The school year has started and kids are into their new grove. New shoes have been scuffed up and new
pencils have been broken. Now it’s time to look at how you can help make this the best school year ever
for your child.

One of the best things you can do as a parent is to make sure your child eats well. Good eating habits
and lots of activity can help kids to do better in school. If your child eats breakfast, lunch and or dinner
at school, you can be sure they are getting good nutrition.

Milk and other dairy foods are a key part of school meals. Why? Milk gives students nine vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamin D, for strong bodies and brains.

Eating enough calcium, among other nutrients, can stop our bodies from taking in lead. Milk is also a great source of protein, which helps kids stay fuller longer. But, many students are not getting enough milk. Kids are more than 1 cup short each day. This adds up.

Over a year they are missing out on calcium and vitamin D they need to build strong bones.

Here are three ways you can make sure your child is getting the most dairy from school meals.

1. Grab that milk carton. School meals has several rules to make sure students get a healthy meal, but milk is the only food that must be served. That’s because of its good nutrition, such as the nine nutrients it provides that kids don’t get in other foods. Make sure your child takes and drinks the milk that comes with his meal.

2. Pick out the chocolate or strawberry milk. Schools offer low-fat (1%) chocolate or strawberry milk as part of the school meals. So, if your child doesn’t like white milk, encourage him to try the other flavors.

3. Shake things up with smoothies. Some schools are serving smoothies made with milk, fruit and
yogurt as part of school meals, usually at breakfast. If your child’s school doesn’t offer
smoothies, the www.MilkMeansMore.org web site has several recipes you can make at home,
including a make-ahead freezer option like “Easy Make-Ahead Freezer Smoothies.”

Easy Make-Ahead Freezer Smoothies
Prep: 15 minutes
Makes 1 smoothie

INGREDIENTS
 1 cup fruit, fresh

 1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt

 1 tablespoon sugar or honey

 1 tablespoon lemon juice

 1/2 cup 2% milk

INSTRUCTIONS
Add fruit, yogurt, sugar, lemon juice to quart-sized freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible. Freeze.

To blend smoothie, remove frozen smoothie ingredients from plastic bag and place in blender. Add milk.
Blend until smooth; about 3 minutes. If you like your smoothie less frozen, take out of freezer and place
bag in a warm bowl of water 30 minutes before blending.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serving size: 16 ounces
Calories:290
Carbohydrate:54g (18%)
Protein:12g (24%)
Total Fat:5g (8%)
Saturated Fat:2.5g (13%)
Trans Fat:0g
Cholesterol:15mg (5%)
Sodium:150mg (6%)
Dietary Fiber:5g (20%)
Calcium:40%
*These values are approximate. Per serving, based on a 2,000 Calorie diet.

  Healthy Foods, Milk Means More, nutrition tips for families, United Dairy Association of Michigan

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