The meals children eat at school are a reliable source of daily nutrition — and for some children, their best source.
That gives the 2026 Dietary Guidelines for Americans real weight for Justin and Hannah Watt, farmers at Cedar Knoll Dairy LLC in Keymar, MD. Hannah, a Pre-K teacher, sees firsthand how federal nutrition guidance affects students and families alike.
“The Dietary Guidelines aren’t abstract for us. They reflect what’s served in classrooms and what we produce on the farm,” Hannah said.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by USDA and HHS every five years, serve as the federal government’s foundation for nutrition policy and shape guidance for programs such as school meals and nutrition assistance. The 2025-2030 guidelines released last month reaffirm the important role of dairy in a healthy diet by recommending three daily servings, recognizing dairy’s benefits at all fat levels, and highlighting its importance for all age groups.
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