Dairy Foods Connect Us: Celebrating National Nutrition Month®

March is National Nutrition Month®! With this year’s theme, “Food Connects Us,” we celebrate how the foods, such as the dairy foods we eat and the nutrition they provide, connect us throughout our lives. Through every age and stage, nutrition remains a crucial tool for healthy growth and development. In some stages of life, there are certain nutrients we pay special attention to. Read along to learn how dairy foods can fit into every stage of life.

Nutrition Matters, Right From the Start

A mother’s nutritional status before, during, and after pregnancy can influence her own health and set the potential for her child’s life. Alongside a balanced diet, The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends this population get adequate folic acid/folate, vitamin B12, iron, iodine, and choline. Dairy foods provide 3 out of those 4 nutrients of concern. Did you know that one 8oz glass of real dairy milk provides 40% of a pregnant mother’s daily needs for iodine? Milk and dairy foods are easy for pregnant women to harness the nutrients they need.

Childhood: Building Healthy Habits with Dairy Foods

As children begin to eat solid foods, yogurt and cheese can be introduced, providing new flavors and textures. Try spreading soft cheeses like mascarpone, cottage cheese, or ricotta on steamed vegetables or creating a toddler-friendly yogurt parfait. Healthy habits formed during childhood last a lifetime. Encourage children to get involved with their food and mealtimes by having them help out in the kitchen, grocery shop, or get involved in a garden. Get more tips on feeding toddlers with confidence here.

Adolescence: Setting the Stage for a Healthy Life with Dairy Foods

During these formative years, peak bone mass or bone density is achieved. This bone mass or density set during this time will carry adults through the rest of their lives. Building strong bones during adolescence can help prevent bone diseases like osteoporosis later in life. During this stage, it’s important to focus on bone-building nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. Milk is a source of all these nutrients! During this time, peers and extracurricular activities become more influential in a child’s diet. Healthy fueling before and after sports activities is crucial for performance and hydration and will also help build strong bones. Check out these resources for high school athletes. Other beverages, like soda, juices, and coffee, have become more available and popular but can contribute to unnecessary calories and added sugars. Encourage children to make water and milk their go-to beverages.

Prevent and Maintain: Adulthood and Aging with Dairy Foods

During this life stage, eating a healthy diet to prevent chronic illnesses and maintain bone mass are key priorities. Extensive research has shown that dairy food consumption is not linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total dairy intake including milk, cheese, and yogurt has been linked with a reduced risk for stroke. This stage puts bone density created in adolescence to the test! Bone mass is being maintained at this time, not actively being built anymore. Those bone-building nutrients mentioned before are just as important in maintaining bone mass or bone density. Research indicates that consuming dairy foods helps maintain bone mass throughout adulthood and is associated with reduced fracture risk and greater bone mineral density.

Happy National Nutrition Month®! Here’s to the foods (and nutrients) that connect us!

Sarah Hester, MS, RD

For many dads, back-to-school comes with early mornings, packed lunches, after-school pickup, homework, and practices. The daily race to get everyone out the door on time, mixed with juggling life demands, makes healthy eating challenging. Despite this, the busy back-to-school season also brings an opportunity to play an active role in building healthy habits at home.