It’s one small way the dairy industry is fighting to slow the persistent decline in U.S. milk consumption as eating habits change. Midwest Diary has provided grants to Williston High School and Century High School in Bismarck at upwards of $5,000 to help pay for an espresso machine that makes lattes with about 8 ounces of milk each.
In the podcast above: Char Heer, a
Registered Dietitian with Midwest Dairy, joins It Takes 2 to talk about the program.
Heer says the milk-based coffee beverages are a part of the breakfast program and available throughout the day. The schools that have started the program have seen both an increase in milk consumption and in breakfast participation. In the case of Century High School, they saw their breakfast participation double!
Which, in the end, Heer says is part of the goal of the program. Starting their day with some good nutrition is important. And, the milk-based coffee drinks can be nutrition in disguise!
The milk-based coffee drinks served in schools have to follow the USDA guidelines for nutrition, which means they are a lower fat and lower sugar version with smaller, controlled portion sizes.
Dairy consumption is down significantly. Americans are getting about 1 1/2 servings of dairy a day, when the recommended amount is 3 servings. Milk consumption in the U.S. is down 40 percent since 1975. So, Heer says, if the industry can find innovative ideas to increase dairy consumption with programs like this, they are not only helping the students but the dairy producers, as well.
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(Amy Iler & JJ Gordon are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Check out the show page on
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