Frequently Asked Questions: Dairy
What nutrients are in milk?
Milk contains nine essential nutrients. They include: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, riboflavin, niacin. Vitamin D, a nutrient that helps the body absorb and use calcium. And the average cost is 25 cents, per serving.
Learn more about milk's nutrients
Learn more about rich calcium sources
Why is dairy so important to the average person's diet?
Dairy products provide four of the seven nutrients Americans are missing the most, including calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A. Additionally, calcium does more than just protect bones. Research shows that calcium might also help:
- Reduce high blood pressure
- Reduce the risk of certain cancers
- Maintain a healthy weight
How much dairy should the average adult consume every day?
The U.S government's dietary guidelines for Americans recommends three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt every day.
Have dairy farmers been impacted by the recession?
The economic downturn has impacted the nation's dairy farms in a dramatic way. In the first few months of 2009, the price farmers receive for milk declined by about 50%. Today, it costs dairy farmers almost twice as much to produce a gallon of milk as they are getting paid. *
Learn more about milk pricing
What does it mean to eat in a nutrient-rich way?
Eating nutrient rich means getting the most vitamins, minerals and other nutrients — but not too many calories — from foods. Nutrient-rich foods include:
- Brightly colored fruits and 100% fruit juices
- Vibrant-colored vegetables
- Whole, fortified and fiber-rich grain foods
- Fat-free and lowfat milk, cheese and yogurt
- Lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, eggs, beans and sprouts
Get breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes
Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition
Who is the Midwest Dairy Council?
The Midwest Dairy Council is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council's mission is to promote a healthy diet through nutrition education and the use of dairy products to consumers, health professionals and teachers. Midwest Dairy Council is funded by check-off dollars from dairy farmers in a nine-state region that includes: Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.
*National Milk Producers Assoc., Feb. 2009
Q. Can breakfast really help children learn better?
A. Studies show that a simple breakfast at home or school boosts brain power! The American Dietetic Association reports that children who eat breakfast
- Have improved concentration
- Score higher on tests
- Have better behavior
- Improved attendance
Q. How does breakfast contribute to a child's health?
A. Children who don't eat breakfast are less likely to get all of the essential nutrients they need each day. Eating a nutritious breakfast is a great way for children to be on target to meet their daily needs for key nutrients, like calcium — the bone-building mineral found in milk, cheese or yogurt.
Q. What if my kids aren't hungry in the morning?
A. Start small. Try a piece of fruit and a half a carton of yogurt and work up. Or, get the kids ready for school first, and by the time they've been up for a while, they may feel hungry.
Q. What if I'm not there when my child arrives home from school?
A. Plan ahead. Make sure that your child has nutritious snack items ready to eat when they get home from school. Stock your fridge and pantry with snacks that are ready to eat (no preparation needed). When you buy your groceries, portion out appropriate servings into baggies or plastic containers so your child already has items prepared and portioned out.
Q. Isn't snacking simply a bad habit?
A. Kids generally eat smaller portions of food than adults and need to refuel more often. Snacking helps control eating associated with going too long between meals. Plus, these mini meals provide up to one-fourth of a child's daily energy needs, helping fill important nutrient gaps. Be sure to keep healthful, nutrient-rich snacks, like single serve milks, string cheese and yogurt, on hand.
Q: Doesn't it cost more to eat nutrient-rich foods?
A: Nutrient-rich foods, like dairy deliver more bang for your buck than other options at the grocery store. For example, an 8-ounce glass of milk delivers 9 essential nutrients, like calcium and protein, at about 25 cents per serving. One tip is to avoid the expensive snack aisles and focus on easy nutrient-rich snacks that pay you back, like yogurt and string cheese.
Q: What are the best shopping tips to stretch your dollar and get more nutrition?
A: Basic Smart Shopping Tips (for more nutrition and lower cost):
- Shop the perimeter of the store and choose less processed foods. By purchasing items that are less processed, you spend less money and get items that are healthier.
- Shop the perimeter of the supermarket — Choose brightly colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fat free or low-fat dairy. In fact, dairy foods have 4 out of the 7 nutrients that Americans are missing the most.
- Stock up on low cost frozen and pantry items especially when they are on sale:
- Canned or frozen fruits and veggies
- Oatmeal, whole grain pasta, rice, brown rice
- Peanut butter
Q: What about calcium in other foods like orange juice and soy beverage?
A: Milk provides one of the richest sources of well-absorbed calcium in the American diet, and it contains eight other essential nutrients, including vitamin D, that helps enhance calcium absorption. Due to the inconsistent quality of calcium-fortification in many soy/ rice beverages and orange juice brands, milk is the most reliable calcium source when compared to calcium-fortified beverages.