I can just barely make myself drink whole milk on the rare occasions I eat a dessert that's not fresh fruit or yogurt. I'd much rather drink calcium-fortified orange juice (or water, for that matter) than skim milk.

Heh. A commercial just came on TV informing us that a glass of 2% milk has more saturated fat than a small order of fries.

The thing with requiring milk for school lunches is also a problem because so many black and Hispanic people, who are a pretty big portion of the kids getting free or reduced-price lunch, are lactose intolerant.

We drank skim with the option to add cream because Mother had seen enough studies indicating that homogenized milk was bad. Now we go through a gallon of creamline milk a week for the three of us.

The thing with requiring milk for school lunches is also a problem because so many black and Hispanic people, who are a pretty big portion of the kids getting free or reduced-price lunch, are lactose intolerant.

Say what?

I mean, I don't know about black, but in my experience, I've never met a Hispanic, at least, not a Cuban, who was lactose intolerant. Not that they don't exist, but it's not anything that was common in my neck of the woods. It wasn't until I was exposed to more Americans of European background that I even realized things such as lactose intolerance and wheat gluten sensitivities even existed.

Didn't they recently realize that, for losing weight and other reasons, 1% or 2% is actually better (i.e., some fat) is actually a better choice?

The only place I have skim is in a latte, otherwise, I prefer 1% or 2%. I rarely drink milk, but between my cup of morning coffee and cereal, I go through a decent amount.

The Jamie Oliver thing was just sad, between the content of the lunches, the no forks or knives, and the inability to identify a potato or tomato. But what really scared me was that woman's freezer full of processed food.

I've never been able to drink milk, and it was a Thing when I was in elementary school. There was some weirdness where we paid for milk separately from the lunch - like a dime each meal - and even though I didn't drink the milk I had to pay the dime. I don't remember if the reason for that ever made sense.

I'm a milk lover. Skim milk tastes refreshing to me and whole real unprocessed fresh stuff is like a dessert. I buy 1% or 2% most of the time. I didn't allow the boys to have any cow's milk until after they were 2 because of family history of lactose intolerance and diabetes. Now they both will reach for whole milk if given the option.

There are times when I have a couple different % types in the fridge as well as heavy cream (for cooking or coffee creations). Other times, like now, no milk here at all because the kids seem to be in a no cereal cycle and I am off milk for diet reasons. Boo. Loves me some dairy products, but they don't love me.

There was some weirdness where we paid for milk separately from the lunch - like a dime each meal

I have a slight bell ringing that some kids got free lunch and some just got free milk, so maybe that's why it was separate?

I mean, I don't know about black, but in my experience, I've never met a Hispanic, at least, not a Cuban, who was lactose intolerant. Not that they don't exist, but it's not anything that was common in my neck of the woods. It wasn't until I was exposed to more Americans of European background that I even realized things such as lactose intolerance and wheat gluten sensitivities even existed.

According to the NIH [link] (PDF file), 50-80% of Hispanics are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is least common among people of northern European descent.

Yay I am so glad that the polish box made it there safely!