Back to School: Creative Ways Schools Are Serving Up Dairy

Aug 3, 2018

It is back to school time and the cafeteria is one place students may not expect to see exciting changes. However, through its Dollars for Dairy initiative, St. Louis District Dairy Council is helping 37 schools amp up their breakfast and lunch programs to include more milk, cheese and yogurt. When students choose dairy at school, they are getting nutrients like protein and calcium to help fuel them throughout the day. Here are a few creative ways cafeterias are serving up dairy with the help of SLDDC’s Dollars for Dairy initiative:

Alternative Breakfast Models

Breakfast is an essential meal and research supports its importance for increased concentration, better academic performance and better behavior in the classroom[1]. So, what do schools do to ensure students are eating breakfast and reaping the benefits? They offer an alternative breakfast service such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab ‘n Go Breakfast Stations, and Breakfast after the Bell. These options increase participation and allow students to start their day off right. Pontiac School District 429 is implementing Breakfast in the Classroom in all of its elementary classrooms this fall. With support from SLDDC, each student can enjoy a healthy morning meal that includes dairy.

Coffee Bars

High school cafeteria managers are taking note of the popularity of coffee drinks and including them on a la carte menus for breakfast and lunch. Serving a hot or cold latte made with 8 ounces of milk is an innovative way to provide one serving of dairy. According to the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program, schools can offer coffee drinks while staying within nutrition guidelines by using calorie-free syrups, available in a variety of flavors.   

Grilled Sandwiches

Paninis, quesadillas and grilled wraps are a new sandwich trend that allows for a variety of bread, meat, veggies and of course, cheese options. Pepper jack, Gouda, Swiss, and provolone are a few of the selections that students have when building a customized hot sandwich. Last fall, Cafeteria Director Nancy Brown from Williamsfield School District in Williamsfield, Illinois sold approximately 1000 paninis over a three-month period through the Dollars for Dairy program.  We shared that success story with other districts and now have multiple schools interested in adding grilled sandwiches with cheese to their lineup this year.

These unique options offered to students (and staff) help to increase participation and dairy consumption. Schools selected for SLDDC’s Dollars for Dairy initiative must provide monthly data from cafeterias and work with SLDDC staff year-round to ensure that dairy is front and center of their projects.

 

 

 

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