Hot chocolate milk is one of dairy industry's most popular school programs for a good reason – it’s simple for school nutrition staff and delicious for students, reports the American Dairy Association North East.
Hot chocolate milk can be served as a part of a reimbursable meal as a milk choice or as an a la carte option. A pilot study of the program showed a 10% increase in school meal participation when Hot Chocolate Milk was offered.
ADA says it knows that when given the option, students prefer to drink flavored milk at school over other beverages. Adding their favorite drink to a classic seasonal beverage is a win-win opportunity for both schools and students.
Schools can generate more interest in meal participation with a new and innovative drink. As for students, chocolate milk provides all of the same great nutritional benefits as white milk, serving as a great source of calcium, protein and potassium, among a handful of other nutrients that all help students power through their day.
When implementing the new program, schools can even take it one step further to give a true coffeehouse experience. Add a toppings bar where students can customize their drinks by adding in flavors like cinnamon, cocoa powder and vanilla powder.
If you’re interested in starting a Hot Chocolate Milk program of your own, our ADANE Youth Programs Specialists would love to assist you! ADANE can work with your school to offer a variety of promotional materials to help attract potential students, drive traffic, and increase the number of students participating in meals at schools.
For more information about the program, producers and others can download the Hot Chocolate Toolkit at www.americandairy.com
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