Orlando, FL – For the sixth consecutive year, the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) – creator of the National Milk Mustache “got milk?”® campaign – has declared chocolate milk the official drink of Halloween. Florida Dairy Farmers is joining the fun, offering tips for families to make nutrition in disguise part of their Halloween festivities.
Low-fat chocolate milk is a nutritious Halloween treat with the same nine essential nutrients found in white milk to build strong bones, including calcium, vitamin D, protein, phosphorus and potassium. Other tricks for a healthy and “spook-tacular” Halloween include:
- Make turkey, cheese and lettuce sandwiches using Halloween-themed cookie cutters.
- Mix orange food coloring into white milk for a spooky treat.
- Send kids out with grab-and-go cheese sticks for a snack.
- After trick-or-treating, refuel the kids with chocolate milk and Muenster Monster Kabobs.
- The morning after Halloween, make a nutrient-rich breakfast, including eggs, whole-grain toast and yogurt to keep kids from running to the candy bags.
Research shows that kids who drink low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk on a regular basis are less likely to drink sodas or other sugary beverages. They’re also more likely to maintain a healthy weight compared to kids that drink little or no milk at all.
“For a holiday that’s all about collecting candy, it can be difficult to keep good nutrition in the mix,” said Alyssa Greenstein, licensed and registered dietitian with Florida Dairy Farmers and the Dairy Council of Florida. “Serving chocolate milk and other dairy treats is an easy way to keep trick-or-treaters happy without all the sugar and calories.”
About Florida Dairy Farmers
Florida Dairy Farmers is Florida’s milk promotion group, working to enhance the dairy-farming industry’s image and increase milk and dairy product sales statewide via education and marketing. FDF is one of 18 member organizations of the United Dairy Industry Association and carries out the programs of Dairy Management Inc., the umbrella organization based in Chicago, Ill. For more information, call 407-647-8899 or 800-516-4443 and visit us at http://www.floridamilk.com.
Source: Florida Dairy Farmers