How Do I Request That My Child Be Served Plant Milk at School?
by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (see: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/222) simplifies the procedure for requesting that a child be served plant milk as a part of school lunch. Schools are also allowed to offer plant milk to all children but are not required to do this.
If your child attends a school where plant milk is not offered to all, you have a couple of avenues by which you can request that your child be served a plant milk.
If your child has a disability that necessitates use of plant milk, the school is required to provide a substitute for cow’s milk. A parent or legal guardian may provide a written statement requesting a fluid milk substitute (such as a plant milk) for a child whose disability restricts their diet. Under the American Disability Act, anything that substantially limits a major life activity (most physical and mental impairments) constitutes a disability. Both food allergies and intolerances (such as lactose intolerance) are considered disabilities (1).
If you want your child to be served plant milk for non-disability reasons such as a vegan diet or dislike of cows’ milk, you, as parent or guardian can request that your child be given plant milk that meets nutritional requirements. You must submit a statement that identifies the reason for the substitute. The school is then allowed (but not required) to provide your child a plant milk.
If you are interested in pursuing either of these options, check with your child’s school to see if they have a form that you can fill out. If you receive a form that requires that you get a physician or other health care provider to sign, the form is out of date since the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act removes the requirement that a health care provider sign the form to request a substitute for dairy milk.
Some states and school districts provide the necessary forms of their websites. You can search on the state department of education website but check that the form is dated 2025 or later. Earlier forms still have the requirement for a health professional’s signature.
You can see examples of forms that meet the new requirements on websites for California, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New York City. You could share these with your child’s school or with the school district or your state’s Department of Education and suggest that they develop a simple form for parents and guardians.
Reference
- Food and Nutrition Services. Accommodating Disabilities in the School Meal Programs:
Guidance and Questions and Answers (Q&As). https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/guidance-documents/fns.SP26-2017-accommodatingDisabilitiesSchoolMealsQAs.pdf. 2017.
For more information about plant milks in school lunch programs see:
-USDA Issues Implementation Requirements for Use of Plant Milks in the National School Lunch Program
–What are Some of the Brands of Plant Milk that Can Be Used in the National School Lunch Program?
