Why does Santa drink MOO-licious milk?

Submitted by: Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess Brooke Marvin

As Christmas is coming around the corner, children of all ages are moving more and more onto the edge of their seats while waiting for the twenty-fifth of December to arrive. Whether it be the anticipation of the arrival of Santa or the urge to be good to avoid all costs of being put on the naughty list, children count down the days with family and friends.

Brooke Marvin, Susquehanna County
Alternate Dairy Princess ready for
the Christmas season!

As the twenty-fourth of December comes, children race to bake cookies of all kinds as well as run to their local grocery store to ensure a glass of milk is available for Santa. Why milk may you ask? 

Milk, nature’s protein drink, provides nine essential nutrients that give Santa an extra boost in performing his annual trip to deliver presents around the world. The protein, carbohydrates, and fat content assist in providing energy just as it would for anyone. As the Alternate Dairy Princess of Susquehanna County, I have been given the opportunity to interview Santa while enjoying a cold, refreshing glass of milk with the man himself. 

Santa states, “The energy milk has to offer is as unique as I am. Not only does it taste delicious, but also gives me the focus and speed I need. Plus, with how fast Rudolph and Vixen dash through the sky and onto rooftops, I could use all the endurance and strength I can get! Any flavor of milk will do the job, however, chocolate, white, and strawberry are my favorites!”    

On another note, the calcium found in milk aids in providing strong bones for Santa to carry the millions of presents the elves at the North Pole produce throughout the year. In addition, milk is a nutritious drink that is capable of replenishing the fluids and nutrients that are used up within the body of Santa due to his work and efforts.

Last but not least, Santa said, “Hey, let’s not forget about the families and friends that supply us with the products that make us healthy. While elves at the North Pole are creating toys for boys and girls, dairy farmers are producing milk for the world to enjoy. Each and every farmer puts a tremendous amount of effort and care into their 24/7 job.”

So, what do you say? Is it time to receive an extra boost in your Christmas along with supporting our dairy farmers? Don’t forget to add MOO-tastic milk to your Christmas list!

Would you like to start a new holiday tradition?

My name is Dana Nunemacher and I am a Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador. If you're looking to start a new holiday tradition, then here is the recipe for you. "Creamy Crock  Pot Hot Chocolate" is the perfect holiday drink that leave you feeling warm and toasty while giving you a dose of dairy. 

In this recipe, many of the ingredients are dairy based. Drinking milk is a great way to fill up with Vitamin D. There are other important nutrients such as potassium, and Vitamin A that can be found in milk. Also, milk will help with bone growth and development as it is full of calcium.

Happy Holidays from your Susquehanna Dairy Promotion Team!

Dana Nunemacher
Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador

Creamy Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

Prep time:  5 mins

Serves: 6-8 servings,

Ingredients

1.5 cups heavy whipping cream

(1) 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

6 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups of milk chocolate chips (can also use half semi-sweet)

Instructions

1. Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips in a 5 quart crock pot.

2. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally with whisk, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted.

3. Once it is heated through and chocolate is melted, switch the slow cooker to the warm setting. Stir again before serving. (If you have trouble getting the chocolate to melt, turn to high temporarily).

4. Garnish individual cups of hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Recipe source: adapted from mrshappyhomemaker.com

Refuel with Low-Fat Chocolate Milk

Submitted by Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess, Brooke Marvin

“Vroom, vroom!” Is that what you imagine when you think of refueling? As the months of summer are dwindling, students, athletes, and parents are getting prepared to soar through their year of school. When you went school shopping, what did you think of? Was it the endless options of clothes or shoes? To the Alternate Dairy Princess of Susquehanna County, Brooke Marvin, school shopping consisted of dairy products including MOO-licious chocolate milk. Why may you ask?

Brooke Marvin
Susquehanna County Alternate
Dairy Princess

Research has shown that chocolate milk is a great source of nutrients and recovery drink for those who are athletes. Low-fat chocolate milk contains the perfect combination of protein and carbohydrates to help you refuel along with electrolytes that help you restore what you lost through sweat. In addition, it is a great way to hydrate due to the sodium and potassium levels found in milk. Not only does it help quench your thirst, but helps muscles to recover. Dr. John Ivy from The University of Texas found that those who drink low-fat chocolate milk after a workout ended up with a three-pound lean muscle advantage over those who drank a sports beverage or water in the course of four weeks.

Whether it be helping you to recover quicker to train more or helping you replenish your muscles for them to become stronger, chocolate milk is a treat that is capable of improving performance in any exercise. For example, a study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise showed that those who drank fat free chocolate milk after a workout ran 23% longer and had a 38% increase of building muscle over those who drank a sports beverage. 

Imagine if you were to put low-fat chocolate milk head to head with water or a sports beverage for a post workout drink, nothing would compare due to low-fat chocolate milk packing double the carbs and protein. Plus, what is better than absorbing all the nutrients you need to refuel up at your local grocery store? 

So, what do you say? Is chocolate milk going to be an item on your shopping list? It surely is on mine! 

