According to a study published this month in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, almost 25% of kids chose soymilk when offered a choice in the school lunch line. The study was conducted by researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
The study also found that consumption of soymilk increases calcium consumption while decreasing consumption of saturated fat, which is important based on the growing number of obese kids in our country. Dairy foods are the single largest source of saturated fat in kids' diets today, and the National Cancer Institute has stated that saturated fat is the leading contributor to increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The study took place during 4 weeks at three ethnically diverse elementary schools in Florida. Students sampled vanilla and chocolate soymilk the day before they were offered in the lunch lines. Sales of all types of milk were counted and leftover cartons were collected and weighed to measure consumption.
At the end of a 4-week period, the percentage of kids choosing a calcium rich beverage, either soymilk or cows milk, had increased from 79 to 83%. Students who chose soymilk consumed an average of 58% of the carton, while those chose cow's milk finished 52.6%.
In spite of this, the National School Lunch Program offers no reimbursement for non-dairy alternatives without a note from a parent or doctor. The administrators of the program state that they will not change their policy until it is determined that soymilk is an acceptable option for children.
Kids will choose healthier options when they are provided. In this case, the kids were offered no education as to why they should choose soymilk instead of cow's milk. But we know from studies such as those conducted by Antonia Demas, that the percentage of children making healthier choices climbs significantly when kids are given reasons and more information. If you're postponing converting your family to a healthier diet because you're not sure your kids will go along, think again.
And, inroads can be made in improving school food at the local level. It would be nice if national legislation were passed that would require schools to do better, but the bottom line is more progress can be made immediately if parents and concerned citizens just begin to fight the battle in their local school or school system.
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