School children's consumption of lower-calorie flavored milk: a plate waste study

During January 2011, the US Department of Agriculture issued proposed regulations with substantial changes to nutrition standards for school foods and beverages to improve the healthfulness of school meals. Milk availability is limited to fat-free or 1% white milk and fat-free flavored milk. Most elementary school students choose flavored milk. Milk processors are lowering the calories provided by flavored milks by reducing the fat and/or added sugars content. Milk is an important source of shortfall nutrients; thus, it is important to know how children accept these new milks. Four schools in the northeast and south serving lower-calorie flavored milk (≤150 kcal/8 oz) were selected for a quasi-experimental plate waste study. Five control schools serving standard flavored milk (>150 kcal/8 oz) were enrolled from the same regions. During May and June 2010, flavored milk cartons were collected from 793 third- to fifth-grade students after lunch and individually weighed to determine consumption. Overall, students consumed an average of 5.52±0.10 oz flavored milk. Students consumed an average of 5.88±0.12 oz standard flavored milk (n=497) compared with an average of 4.92±0.17 oz lower-calorie flavored milk (n=296). Using linear mixed models, we found that children drinking standard milk were more likely to consume >7 oz, although the difference was not significant (P=0.09). After adjusting for group differences in socioeconomic status, region, and sex, no differences in consumption were detected (P=0.29). Because none of these milks were in full compliance with proposed regulations, milk consumption should be further monitored.