3-A-Day  
Great Dairy Recipes 
Health Professional Resources
Health Professionals/Medical & Health Media
Great Download Resources
Links
Information about the New Food Guide Pyramid Materials
Michigan Schools and School Food Service Resources
Michigan Team Nutrition
Nutrition Reports Resources
Michigan's DairyLine
UDIM and DMI working together to build dairy demand
Michigan Action For Healthy Kids
Nutrition Explorations
The Fun and Easy Way to Teach and Learn Nutrition
Dairy Diplomats of Michigan
Fun Stuff


Click here for
Great Dairy Product Links


www.3aday.org

Kent Transition Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan, received the 2007 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant. Congratulations to Candice Churchwell, Principal, and the staff of the Kent Transition Center and Kent Intermediate School District. 

This project involves a unique population: 381 15-19 year-old students with special needs. The Kent Transition Center (KTC) serves students with a variety of learning impairments. These students have the opportunity to study in a number of fields including health, construction, hospitality and retail. They will soon be living on their own and making important decisions about their lifestyle and health. The program goals are to:

  • Increase consumption of dairy products by students and staff onsite
  • Decrease consumption of pop and other nutrient-limited foods onsite
  • Increase awareness of the benefits and importance of getting three servings of dairy per day
  • Increase familiarity with new dairy products and improve understanding of student’s preferences

Health students at the KTC will research the health benefits of three servings of dairy a day and create displays and educational materials for a health fair that will serve as the school-wide, kick-off for healthy changes that will be implemented in the school environment based on the school wellness committee’s recommendations. The health fair will be viewed by all KTC faculty and staff as well as 2,400 other students and staff on the Kent Intermediate School District campus.     

During the health fair, samples of a variety of dairy products will be offered free of charge to students. Retail students will create attractive displays and offer these products as a way to encourage students and staff to try a variety of dairy products. Retail students will determine which dairy products are the most popular to determine which products should be stocked and sold in the school store. Because students attend for only half a day, lunch is not available at KTC. However, students attending KTC are frequently very hungry and make full use of the school store on site.

Health students will offer a number of screenings and health assessments at the health fair, including a school-wide survey to determine how many servings of dairy are consumed by students and staff. After changes in the school environment are made, health students will conduct a follow-up survey to determine the number of servings of dairy foods consumed by students and staff. 

Following the health fair, retail students will select a variety of dairy foods to offer for sale in the school store. A freezer-panel cooler will be purchased to display and store dairy products at the right temperature in the school store. Consistent with the school’s new wellness policy, these products will replace other less nutritious offerings that had been in the school store. After these changes have been implemented, health students will conduct a follow-up survey to determine how many servings of dairy students and staff are now consuming.

 

"Have You Had Your 3-A-Day of Dairy Today" Fact Sheet

As a 3-A-Day Mom, you'll receive our monthly Get 3!
e-newsletter, delicious dairy recipes, helpful tips, expert nutrition advice, and special offers and freebies to help make 3-A-Day part of your family's healthy habits.

 
Caught in the act…enjoying dairy foods
   Students at Farms Intermediate School in Hartland are keeping a close eye on school board members, administrators and community members. The students are searching for adults who model a particular positive eating habit: enjoying three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day. When the role-modelers are caught in the act, students “report” them by taking a mug shot of the perpetrator and the product in question. To teach all students a lesson, the photos are displayed throughout the school. 
   The “caught in the act” activity is one of many unique educational experiences for students in the award-winning program developed by Terri Sincock, food service director for Hartland Consolidated Schools. Terri’s nutrition education program for 833 fifth- and sixth-graders is this year’s winner of the $5,000 3-A-Day of Dairy grant sponsored by United Dairy Industry of Michigan. 
   The 3-A-Day of Dairy grant is designed to improve children’s overall diet and help them adopt a healthy lifestyle. The grant is awarded to an innovative, community-based nutrition education program aimed at empowering kids to become advocates for healthy eating.
   Sincock has 32 years of experience in the food service industry; the last 22 years in school food service. “It is the Hartland food service department’s mission to provide nutritional meals that will help our students make positive choices and perform at their best academically, physically and personally,” she said. Sincock is active in the Michigan Action for Healthy Kids coalition and the local and state school nutrition associations.
   “I’m very committed to educating students on the importance of good nutrition and daily physical activity,” Sincock said. Her program will also evaluate ala carte items so a minimum of 90% of items offered meet voluntary nutrition standards developed by the Michigan Action for Healthy Kids coalition and endorsed by the State Department of Education.
   In school, students will learn about the importance of a healthy diet, taste-test new food, and practice making healthy choices. At home, parents can reinforce the nutrition goals by signing a pledge to ensure that students consume three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt daily. A parent advisory group, the principal and assistant principal will assist with program operation and evaluation.
   Visit nationaldairycouncil.org for more information about the 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant and actionforhealthykids.org for information about healthy schools.



2005 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant Winner!


 Grand Rapids Middle School Students Become Certified Calcium Chefs

2004 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition
Education Grant Awarded