St. PAUL, Minn. – The recently released 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods every day to maintain a well-balanced diet, however the majority of Americans fall short of this amount, getting on average less than two daily servings. To help families be more successful in meeting the Dietary Guidelines recommendation, and to ensure they aren’t missing out on key nutrients dairy foods provide, Midwest Dairy Council has launched the Dairy 3 for Me pledge.
The pledge creates awareness about the nutritional value of dairy foods, highlighting how together, milk, cheese and yogurt provide nine essential nutrients including calcium for strong bones and protein for healthy muscles. Also, it calls for individuals to pledge their commitment to integrating three daily servings of dairy into their diet by taking a Dairy 3 for Me pledge. The pledge can be taken by completing an online form or by using the hashtag #Dairy3forMe on Twitter.
There are many ways to get three servings of dairy every day, such as making milk the meal time beverage, topping sandwiches and salads with cheese and using plain Greek yogurt as an ingredient in appetizers, like Cucumber Yogurt Dip and Deviled Eggs.
“Dairy’s nutrition, versatility, as well at its affordability – an 8-ounce glass of milk costs, on average, only .25 – are all motivating factors in taking the Dairy 3 for Me pledge,” says Stephanie Cundith, Midwest Dairy registered dietitian. “Not only is upholding a commitment to get three servings of dairy every day important to our health, but it can be easy to do and easy on a grocery shopper’s budget.”
For more recipes and tips to get three servings of dairy every day, visit MidwestDairy.com.
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Midwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of 8,000 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states, and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.
Source: Midwest Dairy Council
