I often hear other parents talking about their struggle to get more milk in their kiddos. It always sounds crazy to me because I can’t keep enough milk in my house for my 4 kids. They drink it like it’s the best thing in the world. I’ve never been big on keeping soda in the house or even sugary drinks for that matter, so milk has just always been available to them. There are so many ways to enjoy a nice cold serving of milk, whether it’s in your favorite cereal, with a warm plate of cookies, or just a cold glass of milk on it’s own because, why not?
I admittedly am not that big of a milk drinker, but I do enjoy a glass with my breakfast. However, with it being a hot summer here in Texas, my kids are lapping it up like crazy. It’s a great way to fuel them for summer play, especially my 5 year old who is still growing every day. As a child, I remember hearing my Mom tell me many times “Drink your milk, it’s good for your bones”. It’s something I now hear myself tell my kiddos, because even though they don’t know it, it’s full of essential nutrients. Milk is also great source of high quality, natural protein with 8 grams per 8oz serving. Giving my kids more nutritious snack options makes my heart happy!
We are constantly doing something in the summer whether it’s playing out in the country, going to the state park, swimming, or even just playing out in the yard. It gets hot though, so Kynlea often enjoys her milk while she’s playing outside in her “castle”. With her starting kindergarten this year, I feel good knowing she’ll also be getting plenty of milk at school as well to help feed her childhood. It’s important for kids to get protein at every meal, especially breakfast. 
Getting enough protein in the morning can help kids feel fuller, longer, so they can start the day off right. Have you ever wonder though about children who aren’t as fortunate to get enough milk, especially in the summer months when school’s out? Although some programs like the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program help to deliver meals when school is not in session, the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program do not reach children during the summer months. To most kids, summer means months filled with playing in the sun, swimming at the lake or baseball in the park. However, more than 22 million children may miss out on milk’s nutrition this summer when they lose access to free or reduced-price meal programs at school. That’s why food banks play an even more critical role in helping children access nutritious foods when class isn’t in session. I never realized this, but on average, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person per year. So even though food banks provide critically needed nourishment – including milk – to millions of Americans, it can be difficult to meet demand.
There’s a way to help……..
You can help feed a childhood in your community this summer with a small donation at milklife.com/give. A donation as little as $5 can deliver a highly desired and nutrient-rich gallon of fresh milk to children who need it most.
Don’t have the budget to donate but still want to help? For each share of Great American Milk Drive “Feed A Childhood” content with hashtag #milkdrive via Facebook and Twitter between 6/1/16 – 6/30/16, The Great American Milk Drive will contribute $1 to the Feeding America® network for the purchase of fluid milk, up to a maximum total donation of $5,000. You can do that easily by sharing this blog post on Facebook and Twitter through the sharing tabs below.
ENTER THIS FUN #MILKLIFE GIVEAWAY
Milk Life is hosting a fun giveaway with 15 winners to be chosen. Prizes (arv $25 each) include:
- Tote Bag
- Luggage Tag
- Insulated Tumber with straw
Giveaway details:
- Prizes: 15 Milk Life Prize Packs (ARV $25) provided by Milk Life
- Dates: Monday, June 13 at 12:00am PT – Friday, July 8 at 12:00am PT
- Notification: Winners will be randomly selected and notified by Clever Girls and/or Milk Life by Friday, July 22, 2016
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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