School cafeterias are a gateway for millions of United States schoolchildren to receive access to nourishing meals that include fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods. Behind the scenes in these cafeterias are an important and influential group: school nutrition professionals.

Through the power of partnerships with California schools, Dairy Council of California offers professional development opportunities to school nutrition professionals, educators, and school administrators, providing nutrition education, training, and tools to promote student wellness and consumption of healthy foods, including dairy.

One example of this is when Dairy Council of California delivered a two-hour session titled “Celebrating dairy’s role in school nutrition and wellness” to Elk Grove Unified School District, equipping more than 400 members of the district’s food and nutrition services department with up-to-date knowledge and practical skills to advocate for healthy eating.

At the training, Dairy Council of California shared the functional health benefits of dairy foods and explored their importance across all life stages. Hands-on experiences included an interactive cottage cheese taste test inspired by social media trends. District staff also engaged in a poster contest, where winning designs were displayed in cafeterias as part of World School Milk Day. The activity fostered creativity and teamwork among staff, further strengthening their commitment to promoting healthy eating for student wellness.

As a dairy community, working with school nutrition professionals is an important strategy in advocating for milk and dairy foods as part of healthy, sustainable eating patterns. To learn more about our work in schools or about how you can join us in elevating health and advocating for dairy foods, visit DairyCouncilofCA.org.