Milk, with its 9 essential nutrients, including protein, calcium and vitamin D, is an important part of school meal programs. Many school breakfast and lunch programs also offer nutrient-rich yogurt and cheese to ensure that students get the nutrition they need.
We support schools in making sustainable changes to the school nutrition environment that will increase participation in meal programs and, more importantly, increase students’ intake of nutrient-rich foods. One out of two kids, ages 9 and up, aren’t getting enough calcium, vitamin D and potassium – essential nutrients they need to grow strong – and dairy milk is the top food source of these nutrients in the diet (1,2). Serving dairy in innovative ways, like hot chocolate milk or smoothies at breakfast, can be a great way to increase participation AND bridge nutrient gaps.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Appendix E-2.1. First Print, 2015.
- Fulgoni VL, Keast DR, Quann EE, Auestad N. Food sources of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and potassium in the U.S. The FASEB Journal. 2010;24:325.1.
