As the holiday season brings warmth and celebration, we’re also raising a glass to milk! National Milk Day in January is a reminder of milk’s enduring role in nutrition, student well-being and healthy learning. In this edition, explore updates, tips and resources to keep you informed and inspired—plus a little seasonal cheer along the way.
January 11 is National Milk Day—recognizing a historic innovation that
made milk safer and more accessible for children and families. Today, milk continues to provide an affordable, nutrient-rich option that supports student growth, well-being and nutrition security. Its unique combination of nutrients also contributes
to everyday health, supporting energy, cognition, bone strength and overall wellness.
Explore celebration ideas, classroom activities, and school-ready materials that make it easy to bring National Milk Day to life in learning and meal-time
settings. Discover resources and activation tools at: DairyCouncilofCA.org/NMD
Our outcome-based annual report highlights how partners
like you helped reach 1.7 million children and families across California this past year. Educators and school nutrition professionals continue to shape meaningful impact—90% of those trained rated our resources effective, and demand for evidence-based
tools and classroom-ready materials continues to grow. As one teacher was quoted, “The information is accurate and reliable. We get flooded with false information through the media and social media. I know that resources and information I get through the Dairy Council of California are factual.”
Explore the year’s highlights in the 2024-2025 Annual Report.
Hidden Valley Elementary, a recipient of Dairy Council of California’s Let’s Eat Healthy Community Grant,
recently hosted engaging nutrition education assemblies for 507 TK–6th grade students. These interactive assemblies brought the Let’s Eat Healthy curriculum to life, emphasizing the importance of milk and dairy foods as part of
the five food groups in building healthy eating habits.
Students also enjoyed visits from a California Dairy Princess, 4th generation dairy farmer, Jen Beretta of Berretta Family Dairy, Clo the Cow and school leaders such as the district’s
school nutrition director, district superintendent and principal.
Sign up for one of four virtual Mobile Dairy
Classroom assemblies on December 5 or 12 at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. to take your students on a journey from farm to table. They’ll discover where food comes from and learn healthy habits—all without leaving school! Register
here.
Our Let’s Eat Healthy Toolkit recently underwent a
rigorous third-party review published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB). This peer-reviewed evaluation confirms the toolkit as a comprehensive, evidence-based resource for professionals to collaborate in promoting
lifelong healthy eating patterns that include milk and dairy foods. Reviewer Sa’Nealdra T. Wiggins, PhD, RDN, noted that the toolkit “comprehensively yet succinctly covers key topics, making it an easily digestible tool for nutrition professionals
aspiring to create meaningful change.” Access the toolkit here.
Fifty-nine schools across 13 California districts, primarily in the Bay Area, received Super Schools grants from GENYOUth to support student health through better nutrition and physical activity. Celebrating Super Bowl LX, the grants will expand access to 9 million school meals for more than 33,000 students. Dairy Council of California partnered with GENYOUth to promote the program and provided nutrition education resources. While this year focused on Bay Area schools, a statewide opportunity is planned for spring 2026.
Missed the webinar? Now is your chance to watch and strengthen your understanding of dairy’s role in healthy eating patterns, as well as its impact on functional health. These insights can support your own wellness goals, enhance nutrition education and counseling and be shared with students, families and communities. Catch the recording here.
Looking for some delicious, dairy-rich recipes for the holiday
season? Discover festive favorites and creative ideas that bring comfort and flavor to your table—all while adding a nutritious twist with dairy goodness. Browse recipes here.
Join us live at these upcoming webinars:
Wellness Committee Refresh: Creating Committees That Inspire Change (Dec. 11,1–1:45
p.m.) A strong Wellness Policy Committee can transform district goals into meaningful, community-driven action. Join the California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative for an engaging session designed to help you build or reinvigorate your
district’s committee with purpose and impact.
Brain Fitness: New Year, Stronger Brain (Jan. 7, 1–2:30 p.m.) Join the Brain Fitness Team at San Diego College of Continuing Education and Dairy Council of California for a virtual webinar on nutrition and brain health. Discover evidence-based daily strategies to support healthy aging
through eating patterns, physical activity and social connection.
Have questions, ideas or want to collaborate?
Contact Maria Frye, Registered
Dietitian Nutritionist, Community & School Engagement Project Manager, at mfrye@dairycouncilofca.org.