Since 2012, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program have served only nonfat and 1 percent milk, thanks to very strong research linking saturated fat consumption to the development of cardiovascular disease, says Katelyn Fox, PhD, RD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior. However, the latest federal dietary guidelines include whole milk, and schools can sell that and 2 percent milk again. These contradictory messages are sowing confusion and could put kids’ health at risk.

The research on the risks of excessive saturated fat consumption has been consistent and the new guidelines still recommend limiting saturated fat to less than 10 percent of daily calories. One cup of whole milk has around 8 grams of saturated fat, which is about one-quarter of an adult’s estimated allotment to stay within that 10-percent limit. But it’s harder to stay under the limit for kids, whose energy needs are lower than adults. If a child is consuming two cups of whole milk a day, they would have to be eating very little saturated fat from other foods to stay under 10 percent of calories.

While there isn’t a strong argument that whole milk is better than low-fat milk, there is an argument that getting kids to drink milk is better than them not drinking it. Milk has nutrients like vitamin D, potassium, and calcium that they may not be getting from other foods.

As a pediatric dietitian, I do recommend whole milk, particularly for kids with certain medical conditions that increase their calorie needs. However, I recommend nonfat, 1 percent, or fortified non-dairy milk for most children, especially those with a family history of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association guidelines are more conservative than the federal guidelines, recommending under 6 percent of calories from saturated fat.

That said, whole milk can be part of a healthy diet. When counseling families, I highlight the importance of adding high-fiber foods that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. We want people to enjoy their food and eat to their cultural preferences, so I wouldn’t say don’t drink whole milk at all, but rather focus on consuming an overall healthy dietary pattern.