NORWICH – Chobani President Hamdi Ulukaya has made eating yogurt cool.

First was the smaller-sized, real fruit-blended Chobani Champs brand for kids. Then came the New Berlin-based company’s sponsorship of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Now, with U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer’s backing, Ulukaya hopes to have kids develop the habit of eating Greek-style yogurt when they are little, by choosing it from offerings available in the school cafeteria.

Senator Schumer pledged his support at a press conference held at Chobani headquarters in Norwich Monday. He said he sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that he modify the school lunch program to incorporate Greek yogurt as a high-protein meat alternative. Current nutritional standards do not treat Greek yogurt differently from traditional yogurt, despite the higher protein content.

“If Greek-style yogurt is healthier and so good, why aren’t we serving it to our kids?” Schumer asked an audience of Chenango County officials and company representatives.