SCHOOLS : A LA CARTE & OTHER OCCASIONS
Shorter lunch periods and increased revenue potential make a la carte options quick and profitable for schools, and popular with kids. However, that doesn't always add up to the best nutritional choices, as a la carte offerings typically include foods high in sugar, fat and salt and low in nutrients.
Milk is a solution for a la carte programs and numerous other school occasions. Offering milk in fun flavors and packages in the a la carte line makes it just as attractive to kids as less nutritional choices. Plus, the Child Nutrition Act encourages schools to make milk available anytime — a key opportunity for the a la carte line.
Key Facts
The role of a la carte in schools
- A la carte programs are offered by nine out of 10 schools; a study conducted in Minnesota schools shows 34% of students purchase one or more a la carte items daily.
- A la carte provides increased revenue and attractive margins for school foodservice programs, which often on tight budgets; a la carte revenue accounts for 43% of foodservice revenues.
- Weekly a la carte sales average $915 per 1,000 students, and profits are used as follows:
- 70% of districts use a la carte profits to support child nutrition operations
- 30% use profits to support facilities, equipment and maintenance
- 20% are used to support extracurricular activities
- 17% are used to support athletic department
- 12% support expanded educational programs
- A la carte offerings aren't required to meet federal nutrition standards. Some are referred to as FMNVs — Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value — which contain less than 5% of recommended intakes of eight key nutrients.
A la carte and nutrition
- A University of Minnesota School of Public Health study1 found 84% of a la carte items offered and 93% of a la carte foods sold were in the "foods to limit" category.
- Students in schools with a la carte options consumed fewer fruits and vegetables, while total and saturated fat intake was higher.
- ENVIRON Health Sciences research shows that while sodas and fruit drinks provided 35-55% of added sugars in kids' and teens' diets, milk provided less than 3%.
- Milk was top contributor of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium for all groups and was among the top four sources of protein, vitamin A and zinc.
Milk & Student Athletes
- Indiana University researchers2 found that drinking chocolate milk is one of the best things an athlete can do to recover from an intense workout due to its unique combination of carbohydrates and protein.
- Chocolate milk also replaces fluids lost as sweat during workouts.
- A study3 published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that chocolate milk is just as effective as a commercial sports drink in helping athletes enhance lean muscle gains after resistance training.
Sources:
1Study published in American Journal of Public Health, July 2003. Based on sample of 16 middle schools in 9 districts in St. Paul-Minneapolis area.
2Karp, JR et al. The efficacy of chocolate milk as a recovery aid. American College of Sports Medicine (abstract), 2004.
3Ranking JW, et al. Effect of post-exercise supplement consumption on adaptations to resistance training. ACN, 2004; 23:322-330
Easy tips to get students to drink more milk
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New year long campaign targeted to women, mothers and athletes.
Grocery: Click here
Drug & C-Store: Click here
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The Music to Move You – New for the ’07/’08 School Year. Posters, Clings and Banners encourage teens to drink more milk. Materials ship automatically to your school. Read more
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Halloween 2007
It's back! Retailers: Chocolate Milk - the Official Drink of Halloween promotion is back, just in time for increased sales. Find out more. |
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To learn more about milk's role in good nutrition, 
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