SCHOOL students
from more than 80 countries will be celebrating World School Milk Day on
September 26.
Now in its 13th year, World School
Milk Day provides an opportunity for schools around the world to celebrate the
health benefits of milk for school-aged children.
A media statement issued by Dairy
Australia to promote the day says milk and other dairy foods such as cheese and
yogurt provide a unique package of ten essential nutrients, which have a wide
range of health benefits for growing bodies.
"The school years are a critical
time for building strong bones for life," the statement says.
"By consuming three serves of dairy
foods every day in any combination – where a serve is one glass of milk, two
slices of cheese or one tub of yogurt – Australian children will receive
adequate levels of calcium required for bone growth and development.
"Unfortunately, only one out of
five children has their three serves of dairy every day1, increasing the risk of
bone fractures2 and osteoporosis later in life3.
"In some Australian states, World
School Milk Day falls during the school holidays however school kids needn’t
miss out on the celebrations."
Dairy Australia will be running a
series of free kids dairy cooking sessions at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show,
Victoria’s largest annual community event.
Dairy Australia’s nutrition program
anager Amber Drake and The Dairy Kitchen’s Amanda Menegazzo will be hosting 30
minute cooking sessions at 11am daily on September 25-28.
"We’re looking forward to a great
turnout at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show and hope to inspire parents and kids
to get in the kitchen to make delicious, dairy-inspired recipes that are not
only easy but healthy too," Amber said.
"The cooking sessions will provide
an opportunity for parents to learn more about the nutritional benefits of dairy
foods, while the kids get to have fun rolling up their sleeves making their own
dairy creations to sample and take home."
The cooking demonstrations will be
held at the Main Stage of the Taste of Victoria Epicure Pavilion, the foodies’
destination for specialty produce at the Royal Melbourne Show.
Students and teachers can visit the
Dairy Australia schools website Discover Dairy at www.dairy.edu.au/discoverdairy to discover fun
facts about milk, download classroom activities, and learn more about where
dairy foods come from and the importance of consuming three serves every day for
good health.
Parents can also learn more about
dairy foods and find recipes the whole family will love at www.dairyaustralia.com.au/kidsneed3.