Students are flunking when it comes to eating healthy - in fact, less than 20% eat the recommended daily servings of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains, and only 30% consume three servings of dairy each day. However, research shows that when
flavored milk is on the menu, students:
- Consume more milk, which provides nine essential vitamins and minerals they're lacking
- Meet their calcium needs without consuming more total fat and calories
- Have a body mass index (BMI) lower than or comparable to the BMIs of non-milk drinkers
It's important to remember that 9 out of 10 girls and 7 out of 10 boys aren't getting the calcium they need for strong bones and healthy bodies.
Limiting access to flavored milk may further reduce students' intake of calcium and other essential nutrients. The information below will help to
illustrate the negative impact that taking flavored milk off the menu can have on students.
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Featured News
- Flavored Milk: All the Nutrition, Now with Lower Sugar and Calories
The majority of milk companies across the U.S. have reformulated flavored milk in order to lower total calories and decrease added sugars and fat, while preserving its nutritional value and good taste.
- Why Flavored Milk is Important for Student Nutrition
There is a nutrient gap in America, because many of our families are filling up on empty calories instead of essential nutrients. Learn how flavored milk in schools can help to fill that gap.
- Dear Superintendent
As leaders in the education of our children, superintendents know that good health and nutrition can improve learning. With children at school for 180 days a year on average, the decisions made about the foods and beverages available to students are critical to their success. Read the most up-to-date, science-based information to make sound decisions about nourishment at school.
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The State of Flavored Milk in Schools
Milk companies across the U.S. are reformulating flavored milk to lower total calories and decrease added sugars and fat, while preserving its nutritional value and taste appeal. Get the facts about flavored milk.
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The Truth About Flavored Milk
Some schools have made the decision to remove chocolate and other flavored milks from the cafeteria. Even though these bans have been well intentioned, they have done more nutritional harm than good. Lowfat chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice in schools and kids drink less milk – and get fewer essential nutrients – if it’s taken away. Learn more about the myths and realities of flavored milk in the cafeteria.
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Important School Lunchroom News
A new study was conducted to quantify the change in students' milk consumption and nutrient intake when schools changed
the availability of flavored milk. It revealed that without flavor options in the lunchroom, milk consumption actually
drops and stays lower over time. Learn more about the negative nutritional impact of removing chocolate milk from schools.
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Study Results: The Impact on Student Milk Consumption and Nutrient Intakes From Eliminating Flavored Milk in Schools
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) conducted a study to determine the effects of reducing or eliminating the availability
of flavored milk in schools. When flavored milk was eliminated, elementary student milk consumption dropped dramatically, an average of
35%. Read the full study results.
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Chocolate Milk is Tasty Nutrition
Many kids are falling short on important nutrients. Watch this video to learn more about how flavored milk can combat this nutrient shortfall.
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Annual School Milk Survey:
This snapshot of students' flavored milk consumption during the 2008-2009 school year reveals the following:
- Schools served approximately 470 million gallons of milk during the 2008-2009 school year, with 65% of that being chocolate flavored milk.
- The more flavors offered, the more milk was consumed, helping students achieve the recommended three daily dairy servings.
- Availability of milk in vending machines dropped two percentage points to 8% of schools nationwide this year. Research shows that when milk is
not available, students choose sugary fruit juices or soft drinks. Click here for milk vending machine strategies that boost sales.
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Flavored Milk's Role in Child Nutrition Programs
Flavored milk is an important component of child nutrition programs because it can help increase milk consumption and boost participation in school meal
programs - and we know students who stay fueled during the day are more likely to stay focused in the classroom. Concerns about the calories, fat and sugar
in individual foods rather than looking at the overall diet, have put nutrient-rich flavored milk at risk of not being offered to children. Taking flavored
milk off the menu may only result in further reducing intake of essential nutrients at a time when children most need to be building strong bones for a healthy foundation.
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Facts about Dairy Nutrition
Learn how to help students increase their consumption of low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt to achieve the recommended three daily servings
for strong bones and healthy bodies.
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Top Reasons to Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk
Is your hand raised for chocolate milk? All milk contains a unique combination of vitamins and minerals important for growth and development. Here are
five reasons flavored milk matters:
- Kids love the taste
- It contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk
- It helps children get three recommended daily dairy servings
- It encourages children to have an overall healthier diet
- Children get fewer nutrients if it's taken away
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Flavored Milk in Perspective
As the most popular milk choice in schools, flavored milk is a great tasting nourishing beverage that can us all achieve the recommended three
daily servings of dairy. This guide highlights flavored milk's role in an overall healthy diet, presents recommendations regarding flavored
milk consumption and provides data that demonstrates the importance of keeping flavored milk on the menu in schools.
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Flavored Milk FAQs
Flavored milk is packed with nine essential vitamins and minerals that make it nutritionally superior to soft drinks and fruit drinks.
Here's why flavored milk is a nutritious choice for students.
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Is your hand raised for chocolate milk? Click here to download educational
materials or view additional resources here.
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