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My mom grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa, so, naturally, real milk was a big part of her diet. That upbringing also carried over into my own childhood. We had milk every day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And I loved it! I still do. A tall glass of cool, refreshing milk is a great way to wash down any meal.
As I grew up, I began to understand the important role real milk plays in our diet. A single 8 oz serving of milk has nine essential nutrients, like protein for lean muscle, vitamin A for a healthy immune system, and calcium to help build strong bones. But what really hammered home the importance of milk was when my great grandmother was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Seeing her become hunched and frail, was painful. I knew that I needed to do whatever I could to prevent that same fate for myself or my family. So I turned to the best (and most delicious) natural source of calcium I could think of – milk! As soon as both of my girls turned one, we made the switch from breast milk/formula to 2% dairy milk. Milk is an easy way to give my kids nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.
Milk has become especially important for Charlie. Despite having practically the same at-birth stats as her big sister, Charlie has consistently fallen below the 50% markers for her weight. With Emma, you picked her up and she felt like her bones were filled with lead. But not Charlie Girl. She’s our Little Bird, complete with hollow bones. She’s also not a huge eater. Emma was a garbage disposal as a toddler, but Charlie just doesn’t eat as much. The combination of her less-than-stellar eating habits and her already below-the-curve weight gain, we’ve naturally become concerned about her getting proper nutrients her body needs (or enough of them)! So we turn to real milk! Thankfully, Charlie loves the stuff, so if she’s been particularly challenging in her eating that day, we make sure she gets extra milk to help her keep growing strong and healthy.
Milk has also become an essential part of our nighttime routine. Once it’s time for bed, we grab a book, a blanket, and her lovey. But don’t forget the 2% milk! Because if I do, Charlie will definitely remind me! Then we sit in her room and rock as I read her a story and she drinks her cup of milk. She’s grown so much already and time moves so fast. These quiet nighttime moments with my girl are something I cherish and will hang on to for as long as I can! Miss Emma, however, is a different story. She loved plain milk as a toddler, but now prefers chocolate milk!
Now that Emma is in school it’s more important than ever that she’s fueled up and ready for the day ahead, which is why every morning, she gets a glass of sweet and creamy chocolate milk with her breakfast. She thinks she’s getting a treat, but I know that she’s drinking a beverage that’s a top food source of the three nutrients most likely to be lacking in a child’s diet – calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. And as a natural source of high-quality protein, it also makes a great snack to re-charge her for her after-school activities like swim class, gymnastics, or play dates at the park with friends.
Real dairy milk is wholesome, simple, affordable, and easy to find. Grocery store, Target, even the convenience store! You can find milk just about anywhere you go. Our family loves dairy milk for the roles it plays in our lives and the nutrition and simplicity to brings to our meals. Visit https://milklife.com/milk-love-whats-real to learn more about the different types of real milk for you and your family. 
