A dairy initiative is connecting nutrition education resources to rural health care providers.
Robyn Stuewe, wellness manager with Midwest Dairy, said the “Smart Moo-ve” toolkit targets rural healthcare organizations and providers. Following guidelines established by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate, the initiative helps educate parents and caregivers about the benefits of dairy products for today’s busy youth.
Dairy products are an important link for brain development, strong bones and bodies.
Stuewe has been with Midwest Dairy for about 13 years and has a background in health and nutrition. Along with two other wellness managers they put together a plan that reaches 10 states.
“Across the country we know there are primary care provider shortages, and rural areas have been greatly impacted,” Stuewe said.
The wellness manager knows that farmers, too, recognize the role dairy products play in healthy diets and that led to the “Smart Moo-ve” campaign.
Unveiled during National Rural Health Day this past November, the toolkit is all-encompassing in an easy-to-follow format.
The toolkit offers educational handouts for parents and caregivers, activities for children and the importance of eating healthy meals and snacks. Also there is information on the major food groups and the importance of each. Clinic office slides, waiting room visuals, and an introduction of Carly the Cow and her Smart Moo-ve friends are included. Recipe cards, social media graphics, a poster and a food description handout are in the kit. Healthcare professionals can use information to help parents and caregivers better understand healthier food options, nutritional benefits, and recommended portion sizes for children.
Stuewe said health care providers have many competing priorities. “Checkoff really wanted to provide these health care professionals with user-friendly resources that reinforce the importance of good nutrition.”
The tool kit provides pieces of information doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionists, or Extension agents can share.
Stuewe said the materials are downloadable and can provide information to patients and to parents that dovetails with USDA MyPlate nutrition guidelines. It covers serving sizes and is ideal for families with children ranging from toddlers to teens.
The MyPlate information is important because the USDA is a trusted source and includes serving sizes that reflect different age groups and activity levels, she said.
Midwest Dairy also created an interactive entertainment tool that is fun particularly for children.
“A digital storybook, which I love, has Carly the Cow as the main character and she has character friends from each of the five food groups that talk about the unique benefits of each group.”
Stuewe, who is also a registered dietician, says good nutrition is important regardless of age and studies show that milk and dairy products pair well with other food groups. Dairy can be varied to meet a specialized diet, too.
Dairy products like milk, cheese and are delicious and nutritious, she said. As part of a healthy diet, dairy is a natural source of calcium, protein and 11 other essential nutrients.
Another reason for the toolkit is it provides an outlet for dairy farmers, she added.
“There’s a lot of misinformation and consumers hear different things. Over time we’re removed further from knowing a farmer and so we don’t really know how to ask what is happening on the farm,” Stuewe said. “So I think of this as an opportunity to educate consumers. Our farmers can take this toolkit and share it with health care providers in their local communities. They (dairy producers) can answer questions and can show the healthy practices they are using to produce milk on their farm and share how they are taking care of their animals and they’re taking care of the land.”
Pulling together all the conversations and showcasing the importance of healthy foods are intertwined, she said. Farmers are a trusted source in sustainability and animal welfare.
“We know farmers work hard to provide nutritious food for growing children,” she said. “We know that consumers do want to hear from farmers as they are the experts about their farm. This is a great way to get them involved and spread the message.”
Farmers and health care professionals can download a flyer at https://www.midwestdairy.com/resource/rural-health-toolkit/.
Additional information is available at www.midwestdairy.com/ruralhealth.
Midwest Dairy Association represents more than 4,400 dairy farms to 41 million consumers in a 10-stae region. Dairy farmers in the Midwest invest 15 cents for every 100 pounds of milk they sell. Midwest Dairy receives 10 cents of the mandatory funding for the regional programs. The remaining 5 cents goes to the National Dairy Board to fund national promotional, research and export programs carried out by Dairy Management Inc.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
