to schools in as little as 72 hours after leaving the farm.

No, but we can bring the farm to you! We offer virtual experiences and curriculum through Discovery Education, as well as downloadable videos, handouts and activities on our website.

Fuel Up

Fuel Up is an an initiative created by America’s Dairy Farmers to help meet the needs of schools across the country when it comes to fueling healthy bodies and healthy minds. The program offers a variety of opportunities for adults, students and schools, from in-school wellness initiatives to funding.

Yes. Students and educators can still access resources and information to support Fuel Up, but only schools that participate in National School Lunch and Breakfast programs are eligible for funding.

General

Our dairy-farmer funded grants are announced to school service directors as they are made available. Previous grant programs have helped schools add new dairy-friendly items to their menus and purchase equipment, such as mobile serving carts, smoothie stations and breakfast bars, to increase dairy consumption in schools.

Schools who participate in Fuel Up to Play 60 can apply for up to $4,000 per year to jump-start healthy school changes. Schools must select one Healthy Eating and one Physical Activity Play to implement. For more information, visit FuelUptoPlay60.com.

Check out our School Resource Library to find handouts, recipes, toolkits, downloadable videos and more! 

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