Midwest Dairy has launched a strategic effort in 2025 to elevate the role of dairy in addressing nutrition equity and health disparities, partnering with influential organizations in both the medical and dietetics communities across Oklahoma.
The initiative began with a sponsored general session at the Region V National Medical Association’s annual conference on April 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The session, titled “Opportunities to Close the Nutrition Equity Gap: Amplifying Cultural Relevance of Dairy Foods in Tackling Health Disparities,” was led by Registered Dietitian Krystal Dunham and moderated by Dr. Donald Peghee. The presentation sparked thoughtful discussion among physician attendees, particularly about lactose intolerance and the importance of offering real dairy solutions that support the diverse nutritional needs of patients from various cultural backgrounds.
One week later, on April 11, Midwest Dairy brought the conversation to the Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (OKAND) Spring Conference, once again sponsoring a session led by Krystal Dunham, who also serves as OKAND President. Her presentation explored the power of milk, cheese, and yogurt to support wellness across life stages, focusing on public health nutrition, cultural relevance, and nutritional accessibility.
Key topics included:
- Nutrients of public health concern
- Dairy’s role in food security
- The Dairy Matrix and its anti-inflammatory effects
- The wide variety of dairy options that meet evolving taste, dietary, and cultural preferences
Both events served as foundational touchpoints in Midwest Dairy’s 2025 campaign, which focuses on the critical role of nutrition, including dairy, during the first 1,000 days of life. This campaign, launching later this summer in collaboration with Region V NMA, will continue to spotlight how dairy foods help close nutrition gaps and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
Through strategic engagement with both medical and nutrition professionals, Midwest Dairy is ensuring that the message of dairy’s benefits, rooted in science, culture, and equity, reaches the audiences who need it most.