Putting Whole Milk Back in Schools

“Milk. It does a body good.”

Remember that line from the 80’s? Or how about “Got Milk?” from the 90’s?

Both advertising campaigns aimed to get kids to drink more milk, focusing on strong bones and healthy teeth. Not only were those catchphrases highly successful at the time, but the idea that milk helped build strong, healthy kids was true—and it still is.

Unfortunately, along came Michelle Obama to tell us that whole milk and 2% milk no longer did the body good, suggesting it led to childhood obesity, and changing up the school lunch program in the process. Suddenly, if a kid was going to drink milk at all, it better be skim or 1%. Unsurprisingly, that led to more kids just not drinking milk at all. After all, who wants to drink skim milk?

Turns out, banning whole milk from school lunches didn’t solve childhood obesity. How could it? People have been drinking milk for thousands of years, and most of that time it was whole milk. It wasn’t just that the ban didn’t work; it also meant that kids weren’t getting the nutrition they needed to build strong bones and succeed in the classroom. They dumped processed foods on the kids, got rid of whole milk, and patted themselves on the back like they had done something meaningful. 

That’s why I was excited for President Trump to sign the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 into law this week. Congress passed it just before the holidays, and USDA is already implementing the law. Now, schools can offer whole milk, as well as 2%. It’s full of flavor and nutrients that our kids need to be healthy. It also helps our dairy farmers, who play a vital role in the economy of many of our rural communities.

Full-fat dairy also plays a role in the dietary guidelines the Trump Administration announced last week. Protein, dairy, and healthy fats now sit at the top of the new food pyramid along with nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables. Add in whole grains, and you have a balanced diet. It’s all a part of getting folks healthy again, both at school and throughout the country.

Whether it’s whole milk or any other full-fat dairy products like yogurt or cheese, it was past time that our kids had access to the choice and nutrition they deserve. I’m glad we were finally able to make this right for the health of our country.  

Sincerely,

Sam Graves