Dairy Checkoff strengthens SNA alliance to increase milk and breakfast participation
The conference brought together about 6,000 school food professionals alongside the National Dairy Council. The School Nutrition Association represents nearly 50,000 professionals and state feeding boards across all 50 states. Sessions addressed plate waste, meal-reimbursement requirements and ways to provide nutrients in forms acceptable to students.
A central feature was the Dairy Checkoff’s “Smart Swaps Initiative”, developed with professional chefs. It includes reimbursable breakfast recipes using combinations of milk, cheese and yoghurt. The recipes were designed to comply with United States Department of Agriculture nutritional standards while reflecting students’ taste preferences.
School foodservice directors at the event discussed the inclusion of dairy in morning meal programmes. They said that dairy products can contribute to satiety and nutrient intake, and linked broader use of dairy ingredients with lower levels of food being discarded. The programme focuses specifically on breakfast recipes that can be used within school reimbursement rules.
The conference also featured the “Made with School Lunch” campaign. It promotes school-cafeteria meals to students, parents and school administrators. Audrey Donahoe, a New York dairy farmer and president of the American Dairy Association Northeast, said that connecting farmer-funded checkoff resources with school dietitians helps children receive the 13 essential nutrients found in cow’s milk.
Another focus was the possible reintroduction of whole milk into school meal programmes. Checkoff organisations at state and national level have prepared toolkits, guidance for processors and administrative materials to support the change. The American Dairy Association Northeast, which covers six north-eastern states, is among the organisations involved.
The materials are intended to help dairy farmers and school districts work with regional fluid-milk processors as federal procurement rules change. They cover the integration of whole and 2% milk options. Public schools serve almost 30m children each day through the National School Lunch Programme, making school feeding programmes a significant setting for dairy distribution.
