Milk provides more bang for your buck.

• Position: Nutrition - Brief Article

Milk provides more calcium and protein per penny compared to any other foods served on school lunch menus, according to the National Dairy Council. Researchers at Kansas State University, Manhattan, examined the nutrient contributions of five meal components of school lunches: an entree, milk, vegetable/ fruits, grain/bread, and condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, or salad dressing. Nutrient analysis of the foods from two different elementary school districts was then compared to the costs of those items. The results revealed that milk contributed the most calcium and protein per 100 calories and per penny, making it a nutrient-dense and cost-effective component for school lunch.

"This new research reinforces the tremendous contributions milk makes at lunch," says Rachel Johnson, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Vermont, Burlington. "I have found through my past research that children who have milk with their meal get more nutrients and increase their calcium intake...