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Take the Milk BY SHERI SHIPP, RDN, YOUTH WELLNESS MANAGER, AMERICAN DAIRY ASSOCIATION INDIANA M ilk is a required offering in both the NSLP and SBP, how- ever students are not required to take it. Read on for just a few pow- erful reasons why we should encourage students to take the milk. NUTRITION POWERHOUSE Dairy milk, whether flavored, unflavored or lactose free, provides a unique nutri- ent package with 13 essential nutrients , including high-quality protein. Just one 8-ounce serving contains 8 grams of complete protein, which is more than one egg. It delivers three of the four nutrients of public health concern, as identified by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: calcium, potassium, and vi- tamin D. The added sugar in flavored school milk has been reduced by 57% since 2007. School milk processors are committed to meeting upcoming added sugar guidelines. Check out the Healthy School Milk Commitment for more in- formation. Encourage your students to talk the milk! LOCAL AND SAFE Fresh milk is local, often sourced less than 200 miles away. It typically travels from farm to store, or school, within 48 hours or less, depending upon your loca-
tion. During this short amount of time, it passes through several strict quality and safety controls. For more on the steps that milk takes from farm to your fridge as well as answers to commonly asked questions about the safety and whole- someness of milk, click HERE . Encour- age your students to take the milk! RESPONSIBLE, CARING PRODUC- TION MAKES DAIRY SUSTAIN- ABLE Approximately 95% of U.S. dairy farms are family-owned and operated. These families aren’t just producing milk, they’re caring for the land that has been entrusted to them and that they will pass on to the next generation. Dairy farmers are committed to doing more with less: from 2007 to 2017, dairy farms reduced their carbon footprint by 19%, water use by 30%, and land use by 21%. Many re- use water up to five times and recycle manure as fertilizer or renewable ener- gy using anaerobic digestion . This short video, Dairy’s Tie to Renewable Energy , explains how dairy can be a part of the environmental solution! Cow care is central to life on a dairy farm. Healthy cows produce high-qual-
ity milk! While farm practices vary by region, all dairy farmers prioritize clean water, balanced nutrition (including by- products of other industries that would otherwise end up in a landfill), and com - fortable bedding such as cool dry sand or water beds. Encourage your students to take the milk! WANT A CLOSER LOOK? Visiting a dairy farm is the best way to learn more and to reaffirm confidence in encouraging your students to choose milk. If an in-person tour is too difficult to arrange, dairy checkoff organizations across the country offer Virtual Farm Tours (VFTs). I encourage you to reach out to your local dairy checkoff organiza- tion (find yours here) to find out if VFTs are available in your area. Dairy isn’t just nutritious, it’s local, sustainable, and rooted in responsible farming practices that make it a power- ful partner in school nutrition programs. By encouraging students to take the milk, you’re not just nourishing them, you’re supporting local farm families and rein- forcing your program’s commitment to nutrition and sustainability.
https://youtu.be/6MsfncmV4ks
Ashley Stockwell, this year’s Indianapolis 500 ® Rookie Milk Person, hosted a virtual farm tour (VFT) on the family’s 3rd generation dairy farm, Stockwell Farms in Hudson, IN.
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