Making Milk Students’ Beverage of Choice!
The New Look of School Milk features ice-cold milk served in a variety of flavors, in kid-friendly, plastic packaging, on the meal line. School nutrition directors at schools report sustained success, with better student nutrition and stronger meal participation.
Why Give School Milk a ‘New Look’?
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Kids Prefer School Milk in Plastic Bottles
Based on a student survey, 94% of the children said that the school milk in the plastic bottle was "better overall" compared to the identical milk in a paper carton.
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Moms Think Kids More Likely to Drink Milk in Plastic Bottles
The Mom’s views on School Milk Survey showed that 62% of moms say that packaging plays an important role when their children choose beverages at school and almost 75% would be willing to spend more for it.
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The School Milk Pilot Test:
The School Milk Pilot Test was conducted in 2001 by National Dairy Council® and the School Nutrition Association, to determine how to make milk appealing to students. Milk sales increased an average of 18%, consumption increased 38% and meal participation increased 5%. It is the foundation study for what has become known as the New Look of School Milk.
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Overweight yet Undernourished
Children today are increasingly obese while at the same time undernourished. This paradox can be explained by the fact that more kids are consuming foods with empty calories, such as soft drinks and sugary snacks, at the expense of nutrient-rich foods including dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Additionally, calcium is one of the nutrients kids are not getting enough of, putting them at risk for bone fractures and osteoporosis later in life.
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Competition
Today’s kids have access to a wide variety of beverages which are packaged in attractive containers with aggressive marketing campaigns. Milk needs to be competitive in today’s market so that it is the beverage of choice for kids, at school and beyond.
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Participation:
Schools which have implemented the New Look of School Milk program have experienced sustained increases in milk consumption and meal participation. These increases have helped them balance the cost associated with switching to recyclable plastic bottles.
The Earth: Going Green with the New Look of School Milk
- While both paper carton containers and the new plastic bottles are recyclable, few commercial recyclers accept paper board milk carton (click for a side-by-side comparison). So when schools switch to the new plastic bottles, the plastic packaging can be reused rather than sent directly to a landfill. And because the New Look of School Milk program cuts your cafeteria’s trash by 20 to 30 percent, you pay less to haul it away. Western Dairy Association can provide a fun "Drink It Then Sink It" recycling bin for those schools wishing to start a milk bottle recycling project
- For more information, check out school milk recycling or e-mail info@westerndairyassociation.org.
New Look of School Milk in Colorado
Currently 500 schools, 25 districts, reaching over 250,000 students participate in the New Look of School Milk program. Providing students with Milk, When and Where they Want it!
New Look of School Milk Financial Calculator:
Often school nutrition programs want to offer the New Look of School Milk to their students but are concerned about the increased costs of an enhanced milk program. Many school nutrition professionals have found that the New Look of School Milk pays for itself through increased milk sales and increased meal participation and federal reimbursements. Now there’s an easy-to-use New Look of School Milk Financial Calculator tool to help you see how this enhanced milk program can work for you. Click here to view the calculator. Dollars and Cents Biz Guide also provides some helpful funding tips.
Download more information and success stories below:
Finally, contact Western Dairy Association at info@westerndairyassociation.org about equipment grants that can be provided to make this program a reality in your school!
