School Meal Promotions

Observing the importance of dairy in schools

The Dairy Alliance works year round to inform parents, students, teachers and administrators about the wholesome nutrition found in dairy foods and to stress the importance of milk, cheese and yogurt as a part of school meals. The Dairy Alliance supports several national school meal observances by providing dairy promotion materials and resources to schools planning their own observance events. Alliance staff members throughout our nine-state region (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia) are available to provide promotional materials and assistance in planning school activities that celebrate nutritious school meals. The Dairy Alliance is actively involved in several national school meal observances. National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) – March 4-8, 2019

National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) is a weeklong celebration of the national School Breakfast Program that helps to improve students nutrition with balanced school meals. Schools celebrate with decorations, events, special menu items, etc. Increasing breakfast participation is a goal for many schools and NSBW is the perfect time to bring attention to your breakfast program. Check out the School Nutrition Association website for official NSBW resources.

Whether it’s Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab N’ Go Breakfast or Breakfast After the Bell, there are many ways to help your students enjoy the most important meal of the day. Breakfast in the Classroom is available to all children, regardless of family income. This eliminates the stigma often associated with school meals for low-income students. Children on this program perform better on tests, show improvement in their behavior and have fewer absences. Studies show that children who eat breakfast learn better because they are able to concentrate, comprehend and remember lessons. The Breakfast in the Classroom program helps students receive these benefits. Check out our Dairy in Your School section for more information.

Need breakfast ideas for your school cafeteria program? These large-yield breakfast recipes developed by the National Dairy Council were created especially for cafeteria service, Grab N’ Go Breakfast and Breakfast in the Classroom. By showcasing them, you can not only help increase school breakfast awareness and participation, but can help all students start each day with the nutrition they need to help them succeed and show your school’s commitment to child health and wellness.

The Dairy Alliance can help you plan your next NSBW event. For more information, please contact us.

World School Milk Day – September 26, 2018

World School Milk Day (WSMD), celebrated annually on the last Wednesday of September, is an exciting day full of activities that highlight the health benefits and value of milk in schools.

WSMD is an engaging way to teach students about the importance of drinking milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet with an emphasis on milk as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that kids need to stay alert and ready to learn.

Celebrating its 19th year, the event has grown to be celebrated in more than 40 countries with continued growth each year. WSMD brings attention to school milk and allows all countries to celebrate school milk on the same day. WSMD is sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

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