By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

LEBANON, Ind. — Americans in general aren’t getting enough of several nutrients, including calcium, and Milk Promotion Services of Indiana (MPSI) is working to change that.

“People need to be encouraged to consume more dairy and fresh fruits, vegetables and grain,” MPSI General Manager Deb Osza said. “We do an awful lot of promotion to remind people.”

Milk Promotion Services of Indiana (MPSI) is sponsoring a 3-A-Day Dairy Fuels Nutrition and Health Day Sept. 5 during the Farm World Expo. The Expo is Sept. 4-6 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Ind. The American Dairy Assoc. of Indiana and Dairy & Nutrition Council of Indiana are divisions of MPSI.

Government statistics show that half of children ages 2-8, and three-quarters of ages 9-19, do not consume the daily recommended amounts of milk or milk products, said Julie Hardin, MPSI manager of communication. To ensure the proper amount of calcium, people should have three servings a day of dairy, Osza said. A serving is an 8-ounce cup of milk or yogurt, or 1.5 ounces of hard cheese.

For children 2-8, two servings a day will meet the minimum requirements, Hardin said. MPSI gets its message out to them by using in-school promotions, Osza added.

“There are a lot of opportunities to educate in the schools,” she said. “We work with food service directors, and we’re working to expand breakfast programs to encourage kids to eat breakfast.”
Many school systems have also replaced soda vending machines with machines offering milk, she said.

Getting the word to family consumer science teachers is also important, said Hardin, a registered dietitian. There are posters in school cafeterias promoting the benefits of milk. Also, making milk available in 8-ounce plastic jugs and in a variety of flavors and fat options has helped make it a more attractive alternative in schools, she said.

Americans are not getting enough of the recommended daily amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and fiber, Hardin said. Dairy products are a great source of calcium, potassium and magnesium.

MPSI also provides recipe ideas to help parents be good role models for their children by serving nutritious meals at home, Osza said.

“We’ve found that kids are far more likely to model what their parents do,” she said.

Hardin agreed.

“Healthy habits start at the beginning of life,” she said. “Parents need to be good role models.”

The recipes help to show how dairy products can easily be incorporated into a diet. “They can put a slice of cheese on a burger, crumble cheese on a salad or have yogurt as a snack,” Hardin said. “Also, eating cereal provides grains and milk.”
MPSI also works with the Indianapolis Colts to encourage children to be healthy by sending the message through the team, Osza said.

“The players make appearances in the schools,” she explained. “They talk to (children) about making important life choices, including eating nutritious foods, doing homework and doing what Mom and Dad say.

“When you have a well-known sports figure, it seems to make an impression. The players are so articulate and have a great message.”

The increased variety of products makes it easier for people to choose a way to get enough dairy in their diets, she said.
“There are reduced fat and reduced calorie options, plus a variety of flavors,” Osza said. “There’s a milk for everybody.”