In this month's Nutrition Connections:
Good nutrition supports both mothers and babies during the first two years of life. During breastfeeding, mothers need a variety of nutritious foods, including dairy foods, and enough fluids to support their health and provide breast milk. As babies begin tasting complementary foods around 6 months, offering yogurt, cheese, vegetables, fruits and iron-rich protein foods can support healthy growth and development while breastfeeding continues. 
The new statement by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlights the important role pediatricians play in supporting healthy school nutrition environments. It recognizes dairy as an under consumed food group, highlights milk and yogurt as nutrient-rich choices in school meals and reviews evidence on flavored milk and full-fat dairy.
Explore the AAP policy statement. 
Health professionals play a role in supporting healthier school environments by:
Help students connect nutrition, food systems, and agriculture with these school and office-ready resources: 
Explore resources that highlight how the unique combination of nutrients and components in dairy foods works to support health.
How does the dairy matrix support health?
Explore the article, infographic and video.
How do dairy foods support infant brain development and cognition?
Explore the article, infographic and video.
Questions or opportunities for collaboration? Please contact Bessie O’Connor, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, at boconnor@dairycouncilofca.org.
Do you know someone who would benefit from evidence-based nutrition insights and practical resources? Feel free to share this newsletter with colleagues, partners and students in your network. Subscribe here.