USDA has announced that parents or legal guardians may request soymilk as an alternative to cow's milk for children receiving National School Lunch and Breakfast program meals. Like cow's milk, fortified soymilk helps build strong bones with calcium and vitamin D and contains vitamin A, iron and heart-healthy soy protein. Fortified soymilk is also cholesterol-free and contains lower amounts of saturated fat and fewer calories than milk.

The change caters to the growing diversity of program participants and accommodates lactose intolerance, dairy allergies or cultural diet restrictions.