In this month's Nutrition Connections:
School meal programs offer a powerful solution to the growing challenges of childhood nutrition, food insecurity and diet-related health conditions by providing children with reliable access to nutrient-dense foods, including dairy foods.
According to the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study, students who eat school lunch are more likely to consume milk, fruits and vegetables during lunch than those who do not participate in the school lunch program. These findings highlight the impact school meals have on children’s nutrition.
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service. Lunches consumed from school are the most nutritious [Infographic].
On September 30th, schools will celebrate World School Milk Day, recognizing milk's contribution to students’ health. Milk provides 13 essential nutrients including calcium, potassium, vitamins A, D and B12, and high-quality protein to support the growth and development of children.
In addition, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 provides schools and other federal child nutrition programs with greater flexibility to offer milk at a range of fat levels to support nutrient intake and meet children’s preferences. Whole and reduced-fat milk consumption is not linked with a higher risk of overweight or obesity in children. In fact, several studies suggest neutral or potentially beneficial associations with body composition and cardiometabolic health.
Learn more in this fact sheet about the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and the health benefits of milk for children.
Food as Health: Turning Nutrition Research into Practical Strategies for Bone and Muscle Strength Webinar
Don’t miss our October 1st webinar that will highlight how nutrition science informs a food as health approach to preventing and mitigating osteoporosis and sarcopenia across the lifespan. Drs Connie Weaver and Marta Vuckovic will share research on the role of essential nutrients, bioactive compounds and functional foods in optimizing musculoskeletal health. Attendees will learn practical, evidence-based approaches to help individuals make food choices that support strength, function and overall well-being.
The CPE activity application is pending CDR review and approval for 1 CPEU.
Registration Link: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Nutrition plays an important role in healthy aging. Milk, yogurt and cheese provide key nutrients that support strong bones, muscles and brain health, while fermented dairy foods like yogurt and kefir provide probiotics that support gut and immune health.
Explore our new Healthy Aging webpage about dairy’s role in healthy aging and share with your staff. You can order the free-of-charge handout with this information to provide to patients.
“This handout has been helpful in my patient education sessions. The pictures make it easy for patients to talk about food preferences and priorities. It also helps me personalize goal setting for future nutrition counseling.” Anna Acenas, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Dairy Council of CA recently shared findings from My First 1000 Days: A Dairy Initiative during the first 1,000 days of life at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference. This nutrition intervention program in California's rural Central Valley found that monthly digital dairy vouchers combined with culturally responsive text-based nutrition education was associated with a significant change in dairy food consumption frequency among children ages 6–24 months, improving access to key nutrients for early child growth and development, including high-quality protein, calcium, iodine, choline and vitamin B12. Ninety percent of families redeemed vouchers across multiple dairy categories, highlighting the value of community-based programs that increase access to nutrient-dense, culturally relevant dairy foods.
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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.