Whole Milk Back in our Schools

Written by: Stephanie Alexandre of Alexandre Family Farm | January 16, 2026

I am so excited to share the happy news that whole milk is finally getting the recognition it deserves and can once again be found in our schools.

On January 14, 2026, the President signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, which is a piece of legislation that brings whole milk and 2% milk back into schools.

My whole life I have believed in whole milk for all. 15 years ago I was successful in bringing whole milk back into our local schools for three months (until the state threatened to fine the school district).

For decades, schools across the country banned whole milk and replaced it with skim or low-fat versions because it was genuinely thought to protect our kids' health.

But research is now showing us something different. And as parents, educators, and community members who care deeply about our children's well-being, we owe it to them to take another honest look at what we've learned.

What our children's brains actually need

Here's something that changed my entire perspective: a child's brain is about 60% fat.

Think about that for a moment. The organ responsible for everything our kids do in school - learning to read, solving math problems, remembering what they've studied, focusing during lessons, developing social skills - is made mostly of fat.

Research from Child Care Aware confirms that children need whole milk to provide healthy fats for brain development. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that fats are critical for children's brain development, with about one-third of a young child's calories needing to come from healthy fats.

When we remove fat from our children's diets during the very years their brains are developing most rapidly, we're taking away the building blocks they need to learn and grow.

I'm not saying this to make anyone feel guilty. We all made decisions based on what we believed was best at the time. But now we know more, and we have the chance to do better for our kids.

Why kids struggle to focus and stay calm

Have you noticed more children struggling with focus? Coming to school hungry even after breakfast? Having trouble sitting still and staying calm during lessons?

There's a reason. Johns Hopkins research shows that fat slows down digestion and helps you feel satisfied after eating. When children drink skim milk at breakfast or lunch, they're getting protein but missing the fat that keeps them full.

Without that, they're hungry again within an hour or two. And hungry kids have a hard time concentrating.

But here's what we've seen happen when children get the whole milk their bodies need: they stay focused longer. They're calmer throughout the day. Their behavior improves.

This isn't magic. It's just their brains and bodies finally getting the fuel they were designed to run on.

The real challenge our children face

Here's what I think we need to talk about honestly: whole milk isn't making our children struggle with their health.

Research shows that ultra-processed foods now make up 67% of what American children eat. Kids are getting nearly half to over half of their daily calories from processed foods that are high in sugar and sodium but low in real nutrition.

And studies from the National Institutes of Health have found that children exposed to pesticides and synthetic chemicals are more likely to struggle with maintaining a healthy weight.

So while we were taking away whole milk with its brain-nourishing fats, processed foods quietly became a bigger part of our children's diets.

I'm not pointing fingers, but the processed food industry is powerful, and they've worked hard to make their products convenient and appealing. However, the research on ultra-processed foods and childhood health is clear - and it's concerning.

When quality matters even more

If we're going to bring whole milk back to schools, we have the opportunity to make it truly nourishing for our kids.

Research published by the American Society for Nutrition shows that grass-fed dairy has significantly more omega-3 fatty acids - the ones that support brain and eye health in children.

Studies have found that grass-fed milk naturally has 30% more vitamin K, 25% more vitamin A, 15% more calcium, and 12% more protein than conventional milk.

The milk is naturally more nutritious, without needing synthetic vitamins added in.

Farms using regenerative practices - focusing on healthy soil, diverse pastures, and ethical animal care - produce milk with even higher levels of the nutrients growing brains need.

This isn't about being fancy or exclusive. Many children rely on school meals for a big part of their daily nutrition. If we're going to serve them milk, why not make it as nourishing as possible?

Even conventional whole milk is better than skim. But if we have the chance to give our kids the very best, shouldn't we try?

What happens next

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is making progress, giving us a chance to nourish this generation of children better than we've been able to in decades.

If you're a parent, educator, or community member who cares about children's nutrition, here's what you can do:

Talk with your school board and administrators. Ask about bringing whole milk back to school cafeterias. Share what the research is showing us now.

Support bringing whole milk back to schools, and encourage looking for milk from farms using ethical, regenerative practices when possible.

At home, choose whole milk for your own children. It supports their brain development and gives them lasting energy.

Trust real food. Our grandparents thrived on whole milk. Their brains developed just fine. They learned, focused, and grew into healthy adults.

We removed something natural and good because we thought we were protecting our kids. Now we know better.

This isn't about going backward. It's about correcting a mistake we made with the best intentions, now that we have better information.

Our children's brains are still developing. They're trying to learn, grow, and focus in school every single day. They need every advantage we can give them.

Whole milk is real food. It's simple, natural, and exactly what growing brains and bodies need.

Let's give our kids that chance.

Lovingly,
Stephanie Alexandre

Research Sources:

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