S Is For Stories

It's June dairy Month! The barn doors are open, 

so join me on my daily A to Z journey 

to learn more about dairy. 

  Today S Is For Stories

 

 

In celebration of June Dairy Month, our local public library invited me to read my favorite cow books during Preschool Story Time. Wednesday morning 51 preschoolers, some big brothers and sisters, oodles of mommies, and even a few grandpas came to hear my cow tails tales.

Now, what to read? I am a collector of cow and farm themed books. It took much effort to narrow down the ones that I talked about. After a brief overview of my favorites, I began by reading Out and About at the Dairy Farm.

I like this book as it takes us along with a group of school kids who go on a field trip to a dairy farm.

 

 

After learning how milk goes from the farm to the grocery store, we learned that we need three servings of dairy every day to stay healthy. This seemed like a moo-velous time to talk about what can be made from all that milk. We played a game trying to name all the dairy foods we could think of. And nope, potatoes are not a dairy food. Neither is noodles, in case you weren't sure. 

 

 

After sharing what our cows do, eat, and how they are milked, it was time to read Dooby Dooby Moo! I LOVE this book! Have you read it? It's an udderly goofy book about the animals on Farmer Brown's farm who think they should enter the talent contest at the County Fair to win the grand prize. Can you guess what the prize is? BOING! BOING!

  

 

 

 

Look who I invited to join us. It's Gabriella, Dakota County Dairy Princess,

with mommies Melissa and Michelle and their sons! Gabriella helped me hand out goodie bags to the kids, and treat bags to the mom's and the grandpa's too! Everyone left the library with a cheese stick to munch on the way home. Three servings of dairy every day...1 down, 2 to go!

 

 

 Check out some of my other visits with wee ones-

 

Back To School 

 

Farm 2 School 

 

 

 

 

 

Dairy On My Plate

When I was younger and learning about eating well, I learned about the Food Pyramid, a pyramid shaped guide of healthy foods divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. In 2011 the Food Pyramid was replaced by My Plate, the current  nutrition guide published by the United States Department of Agriculture, depicting a place setting with a plate and glass divided into five food groups. Three servings of dairy was part of the Food Pyramid and continues to be a part of My Plate.

Why am I telling you something you may already know? This week an article has appeared on NBC News.com where Dr. David Ludwig, a Harvard pediatrician, argues against the need for 3 servings of dairy in the diet. He specifically calls out flavored milk and yogurts and cites that people can get adequate calcium intake from a variety of other foods in the diet, specifically leafy greens. Both Dr. Greg Miller of National Dairy Council and Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom, a certified nutrition specialist and NBC News and diet and health editor, present a more balanced approach. 

As for me and my family, we will continue to choose 3 Every Day to improve our overall diet, get more nutrients and improve bone health. Dairy will always be on My Plate.

I encourage you to read M Is For Milk and N Is For Nine to help you form your own decision on this topic. We may not all agree, but lets agree to be informed before making a decision on this topic.

 

Y Is For Yogurt

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  Y Is For Yogurt

There is a benefit to eating yogurt along with the deliciousness of it! Yogurt aides with digestion. The naturally occurring bacteria found in yogurt helps promote a healthy environment in your stomach and digestive system, which enables your body to more ably break down food. Lactose intolerant? Try yogurt! Due to yogurt's thickness it moves slower through your digestive system. This helps your body break down lactose more efficiently. Another advantage...yogurt's proteins are complete and fully absorbed by the body. Greek-style yogurt contains even more protein than other varieties, and may help you feel fuller, longer. Yogurt- another perfect solution to getting your recommended 3 Every Day.

Source- Google image search- the sleuth journal

 

Yummy yogurt recipes, see previous posts-

Have A Berry Good Day!

 S Is For Smoothie

 

To find more recipes and learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...Z Is For Zebra

E Is For Every

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along! 

 E Is For Every

3 EVERY DAY. On average, Americans are currently consuming about two dairy servings per day. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products for adults and children nine years and older. Children ages 4-8 are recommended 2.5 servings and children ages 2-3 are recommended two servings daily. There are many advantages to 3 Every Day. Having dairy in your diet is a delicious way to improve your overall diet, get more nutrients and improve bone health.

One milk group serving is equal to:

• an 8-ounce glass of milk
• a 6 or 8 ounce container of yogurt
• 1½ ounces of natural cheese or 2 ounces of processed cheese

And just because you are an adult now, don't think 3 Every Day isn't important anymore. Dairy foods, when consumed as part of a healthy diet, may help to reduce the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. So there was, and still is, a good reason that your mom or dad set that glass of milk in front of you at mealtimes; and there is a reason that schools serve milk with their breakfast and lunch programs. 

Go to Dairy Makes Sense for recipes to help get your 3 Every Day.

Lactose intolerant? Learn more at MyBarnyardView-Don't Give Up On Dairy

Source-National Dairy Council

I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...F is for Family.