General Dairy Nutrition

It is recommended that people 9 years and older consume 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy every day. However, on average, people are consuming only about 2 servings of dairy a day.1 Here are 30 ways to incorporate more dairy into your diet.

Enjoy 3 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt for stronger bones and to stave off the afternoon slump! Help your kids get on their way to three servings of dairy every day by serving one of these snacks as they arrive home from school or on their way to after-school activities.

Use the meal-time tips to incorporate dairy foods into your family’s diet and use the Meal Planner to chart your dairy servings each day.

Together, low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt provide a unique package of nine essential nutrients that improve overall diet quality and promote good health. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognize that milk and milk products are linked to improved bone health, especially in children and teens, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in adults.

Retailers can help spread the word about Dairy Makes Sense through their print or electronic newsletters, customer e-mails or blogs. Customize it to meet your needs to help raise awareness of dairy’s value and help drive dairy sales.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Recommends that Americans 9 and older include 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods in their diet each day. On average, Americans ages 2 and older consume only 2 servings of dairy a day. By adding 1 more serving of milk, cheese or yogurt, Americans can help close the calcium gap and meet their needs for this and other key nutrients.

Lactose intolerance doesn't mean you can't enjoy milk, cheese and yogurt. Lactose is the natural sugar in milk and dairy foods.

This simple meal plan provides a flexible and realistic way to get the most nutrition for your calories by focusing on nutrient-dense foods and beverages such as low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.

The Midwest Dairy Health and Wellness Advisory Council's purpose is to provide knowledge and expertise on health and wellness trends and issues. Advisory Council members also contribute to Midwest Dairy Council nutrition education resources, and through their own community participation ensure that health and nutrition professionals and consumers recognize dairy's valuable role as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Milk Group foods are a core part of healthy dietary patterns recommended by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) The DGA recommends 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products daily for those 9 years or older, 2.5 servings for those 4-8 years old, and 2 servings for those 2-3 years old.

The National Dairy Council® conducted a national survey to find out what moms really think about their kids’ nutrition and how schools can “make the grade” by offering a variety of nutritious food and beverage choices.

The National Dairy Council® conducted a national survey to find out what moms really think about their kids’ nutrition and how school health professionals can make a difference by implementing a variety of nutritious food and beverage choices

Milk contains nine essential nutrients, making it one of the most nutrient-dense beverages you can enjoy. Drinking 8 ounces of delicious, satisfying milk can help get you on your way to meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommended three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products a day.

When it comes to nutrition, not all drinks are created equal.

Color in all the milk, cheese and yogurt you can find. Score bonus points if you know what eating three servings of these dairy foods everyday can do for you.

Color in all the milk, cheese and yogurt you can find. Score bonus points if you know what eating three servings of these dairy foods everyday can do for you.

Dairy foods continue to make sense when it comes to nutritional and economic value. Consumers can bank on the basics when they select nutrient-rich dairy foods such as milk, cheese or yogurt, because these foods deliver incomparable nutrition, value and taste.