My name is Maureen Bligh and this year marks my 25th year working at Dairy Council of California. When we decided to launch a website in 1997, I very willingly stepped up to lead the Web team since I felt this project would provide many challenges and learning opportunities, and that intuition was right on. The site has evolved and improved each year; this year we are launching a new venture by adding a blog to our website. This blog is a place where Dairy Council of California program users can gain new ideas for teaching nutrition and health. You can learn what other health educators are doing in school and health care settings in California.

This blog will include weekly updates on the following topics:

• Highlights about how other teachers and health professionals are using Dairy Council of California programs
• Fun ideas for implementing programs in a variety of settings
• Success stories
• Health trends and recommendations 
• Current health issues with topics in the news
• Upcoming conferences and events 
• Highlights of additional resources

Other authors for our blog posts are Dairy Council of California Project Manager Ashley Rosales, R.D., and Territory Manager Nicolina Mulcahy. With our extensive backgrounds in nutrition and our experience working directly with Dairy Council of California customers, we hope to bring to you relevant information and practical guidance on nutrition education and health.

This year, Dairy Council of California celebrates our 90-year anniversary. We are extremely proud of our long history and the contribution we have made to the health and well-being of Californians. Our dedicated staff has a passion for educating both children and adults about healthy lifestyles. We are funded by dairy producers and processors who value education and see Dairy Council of California as a way to give back to their communities and the people of California. Meet our CEO, staff and board members through this series of snapshots created for our 90-year anniversary.

Feel free to contribute to our moderated blog discussion.

Maureen Bligh, M.A., R.D.

Project Manager

Dairy Council of California is extremely excited and proud to announce the release of the new Teacher Training Certification Program. This is a new, dynamic, online professional-development module is now being offered at no charge to schools and teachers. It provides teachers with the basics about nutrition to help them feel comfortable and confident when teaching nutrition to students. In addition, teachers will learn from their peers about how to use Dairy Council of California free nutrition education programs, including hands-on and practical-implementation strategies. 
 
The training takes about 30 minutes and encompasses multiple learning modalities, including audio, video, fun assessment tools and downloadable resources. It’s easy to use individually or in a group setting. 
 
The initial response to the program's content has been overwhelmingly positive, including the Certificate of Completion provided to the customer. 
 
Read what what some California teachers are saying about our new teacher training certification:

    "I appreciate the list of benefits of eating breakfast, as so many of my students skip it and wonder why they are irritable and grumpy."

    - Kristin Schonfeld, Seventh-Grade Teacher
 
    "The information about why certain foods are classified into certain food groups is helpful to teachers ..."
    - Marlon Barcelona, Seventh-Grade Teacher
 
      "Clear content and good information. Easy to follow and understand. I would definitely be interested in using this curriculum with my students."

    - Erika Mathot, Sixth-Grade Teacher
 
Participate today and learn more about teaching nutrition in the classroom.
 

Nicolina Mulcahy
Territory Manager

As we approach the last days of the summer, the start of a new school year and the beginning of the holiday season, life seems to get a little more chaotic.  During these times when it can be more of a challenge, it’s especially important to remember to take care of our health. As health professionals, it is also vital to help your patients and clients identify ways that they can be and stay well.
 
September is America on the Move month, which reminds us to keep (or start) being active while enjoying delicious, nutrient-rich foods, two important components of staying healthy. One major strategy that AOM focuses on is to balance activity and healthy eating by promoting a simple idea: eat 100 calories less and walk an extra 2,000 steps (about 1 mile) each day.
 
The new guidelines for physical activity for adults recommends at least 150 minutes of activity each week, or about 30 minutes each day. Even small amounts of physical activity (any activity is better than none) can provide a wealth of health benefits, including:

• stress relief
• improved mood, sleep and self-esteem
• increased energy levels
• improved immune function
• improved blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• bone and muscle strength
• weight management.

Dairy Council of California’s MyFitness Planner can help reinforce these positive messages about physical activity. Users are prompted to set activity goals and receive weekly follow-up emails aimed to assist them in improving activity levels. In fact, a randomized, controlled trial by Dairy Council of California and the National Cancer Institute showed that women who used the MyFitness Planner significantly increased their levels of physical acitivity by more than 30 minutes each week. That is equivalent to adding one additional day of physical activity per week to their previous routine. One study participant wrote, "I'm staying motivated about exercise, fitness, nutrition and commitment. I also motivate my friends and family."
 
So, take a walk at lunch, a hike on the weekend and a bike ride after dinner with your family or friends. There are 1,440 minutes in the day—set aside just 30 of them to move your body and reap the benefits!