 The vast majority of children 

do not get the recommended 

amount of calcium (for 9-13 

year olds, only 5 percent of 

girls and 25 percent of boys 

get the calcium they need). 

 Calcium is critical for bone 

health, especially for growing 

children and teens.

 Low-fat (1%) and fat-free 

(skim) milk provide calcium 

and other nutrients without a 

lot of saturated fat.

 A cup of whole milk contains 

three times as much 

saturated fat as the same 

amount of low-fat (1%) milk 

(4.6 grams of saturated fat in 

whole milk vs. 1.5 grams in 

low-fat milk).

 Kids who eat school lunch 

drink more milk than those 

who don’t. So, school lunch 

can make a real difference in 

children’s lives.

Key Issue S :

Easy ways to 

follow the 2005 

Dietary Guidelines for 

Americans

Mom always said, “Drink your milk.” Mom was right again! People who drink milk have better diets and get many 

important nutrients including calcium, which is abundant in milk, 

cheese, and yogurt.

Recipe for Success

 Serve only low-fat (1%) and fat-free (skim) milk. This meets the 

requirement to offer milk in a variety of fat contents.

 Consider offering milk in snazzy packaging. Kids drink more milk 

when it’s offered in “cool” packages, like milk “chugs.”

 Offer flavored low-fat or fat-free milk to encourage children to drink 

more milk.

 Work with your local dairy to lower the amount of added sugar in 

flavored milks.

 Keep it COLD! Ask your local dairy council about purchasing low-cost or 

no-cost milk coolers with promotional messages.

 Use low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese, and yogurt when cooking and 

baking.

 Add milk to your vending machines, if possible.

 Serve low-fat yogurt dips with raw vegetables or fruit. Kids love dips.

 Have a milk taste test contest by allowing students to vote for their 

favorite new milk flavor.

 Create your own Milk Mustache Event! Take pictures of students 

drinking milk and post them on the lunch line or cafeteria bulletin board. 

For more fun, include teachers.

 Offer lactose-free milk products and/or calciumfortified foods and beverages for children who 

can’t consume milk. Handle 

on a case-by-case basis and 

keep a statement signed by a 

recognized medical authority for 

these students.

Fact Sheet

for Healthier School Meals

Use Low-fat Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt
United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from 

discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or 

(202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Food and Nutrition 

Service

For more information: 

www.MyPyramid.gov

www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/empoweringyouth.html

www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/power_of_choice.html

www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/teamupbooklet.html

www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhard

www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones

USDA Commodity Food Program

Get the calcium without the fat! Schools can order cheeses with 

lower fat content through the USDA Commodity Food Program. Use 

the cheddar or mozzarella cheese as a garnish for vegetables or in 

salads. Check out the list of available foods at: www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/

programs/schcnp/.

Messages for Students

 Every cell in your body needs calcium. Your bones 

store calcium for your blood and cells. If your 

body doesn’t get enough calcium from milk and 

other milk products, it takes it from your bones. 

And that can make your bones weak, leading to 

osteoporosis, a disease where bones become 

fragile and break easily. 

 From the day you’re born, calcium builds and 

strengthens your bones. They will be their 

strongest ever when you’re in your 20s. To make 

sure your bones stay strong when you’re 30, 

40, or even 80, you need to start getting enough 

calcium TODAY! Note: Keep in mind that yogurt 

and cheese do not count 

toward the milk requirement

for school meals.

Did You Know?

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

recommend 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk or 

equivalent amount of milk products like yogurt or 

cheese every day for children 9-18. Children ages 

2-8 need 2 cups.

What counts as 1 cup of milk? 

 In general, 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 

1 1⁄2 ounces of natural cheese, or 

2 ounces of processed cheese 

is equal to 1 cup from the 

milk group.