The new rule includes yogurt and cheese as meat alternates for meals and identifies lower-fat and lower-sodium cheeses available to schools, according to the IDFA. It also allows for five-day averaging for calorie caps, saturated fat and sodium, so schools will retain flexibility for incorporating cheese, pizza and other foods containing dairy into weekly meal plans. 

Kozak said including both plain and flavored milk in school meals is “a sure-fire” way to make diets more nutritious.

“Milk, including chocolate milk, is the No. 1 source of three out of four nutrients cited by the U.S Dietary guidelines as lacking in children’s diets, and chocolate milk is the drink-of-choice in school meal lines. Research shows that milk consumption can drop 35 percent or more when flavored milk is removed.”

While Kozak said NMPF would have preferred if USDA allowed low-fat flavored milk in school meals along with fat-free flavored milk, “it’s essential that chocolate milk, in particular, remain available in school cafeterias to assure children are getting the nutrients milk provides.”

In Alexandria, Va., Parkland Elementary school, serves milk made by Dean Foods Shenandoah's Pride brand. The beverages are white milk and fat-free TruMoo chocolate milk. Launched last year, TruMoo fat-free chocolate milk contains just 40 more calories than plain white milk per serving and is made without high fructose corn syrup. With 130 calories per serving and 10 grams of added sugar, TruMoo conforms to the new USDA guidelines, the processor stated.