Dairy Council of California: Our Story
Since 1919, Dairy Council of California has been an innovator in nutrition education.
Our mission is to help consumers make food choices for optimal
health that match individual values. We do so using a total diet approach in which
dairy is a cornerstone, through innovative learning programs, research and communication.
Click here to learn more about the history of
the Dairy Council of California.
We strive to enhance the health and well-being of children and adults by enabling
individuals to make healthful food and lifestyle choices through our nutrition education
programs for educators
and health professionals.
Our school programs connect to core curriculum making it easier for teachers to teach nutrition education while teaching California content standards.
Our programs consider the whole person, addressing emotional, mental and social well-being in addition to physical aspects of health. Individuals are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle decisions using food and activities that match their unique needs and preferences.
We embrace a nutrition approach that encourages individuals to eat moderate portion
sizes of a wide variety of foods. Instructional materials and communications are
based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and USDA's MyPyramid food guidance system.
In particular, we encourage dietary patterns that emphasize those nutrient-rich
food choices that are often under-consumed: low-fat dairy, whole grains, fruits
and vegetables.
We believe that all foods can be part of healthful eating when managed for
variety, moderation, and proportionality. We do not support labeling individual
foods as "good" or "bad." We recognize that favorite foods, regardless of fat or
calorie content, can be part of a balanced diet when using the above principles.
We value individual choice and recognize that there are multiple factors influencing
food decisions, including taste, family and cultural traditions.
We believe that 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity, along with a nutritious
diet, enhances one's overall health and well-being. Physically active individuals
are more able to maintain their body weight and enjoy more flexibility in food choices.
We believe that parents are the most important influence in their children's lives
and have primary responsible for establishing positive attitudes toward food and
developing healthy eating habits.
We believe that sharing family meals on a regular basis, improves the diet and health
of children and adolescents. Family meals are an important aspect of people's lives
since they build and sustain cultural and family traditions.
We value our ability to help people improve their health at the key times in their
life when they are the most open to making change. Our programs target children
at key developmental stages and adults at critical times in their lives when eating
and lifestyle habits are most likely to be re-evaluated.
We strive to be on the leading edge in applying the latest, proven educational methodologies.
Our programs are based on
behavior change model. Our programs include learning strategies that are
consistent with recent brain research on effective learning. We believe that truly
effective nutrition education works best when individuals are educated to make the
best food choices for themselves and their families, and can clearly see how to
put their choices into action.