Uxbridge, MA – Later this month, Uxbridge High School will begin serving hot chocolate milk with second chance breakfast, as well as lunch. To boost students’ excitement about the news, the school invited local dairy farmer Erin Hawkes of Greener Acres Farm and the 2018-2019 National Jersey Queen Abby Shaw to visit students during their lunch periods. The guests handed out samples, took photos with students in a hot chocolate milk themed photobooth, played dairy trivia, and more.
Uxbridge was selected by New England Dairy & Food Council to receive equipment that would enable them to serve hot chocolate milk due to their participation in Fuel Up to Play 60, the nation’s leading in-school physical activity and nutrition program. Locally, Fuel Up to Play 60 is implemented by New England Dairy & Food Council and funded by the dairy farm families of New England.
Research has shown that when flavored milk is available in school, students have a greater milk intake overall.1 Why is this important? Because whether flavored or plain, milk contains the same nine essential nutrients. Milk is the number one food source of three out of the four nutrients of concern in the U.S.: calcium, vitamin D, and potassium.2,3 Leading health and nutrition organizations have recognized that the small amount of added sugar in flavored milk is an acceptable trade-off for the nutrition it provides.4
Kaylie Gonya, a senior at Uxbridge and the Fuel Up to Play 60 State Ambassador for Massachusetts, is excited about the news. She has been highly involved in bringing about positive changes to her school through Fuel Up to Play 60, specifically when it comes to school breakfast.
“We applied for a grant to purchase a breakfast cart that’s now used for second chance breakfast. Each grade participates, the students all love it.” Said Gonya
Uxbridge’s school nutrition director Stephanie Barstow anticipates that putting an innovative twist on serving flavored milk will increase breakfast and lunch participation.
“We’re expecting school meal participation to increase by another 40 kids per day with the introduction of hot chocolate milk.” Said Barstow. “School meals have to meet strict federal guidelines, so if participation goes up, we know more students are getting the nutritious meals they need at breakfast and lunch.”
For more information about Fuel Up to Play 60 in New England, follow New England Dairy & Food Council on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit NewEnglandDairyCouncil.org.
More Information
- New England Dairy & Food Council. Kids & Chocolate Milk. https://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/media/NEDFC-Chocolate-Milk-Infographic-Handout.pdf. Accessed October 25, 2018.
- New England Dairy & Food Council. Adding Chocolate to Milk Doesn’t Take Away Its Nine Essential Nutrients. https://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/media/DMI-Flavor-Milk-Advertorial-2017-v7.pdf. Accessed October 26, 2018.
- S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8thEdition. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.
- New England Dairy & Food Council. Why Flavored Milk is Important for Student Nutrition. https://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/media/Why-Flavored-Milk-Is-Important-at-school.pdf. Accessed October 25, 2018.
About New England Dairy & Food Council
New England Dairy & Food Council (NEDFC) is a non-profit nutrition education organization staffed by registered dietitians. NEDFC is a state and regional affiliate of the National Dairy Council® (NDC). Our goal is to ensure that health professionals, scientists, media and educators have a credible body of nutrition information upon which to base health recommendations.
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.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
About NFL PLAY 60
In October of 2007, the NFL launched NFL PLAY 60, a national youth health and fitness campaign focused on increasing the wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. Over the past decade, the NFL has partnered with leading academic, scientific and nonprofit organizations, including the American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Special Olympics, Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Jude, and the United Way, to help children of all abilities lead healthier, active lives. Since the launch of the campaign, the NFL has committed more than $350 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for PSAs; the NFL and its clubs have supported programs in nearly 73,000 schools nationwide, giving more than 38 million children the chance to boost physical activity levels and build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. The NFL and its partners are committed to continuing the PLAY 60 movement for an active and healthier generation for years to come. For more information, visit nfl.com/PLAY60.
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