We have always been big milk drinkers in my family. My parents served milk with dinner, and now I serve milk with dinner. Even when Chris and I were broke college students, we bought milk (to make macaroni and cheese of course) and had at least a glass a day. When Nathan was a toddler, he wouldn’t drink milk. Until I saw a commercial for Ovaltine and bought some. THEN he would drink all the milk I would let him have!

The website Why Milk? has a ton of great information, and I was asked to check it out for a campaign with Mom Central. Here’s information from the site that I personally think is critical. In Michigan, we have months where the sun is so weak or hidden behind clouds, that our doctors advise us to take vitamin D supplements. And drink milk if we can. Here’s why:

Many Americans are missing out on vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency in this country is being called a silent epidemic.

Why is this so alarming? Well known for its role in keeping bones strong, vitamin D is now being hailed for so much more. There’s an abundance of new research suggesting vitamin D is a super nutrient, offering an array of health benefits.

New and emerging research reveals that vitamin D, nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin,” may help support a healthy heart, normal blood pressure, healthy aging and help regulate the immune system.

Even though vitamin D is basking in the limelight, Americans of all ages are still coming up short. Our bodies can make vitamin D from the sun, but you can’t always count on it to supply what you need — especially in the winter or if you wear sunscreen.

Milk is one of the few food sources of vitamin D – in fact, it’s the leading source of vitamin D in the diet. It’s practically Liquid Sunshine® !

A serving of milk is the same for everyone, eight ounces. To help kids (and adults) get the recommended three servings a day, try this yummy-sounding recipe from WhyMilk.com:

Banana Delight

Makes 4 servings, 4 ounces of milk per serving.

Ingredients:

2 cups fat free milk
1 cup fat free yogurt
4 diced bananas
6 tbsp. chocolate syrup

Directions: Blend ingredients well and portion into 4 servings.

Nutrition: 260 calories; 1 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 10 g protein; 57 g carbohydrates; 4 g fiber; 5 mg cholesterol; 120 mg sodium.

Nutritional and Economical Value – A Single Serving costs less than 75 cents per glass.

Check WhyMilk? for more recipes including one I want to make ASAP, “Mom’s Mocha Indulgence Smoothie”. Yum!

this post is part of a campaign for WhyMilk? and Mom Central. All opinions are mine. I am receiving a blender as thanks for my participation.