Maine's 3-A-Day Grant Program
Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council Names Union 106 Winner of the 2007 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant Program
Union 106 will help kids make the grade in nutrition this fall thanks to a 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant
from Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council.
“In Union 106, we value the importance of nutrition education,” said Heather Henry, School Health Coordinator. “We
look forward to using the 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant to teach kids about the importance of good nutrition
and improve the overall quality of their diet. Dairy foods like milk, yogurt or cheese contain a unique nutrient package
and offer the most naturally-occurring calcium per serving.”
Despite dairy’s health benefits, 77 percent of kids ages nine to 19 do not consume three servings of dairy per day.
In one study, only those children drinking milk at lunch were able to meet their daily calcium requirement. This is of particular
concern because childhood and adolescence is a critical time for establishing healthy eating habits to help build strong
bones and keep bodies fit. Studies show that when children drink milk at lunch, they have a higher intake of several important
nutrients, including calcium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A and D. In addition, the USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans
and the USDA MyPyramid recognize the important role of dairy foods in the diet and recommend kids ages nine and older consume
three servings of low-fat milk, cheese or yogurt each day.
Launched in 2003, the 3-A-Day of Dairy Nutrition Education Grant Program rewards organizations and/or individuals proposing
innovative, community-based programs aimed at empowering kids to become advocates for healthy eating, including three servings
of dairy a day, and an active lifestyle. More than 40 $5,000 grants were awarded this year on a state/regional level. For
a complete list of winners, please visit the 3-A-Day of Dairy Grant page on www.nationaldairycouncil.org.
To increase knowledge of nutrition and improve overall diet quality, Henry will implement an educational program designed
to introduce, educate and spread the word about the 3-A-Day of Dairy campaign. Her plan also includes providing the students
of Calais High School, Calais Middle School and St. Croix Regional Technical Center with a new dairy vending machine.
“We reviewed a number of applications and selected Union 106 for its creative approach to nutrition education,” said
Catherine Hoffmann, registered dietitian with the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council. “We’re confident Heather
will help program participants develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime”
For more information on the 3-A-Day of Dairy program and to sign up for Get 3!, 3-A-Day of Dairy’s monthly e-newsletter
offering nutrition advice and subscriber-only freebies, please visit www.3aday.org. To download additional educational materials
and to learn more about the New Look of School Milk, please visit www.nutritionexplorations.org.
Download Previous Grant Reports
|
