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Apr 21, 2026

What’s On The Tray? Dairy

Test your food knowledge with our pop quiz on dairy.

What happens to more than one-third of the milk produced in the U.S?

milk and cheese in school breakfast meal
Welcome to our monthly food-centered pop quiz – What’s on the Tray? – spotlighting foods that show up on breakfast and lunch trays, and why they matter.

Pop quiz: More than one-third of the milk produced in the U.S. is…

A) Made into chocolate milk
B) Turned into cheese
C) Frozen
D) Thrown away

 Hint: Cheese lovers, this one’s for you!

Answer: Turned into cheese

That’s right – more than one-third of all milk produced in the United States is used to make cheese! From cheddar on breakfast sandwiches to mozzarella on lunch favorites like pizza to snackable grab-and-go cheese sticks, cheese is one of the most versatile items on the menu.

From Milk to Cheese: A Tasty Transformation

Cheese is believed to have been first discovered by accident when milk was stored in containers made from animal stomachs. A natural enzyme called rennet caused the milk to separate into curds and whey, creating the very first cheese.

Fast forward to school meals today, cheese is now made using a more precise process, but the basics are still the same. Milk is carefully processed, tested for safety and transformed into hundreds of delicious varieties – from soft and creamy to hard and sliceable.

How Dairy (and Cheese!) Play a Big Role in School Meals

There’s a reason why dairy shows up in many school meals. Dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt don’t just taste great – they’re packed with nutrition. Together, they provide nine essential nutrients, including:

  • Calcium – builds strong bones
  • Protein – helps kids stay full, focused, and energized 
  • Vitamin D – helps the body absorb calcium
  • Potassium – supports healthy blood pressure
  • Phosphorus, Vitamins A and B12, riboflavin and niacin

That’s why dairy is a key component of school meal programs. It helps fuel both bodies and minds.

Fun Dairy Facts to Share with Students

  • A single dairy cow can produce 6-7 gallons of milk per day. (That’s a LOT of milk for cereal)
  • The average dairy cow eats about 50 pounds of food daily to fuel that milk production
  • Minnesota ranks 6th in U.S. cheese production

Menu Spotlight: Cheese Sticks

Three kinds of cheese sticks - mozzarella, cheddar, and marble jackA student favorite that checks all the boxes: cheese sticks.

  • Packed with protein and calcium to support growing kids
  • Easy to serve and easy to eat
  • A familiar, kid-approved option that helps reduce food waste

And we offer three of them! 

  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Marble jack cheese

Whether served as part of a meal or a grab-and-go snack, cheese sticks are a simple way to bring nutrition and enjoyment together on the school menu.

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