National Dairy Council®, Leprino Foods and Midwest Dairy Council Award $100,000 in Grants to Fund K-12 Schools Fuel Up to Play 60 Grab and Go Programs « Back

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – National Dairy Council®, Leprino Foods and Midwest Dairy Council are demonstrating its continued commitment to child health and wellness by partnering with Leprino Foods to expand its Grab and Go pilot program to an additional 40 schools across the country. By specifically targeting Grab and Go breakfast, lunch and other meal occasions including after school snacks and dinners, this new partnership and grant program will help schools improve or add sustainable, alternative service options. Schools looking to implement or expand Grab and Go programs will be awarded up to $1500 in funding through the grant program. The Fuel Up to Play 60 Grab and Go pilot generated a 10 percent point increase in average daily participation in test schools vs control schools in Colorado. This success paved the way for this expansion to more schools. 

“We are honored to work with Leprino Foods to help bring new innovative ways to serve nutritious breakfast and lunch options to the school environment and provide students with the resources they need to make healthy choices,” said Jean H. Ragalie, RD, president of National Dairy Council, the organization behind Fuel Up to Play 60. “In this time of economic challenges and time constraints, it is more important than ever to create an environment that makes eating healthy and staying active attainable within any type of budget in any school district.”

“We are excited to have eleven schools in Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota participate in the Grab and Go Pilot Program”, said Melissa Young, director, Health and Wellness at Midwest Dairy Council.  The schools receiving a $1500 grant to implement the program are Lee’s Summit West High School, Lee’s Summit North High School, Lee’s Summit High School, Longview Farms Elementary School, Cedar Creek Elementary School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Rapid City High School in Rapid City, South Dakota and Anderson Middle School, Russell Middle School, Kiewit Middle School and Millard North Middle School in Millard, Nebraska.

Schools participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program must also have support from their school principal, district school nutrition director and school nutrition manager, have school enrollment of at least 500, have a breakfast/lunch participation level less than 40 percent, and demonstrate an opportunity to increase participation.

The Grab and Go program is open to schools in the United States that participate in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs and are enrolled in the National Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program for the 2012-13 school year. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a partnership between the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to empower youth to take action to improve nutrition and physical activity at their school and for their own health.

To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 or to get involved, visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com or www.midwestdairy.com

About Leprino Foods
Leprino Foods Company is a world leader in premium-quality cheese production, the number one producer of lactose in the world, and a leading supplier of whey protein and sweet whey. Leprino Foods’ premium-quality cheeses, including mozzarella, reduced-fat Monterey jack, provolone, reduced-fat cheddar and various cheese blends, are made for pizzeria and foodservice operators, frozen food manufacturers and private label cheese packagers. Founded in 1950, Leprino Foods is a world leader in innovative dairy food ingredient production, employing nearly 4,000 people. Sales of Leprino Foods products currently reach over 40 countries around the globe. For more information, visit www.leprinofoods.com.

About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council (NDC), the non-profit organization funded by the national dairy checkoff program, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.

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 more than 9,500 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.