School children encouraged to MILK IT on World School Milk Day
It’s delicious, it’s nutritious and it’s being celebrated around the world.. it’s Milk! On 30th September 2009, school students from over 80 countries will be celebrating World School Milk Day by enjoying a drink that not only tastes great but is good for them too.
The first World School Milk Day was celebrated in September 2000 and has since become an annual event around the world. World School Milk Day celebrates milk as one of the best drinks for school children.
Dairy Australia dietitian Glenys Kerrins says World School Milk Day provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the importance of including milk in their daily diet.
“Children grow right before our eyes. Between the ages of two and 12, children more than double their height and weight and lay the foundation for the body that will last a lifetime.”
“Milk is packed with important nutrients children need everyday to promote growth and development, and to build strong healthy bones and teeth.”
According to Aloysa Hourigan, spokesperson for Nutrition Australia, calcium-rich milk is regarded as one of the most complete foods and contains most of the nutrients our bodies need.
“Milk, as well as other dairy foods like cheese and yogurt, is one of the five major foods groups in a healthy balanced diet. Every drop of milk contains more than 10 essential nutrients, important to keep growing bodies strong and healthy for life,” Ms Hourigan said.
In fact, new research shows that dairy foods such as milk contribute over half of children’s dietary calcium, iodine and vitamin A intakes and about a quarter of their protein, riboflavin, phosphorous, potassium and zinc intakes . Not bad for a drink that kids love!
With children spending more time away from home than ever before, students need the nutritional benefits of milk at school to help them achieve optimum growth and learning.
Ms Hourigan says, lunchtimes at school are a great opportunity for Australian children to have a carton of milk which provides one of the three serves of dairy needed every day to build strong bones.
However, research shows that children are missing out on milk’s bone-building nutrients at school, with only seven per cent of children drinking milk at lunchtime.
“The food that children have for lunch at school can have a serious impact on their health and nutrition,” says Ms Kerrins. “If your child does not have milk at lunch it may be difficult for them to drink enough milk to meet their needs. Consider including flavoured milk as a frozen drink in their school lunch box, or alternatively check that the school canteen sells milk.”
“It is vital that schools and parents work together to provide children with foods packed with the nutrients essential for their growth and development such as milk - whether it be from the school canteen or brought from home.”
Students can visit the Dairy Australia schools website at www.dairy.edu.au/discoverdairy to learn about the importance of milk, how milk is made and how it reaches our refrigerators.
ENDS
For more information or interviews contact: Glenys Kerrins, ph (03) 9694 3842, mob 0409 552 554 or email gkerrins@dairyaustralia.com.au OR Aloysa Hourigan, mob 0417 078 956.
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"Assessment of 2007 Dairy Intakes in Children" Secondary Analysis of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, by CSIRO, 2009.
The 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was jointly funded by the Australian Government (through the Department of Health and Ageing, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and the Australian Food and Grocery Council.
Research: ‘Dairy Usage & Attitude Study’ conducted by Roy Morgan in 2007 across 5 major capital cities Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth