Join SUDIA in the celebration of World School Milk Day

On September 29, schools across the globe will celebrate the 11^th anniversary of World School Milk Day (WSMD).

WSMD is an international, annual event that celebrates the importance of school milk in children’s diets and provides schools with an opportunity to recognize local dairy farmers. Click here to learn more about the history of WSMD.

Want to get involved? Join more than 40 countries in this year’s celebration by implementing some of these fun activity ideas:

1. Host a milk mustache contest. Take snapshots of students and display the photos in the cafeteria. Milk Mustache Recipe: Mix 2 cups milk with 2 cups vanilla ice cream. Add 2 to 3 tbsp. vanilla instant pudding and blend.   
2. Provide dairy fun facts during the morning announcements.  
3. Sponsor "A Hero’s Breakfast." Invite community heroes or celebrities such as firefighters, policemen, good Samaritans or sports figures to eat a healthy breakfast, that includes dairy, with students. 
4. Watch “Milk on the Mooove: From Farm to You.” Contact your SUDIA Program Account Manager for a free copy of this DVD.  

For a complete list of WSMD activity ideas, click here.

Contact your SUDIA Program Account Manager for help in planning this year’s WSMD celebration.

Fuel Up To Play 60 helps to promote healthy eating opportunities

Help your students learn the importance of living active and healthy lifestyles by enrolling as a Fuel Up To Play 60 (FUTP60) program supporter.

As a school nutrition professional, you have the expertise and experience to influence students’ choices both in and outside the cafeteria. You can help students and staff to understand the benefits of healthy eating and participate in activities to demonstrate your commitment to the long-term health of students and schools. You can also provide guidance to students as they help make positive changes in the school environment. They can’t do it without you!

How can you participate?

1. Join the League and Suit Up: If you haven’t already, go to FuelUpToPlay60.com and sign up so everyone knows you are part of a FUTP60 School. When you register, you get a personal dashboard that shows who’s involved and how your school is doing overall. You also can access a district dashboard to see what other schools are doing.
2. Build Teams and Draft Key Players: Encourage students to take part in the planning of FUTP60 activities. You also can take advantage of FUTP60 training resources and professional credits available to you and your staff through the School Nutrition Association.

How can you support the program?

1. Involve students in healthy eating initiatives. Gather information from students about their insights, perceptions and opinions of new food choices. Whenever possible, involve students and student leaders throughout the planning, implementation and evaluation process of programs.
2. Provide information. Give students, teachers, administrators and parents information on the value of nutrient-rich foods and current options available in school.
3. Update the look and feel of healthy eating. Where possible, supply nutritious options in appealing, fun packaging. Initiate programs like FUTP60’s Cafeteria Restyle Ideas to improve the signs and overall atmosphere in the cafeteria.
4. Offer price advantages for healthy options. Where possible, offer healthy options at a lower price (at least initially). Several studies have documented that price is a key factor to students, and that lowering prices of healthy options encourages trial and purchase.

For additional ideas on how you can get involved, click here.  To enroll as a FUTP60 supporter, visit www.fueluptoplay60.com.

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Flavored milk is too important to eliminate from lunchroom menus

A new study conducted in 58 schools across the nation found that students choose flavored milk nearly 70 percent of the time. When flavored milk options were removed or limited, milk consumption dropped an average of 35 percent among these schools.

On average, the added sugars in flavored milk account for less than 2 percent of the total added sugars in students’ diets, while sodas and fruit drinks provide more than 50 percent.

Today nine out of 10 teen girls and seven out of 10 teen boys don’t meet their recommended daily intake of calcium. Nutrient-rich beverage options such as low-fat or fat-free flavored milk, provide students with three of the five nutrients of concern, including calcium, potassium and magnesium. Click to here to watch a video summarizing why chocolate milk is a healthy beverage choice.

To review published studies on the effects of removing flavored milk from schools or to order flavored milk support materials, visit www.milkdelivers.org.

Fuel Up To Play 60 helps schools meet HealthierUS School Challenge criteria

Help make your schools the best in the nation, committed to nutrition and physical activity, by participating in the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC). 

HUSSC was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recognize schools that create healthier school environments by providing nutrition education, nutritious food and beverage choices and physical education.

Through your participation in Fuel Up To Play 60 (FUTP60), your schools are already on their way to being a HealthierUS School.

How can FUTP60 help schools meet the criteria for HUSSC?

By participating in FUTP60 healthy eating and physical activity plays, such as Try It, You’ll Like It, Taste Test Days and Make the Most of Mornings, schools can meet criteria in six of the nine HUSSC nutrition and physical activity categories.

For additional ideas on how FUTP60 can help your schools become a HealthierUS School, click here.

To learn more about HUSSC and eligibility requirements, please click here.

SUDIA Program Account Managers by state

In this issue:

Join SUDIA in the celebration of World School Milk Day

Fuel Up To Play 60 helps to promote healthy eating opportunities

Flavored milk is too important to eliminate from lunchroom menus

Fuel Up To Play 60 helps schools meet HealthierUS School Challenge criteria

SUDIA Program Account Managers by state