Fall 2003
Check-off Funded Programs Take Center Stage at Summer Events
On July 23rd kids of all ages had loads of fun learning
about cows, milk and how milk gets from the cow to the table at the Great Dairy Adventure. Cow milking, coloring projects, milk mustache photos and flavored milk recipes were just some of the things kids could do as part of an exploration of the wild world of dairy. Free ice cream treats, giveaways, drawings and contests were also included in this adventuresome day.
At the Mix It With Milk 'n Jell-O booth, kids could mix up Caramel Apple Delight milk or Very Berry Pie milk. UDIM featured this activity to promote the national Mix It With Milk 'n Jell-O contest, which encourages kids to create new flavors of milk using Jell-O brand gelatin powder or Jell-O brand instant pudding powder. Kids ages 6-12 were encouraged to create a new flavor of milk at home and visit
www.mixitwithmilk.com to enter the contest for a chance to win a $10,000 college scholarship!
While kids paused for the application of a 3-A-Day tattoo, parents and caregivers had the opportunity to learn about the 3-A-Day of Dairy program and importance of eating three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt per day to build stronger bones and better bodies.
The Great Dairy Adventure was part of the Michigan Dairy Expo. Hundreds of cows and their owners took part in the four-day Expo, which began July 21st.
Students from Future Farmers of America chapters and 4-H clubs around the state took part in skills contests during the events.
Ag Expo held July o22-24 once again provided the Michigan farming community with an impressive display of farm equipment, services and programs, including 3-A-Day of Dairy. Dairy Diplomats staffed UDIM's 3-A-Day of Dairy themed booth throughout the Expo and reached hundreds of consumers and producers with important 3-A-Day messages.
The 3-A-Day of Dairy program has garnered over 431 million media impressions to date nationwide and conveyed important messages to consumers on dairy consumption. Dairy Diplomats provided consumer education brochures, 3-A-Day tattoos for kids and the ever-popular string cheese during Ag Expo in an effort to raise awareness about the program within the agriculture community.
For more information on the 3-A-Day program, visit www.3aday.org. Some of the features on the site include family-friendly recipes, a free "Mom Tool Kit," and the opportunity to sign up to receive the 3-A-Day e-newsletter, Get 3!, filled with valuable solutions for moms and subscriber only freebies.
3-A-Day of Dairy:
Local Health Professional Collaborations
The 3-A-Day of Milk, Cheese or Yogurt for Stronger Bones campaign is a national marketing and educational initiative designed to address an issue experts recognize as a major health problem - America's low calcium intake. The 3-A-Day of Dairy program is managed by the National Dairy Council and American Dairy Association and supported by four national health professional organizations: The American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Medical Association, and American Dietetic Association.
One of the ways the United Dairy Industry of Michigan is extending this program is by collaborating with local health professional organizations to provide 3-A-Day of Dairy information and resources to enhance consumer education and counseling. A 3-A-Day of Dairy Resource Kit was distributed to Michigan Dietetic Association (MDA) members in July. The kit includes technical backgrounders for registered dietitians and tips and tools to help families get three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day. MDA members received additional exposure to 3-A-Day of Dairy during the 2003 MDA annual conference where over 100 MDA members attended a Better Bones, Brighter Futures osteoporosis prevention training and MDA media reps learned how to utilize 3-A-Day of Dairy food props during media interviews. This summer and fall, pediatricians and family physicians will discover how tasty 3-A-Day of Dairy can be: the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and Michigan Academy of Pediatrics conference attendees will be treated to 3-A-Day of Dairy recipes during a refreshment break and dessert reception.
The 3-A-Day of Dairy Web site, www.3aday.org, houses a wealth of nutrition education resources. The site features health professional resources (data, research articles, research reviews, and consumer education materials), consumer resources (family-friendly recipes, tips, and tools including a downloadable chart to track daily dairy servings), and resources for the media (press releases, graphics). Moms can register for a free "Mom Tool Kit" that includes recipes and coupons, and sign up to receive the Get 3! e-newsletter that offers subscriber-only freebies.
Health professionals in Michigan are embracing the new campaign. "Health professionals are excited to have innovative and useful tools to show families how to include enough dairy foods in their diet to help prevent osteoporosis and for overall health," notes Karen Giles-Smith, registered dietitian and Manager of Nutrition Communications with United Dairy Industry of Michigan, "After seeing the wide array of resources, many health professionals have said, 'This is exactly what I need!'"
NASCAR Event Has Fans Saying "got milk?"
On your mark… get set…got milk?! Hundreds of race fans and kids certainly did at the fun-filled got milk?/NASCAR event sponsored by United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Bareman's Dairy on June 11th. The day-long event at the Country Market grocery store in Brooklyn, Michigan preceded the June 15th, NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway (M.I.S.) and promoted the dairy industry's sponsorship of two-time Winston Cup Champion Terry Labonte.
