Celebrate the Season, Pledge Three Daily Servings of Dairy

June Dairy Month is a time to recognize dairy's nutritional and environmental benefits

News provided by

May 09, 2016, 06:09 ET

St. PAUL, Minn., May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 75 years since the annual celebration began, June Dairy Month continues to recognize dairy foods and the farmers who produce them. Beginning in 1937, the observance was created as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer months. June Dairy Month's rich history continues, with communities, companies and people from all over celebrating the many reasons why dairy makes sense for families and the environment.

Recently, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines reaffirmed dairy's important place in the diet by maintaining its recommendation that people ages nine and older consume three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods every day. Dairy foods including milk, cheese and yogurt are full of vitamins and minerals and help build strong bones and healthy muscles, control blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease. In celebration of June Dairy Month, show your commitment to eating three servings of dairy every day by taking the Dairy 3 for Me pledge. Support your pledge by finding a new favorite dairy-inspired recipe, such as this Frosty Orange Banana Sipper made with milk and yogurt. At about 25 cents per 8-ounce serving of milk, families can count on dairy to be a nutritional bargain. "Dairy foods are good for your health and your budget, not to mention they taste great." says Midwest Dairy Association registered dietitian Stephanie Cundith. "A pledge to three daily servings of dairy is a wise investment for many reasons."

In addition to dairy's contribution to healthy eating, dairy farmers contribute to protecting the environment through their longstanding commitment to sustainability. In fact, 8,000 Midwest dairy farm families work 365 days a year to ensure nutritious milk and dairy foods are available now and in the future while using a variety of conservation practices and on-farm efficiencies to reduce their environmental impact. Get to know a farmer by attending a June Dairy Month event in your state or meet a Midwest dairy farm family online.

For more dairy recipes, and dairy nutrition and farming information, visit MidwestDairy.com.

Midwest Dairy Association^® is a non-profit organization funded by dairy farmers to build demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, nutrition education and research. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy farmers in a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.