Florida’s Educators
Schools around the state recognize that dairy is an essential part of a healthy school environment. The Dairy Council of Florida works hand-in-hand with school nutrition professionals, educators, administrators, health professionals and students to ensure that dairy has a prominent place in the school meal program, classroom curriculum and wellness programs.
Educators & The Dairy Council of Florida
One way the Dairy Council of Florida does this is by getting Florida schools thinking differently about how breakfast is served. By getting schools to think beyond the usual methods of food service, more students are eating breakfast and starting their day with dairy. The Dairy Council’s “Expanding Breakfast” programs such as “breakfast in the classroom,” “grab-n-go breakfast” and “breakfast after first period” are some of the ways schools help students make breakfast the most important meal of the day.
Another way the Dairy Council of Florida ensures dairy’s placement in schools is by utilizing the research that kids prefer the taste of flavored milk. As part of the “New Look of School Milk” program, schools recognize that offering a variety of flavored milks, served cold and in appealing, kid-friendly packages, provides a healthy alternative to other beverages.
The Dairy Council of Florida also works to get more healthy vending machines on campuses around the state. Healthy dairy vending machines ensure students have constant access to nutritious foods and beverages that they are excited about eating.
Expanding School Breakfast
The National School Breakfast Program is designed to offer children a nutritious morning meal that provides one-fourth of a student’s daily needs for key nutrients including calcium The benefits children receive from eating a nutritious breakfast are numerous and well-documented.
Bucks for Breakfast Grants
The Bucks for Breakfast program will help Florida schools bring a healthy breakfast to more children in creative ways by providing up to $10,000 per school to promote or expand their existing alternative-site breakfast program or initiate the start-up of a new, alternative-site breakfast program such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Breakfast at the Bus Stop, Patio, Garden or Track and Grab-n-go Breakfast.
Grant funds can be used to purchase items necessary for service, transportation, cooling, heating, promotion, marketing, education and/or sanitation.
Rise & Shine Awards: Dairy Delivers at Breakfast
The Rise & Shine Breakfast Awards are open to all public schools in Florida that are currently offering breakfast to students. This includes the distribution of a reimbursable breakfast in the cafeteria and/or from alternative points of services such as breakfast in the classroom, grab-n-go breakfast, breakfast after first period, breakfast at the bus stop, patio or track or other creative serving opportunities.
2010 Rise & Shine Awards: Dairy Delivers at Breakfast – Apply Now!
Action for Healthy Kids
Action for healthy kids was formed in response to the growing crisis of childhood obesity. A public-private partnership of more than 60 national organizations and government agencies representing education, health, fitness and nutrition, Action for Healthy Kids addresses the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in schools to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
Dairy Farmers, Inc. is proud to be a part of the effort to improve children’s nutrition and physical fitness and you can too by joining your local Action for Healthy Kids..
New Look of School Milk
The New Look of School Milk’s successful formula has generated sustained nutritional, wellness and financial returns by serving students a nutrient-rich beverage they also find appealing and great tasting. Currently, more than 10,000 schools serving over 6 million children offer this value-added enhanced milk program. For more information visit the New Look of School Milk Page.