Festivities included the appearance of Terry Labonte's interactive show car simulator that allowed fans to experience the thrill of NASCAR racing. While sitting inside a replica stock car and playing a videogame, fans literally got a taste of life in the fast lane! Bareman's Dairy was on hand to refresh each "driver" with free, ice-cold milk and hundreds of kids and their parents donned the infamous milk mustache and had their photos taken with a life size Terry Labonte standee. Attendees could also enter a drawing for an autographed Terry Labonte helmet and various other NASCAR-related prizes.
Over 400 people attended the event, which also raised awareness for the School Pit Stop Challenge. Each weekend throughout the race season, Terry Labonte and his #5 crew showcased the got milk? logo and raced for local schools around the country. During the School Pit Stop Challenge, for every pit stop Terry Labonte and his team completed in less than 17 seconds at M.I.S., United Dairy Industry of Michigan donated $100 to the school food service program at the Brooklyn Columbia School District. Thanks to the expertise of Labonte's crew, UDIM will present a $500 donation to Jayme Priest, Food Service Director for the Brooklyn Columbia School District.
UDIM and the American Dairy Association are excited about the partnership with Kellogg's because it has provided us with the opportunity to reach 75 million loyal NASCAR fans nationwide with the message to eat 3 servings of dairy every day. Terry Labonte and his #5 crew showcased the got milk? logo throughout the race season this summer and to date, over 20 million media placements have been secured to highlight the Kellogg's/got milk? racing program.
Progress Report: Michigan Action for Healthy Kids
Since the inaugural meeting in December 2003 of the Michigan Action for Healthy Kids Coalition (now numbering over 200 organizations) four additional statewide meetings have been held. During those meetings objectives were established in support of our goals. Tactics are being developed to implement the goals and objectives. The results are as follows:
Goal I: Ensure that healthy snacks and foods are provided in vending machines, school stores and other venues within the school's control.
A. Objective: By December 31, 2006, 51% of Michigan's public school districts will adopt a policy for healthy food choices within the school environment including but not limited to vending machines, a la carte sales, school stores, and other venues within the school's control.
B. Objective: By December 31, 2006, increase consumption of healthy food choices among students by 20%.
Goal II: Provide all children, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, with quality daily physical education that helps develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors and confidence needed to be physically active for life.
A. Objective: By December 31, 2006, 50% of Michigan school districts will implement guidelines for quality physical education offerings that provide the tools to increase the probability that students will be physically active for life.
B. Objective: By December 31, 2006, increase participation in physical education and physical activity among students by 20%.
Goals I & II:
C. Objective: By December 31, 2006, increase awareness by 50% among Michigan school districts of the health and behavioral benefits of healthy eating and physical activity while stressing the critical link to student achievement.
At the Coalition meetings, work groups have been formed for each objective. Strategies are being developed to ensure successful implementation. The Coalition is striving to join forces with other groups in the state currently working on similar projects to improve the health of Michigan's children so as to avoid duplication of efforts.
Additional information about Michigan's, as well as other state's, efforts can be found at
www.actionforhealthykids.org. Check out Michigan's home page on the site if you want to get involved.
Do High Protein Diets Increase the Risk for Osteoporosis?
No, not necessarily. A growing body of research suggests that eating a high protein diet does not harm bones if adequate dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin D are consumed. Although protein is essential for bone health, high intake of protein, especially purified protein, may increase urinary calcium loss. This calcium loss could potentially cause negative calcium balance, thereby increasing the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis. However, other nutrients in foods or the diet can offset protein's effects on calcium excretion.
Findings from epidemiological studies point to protein's beneficial effect on the skeleton. One study found that increasing the protein intake of older adults with hip fractures, especially when adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D were also consumed, reduced bone loss, improved muscle strength, and shortened their hospital stay.
Controversy regarding protein's effects on bone health may be explained by other nutrients in food sources of protein or the total diet. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston found that adequate dietary calcium helps to promote a favorable effect of dietary protein on the skeleton in older adults. Also, phosphorus (e.g., in milk, meat) and potassium (e.g., in milk, legumes, and grains) reduce urinary calcium loss, thereby offsetting protein-induced urinary calcium excretion.
Protein exists in close association with other nutrients in the diet. For this reason, it is important to consider protein's role in bone health in the context of foods or the overall dietary pattern.
Protein in dairy foods - milk, cheese, and yogurt - may be particularly beneficial for the skeleton because the calcium content of these foods is high in relation to their protein content and they provide other nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, D, and K needed to build and maintain healthy bones. A number of studies suggest that milk's nutrient package has positive effects on bone health. These findings provide the scientific basis for the dairy industry's "3-A-Day of Dairy for Stronger Bones" marketing and education program. This program is supported by leading health and nutrition organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, and the National Medical Association.
For more information about dietary protein and bone health, refer to the September-October 2003 issue of the Dairy Council Digest
(www.nationaldairycouncil.org).