Strawberry Banana Smoothies, So Good for You

Submitted by Katrina Vidota, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador

While at the Harford Fair several members of the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion Team served over 300 strawberry banana smoothie samples. At times it was hard to keep the trays filled with smoothie samples. We had many people comment how good they tasted.

Left to Right: Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess
Brooke Marvin with Dairy Ambassadors Katrina Vidota and
Dana Nunemacher. 

           

Our smoothies contained just four ingredients, YOGURT and MILK, strawberries and bananas. All very good for you.

            

It’s back to school time and a smoothie for breakfast is quick, full of nutrition and will give you one of your “3 Every Day” of dairy servings.  MILK and YOGURT contain calcium, protein, vitamins A, B2, B12 and vitamin D, potassium, niacin, phosphorus and riboflavin all important for everyone’s health and wellness?

            

Try my recipe and see for yourself how delicious a smoothie can be for breakfast or anytime.  Make your SMOOTHIE with your own choice of fat content in the MILK and the YOGURT. Works fine with whole, 2% or fat free. Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE

1 cup frozen for fresh Strawberries

1 fresh or frozen Banana

1 Cup Strawberry YOGURT

1 Cup MILK

Cow Mask Creations at Local Daycare

Written by: Alivia Hughes, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador

My name is Alivia Hughes, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador and my job is to promote the dairy industry. Recently, joined by our Dairy Princess Taylor Sebring, I did one of my favorite promotions by visiting Treasure House Daycare. After reading the children a storybook about cows we all sat down at tables make cow mask.

Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador Alivia and
Susquehanna County Dairy Princess Taylor with
children at Treasure House Daycare in Montrose.

I chose Gogurt as a dairy snack for the kids because calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients for building strong bones. Kids can get the calcium they need by enjoying Gogurt or any other yogurt product or a serving of milk or cheese.

Any daycare or preschool in Susquehanna County wanting a visit from our dairy promotion team to make cow mask and hear about dairy farms and dairy products can contact Evie Goff at 570-278-1212 to set up a date.

I would encourage everyone to enjoy “3 Every Day” of milk, cheese or yogurt.

I Scream for Ice Cream

Written by: Brooke Marvin, 2015-16 Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess

On a warm, summer day, what do you think of? I, Brooke Marvin, think of my favorite treat or in other words, ice cream!

Brooke Marvin
Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess

As the Alternate Dairy Princess for Susquehanna County for 2015-2016, I uphold the opportunity to inform you about July being National Ice Cream Month! I am more than delighted to be involved within the community to promote and support the dairy industry. I am proud to say I live next door to my uncle’s farm in Jackson, Boman’s Dairy. It is a joy to be able to inform those in the public about the importance the dairy industry has in our community and the benefits it has to offer.

Back in 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July to be “National Ice Cream Month.” Did you know ice cream was the first meal served to those who arrived on Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954?

The benefits ice cream has to offer are countless! Not only is it a treat on a hot, summer day, but a great source of nutrients. Ice cream is created by a process that churns and chills mixtures of milk and cream with other ingredients such as fruits and syrups. Any flavor of ice cream contains a vast amount of calcium and phosphorous as it offers a blast of energy due to the number of carbohydrates it obtains. Whether it be chocolate or vanilla, vitamins like A, C, D, and E can be found in the delicious treat as well! Although it does contain a rather high content of sugar and fat, ice cream does have a selection for every type of consumer. Stores carry low-fat or low-sugar ice cream products within their selection. There is surely a flavor and type for everyone.

So, how about we all MOO-ve on over to support our dairy farmers during National Ice Cream Month! What do you say, is it time for a tasty treat?

June is Dairy Month

Written by: Taylor Sebring, Susquehanna County Dairy Princess

Hello, my name is Taylor Sebring and I have recently been selected as the 2015-16 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess. I attend Abington Heights High School and live with my parents Cindy and Brad Sebring, my twin sister, two younger sisters, and an older brother. We live on a farm with cows, sheep, pigs and chickens.

 

Taylor Sebring
2015-16 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess

I lease Brown Swiss dairy animals from Rogers Dairy owned by Jim and Tina Rogers. A year ago I started being thoroughly involved in the dairy industry by leasing my 4-H dairy project animals' and giving a helping hand when it was time to do chores at the Rogers farm.

Being involved in the dairy industry has opened my eyes to things that often go unseen or unheard by many. One big thing is how the importance of dairy farms are often forgotten. “June is National Dairy Month” and it would be a great time to put out the effort to thank a farmer! Farmers do so much for the community every single day; so go out there and tell them thank you!

Did you know there are over 536,000 cows in Pennsylvania alone? Pennsylvania is also the 5^th ranking dairy producing state in the United States. On average, a dairy cow will produce seven gallons of milk per day over the course of a year.

What did you eat for breakfast today? Maybe a bowl of cereal, with MILK on it? How many different types of dairy products do you actually include in your daily diet? MILK, YOGURT and CHEESE are excellent sources for everyone’s’ nutritional needs. Without consuming those dairy products you will be lacking calcium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, vitamins D, A, B12, B2, niacin and riboflavin.  How will you let dairy influence you diet this month?

If you would like to learn more about dairy products, the dairy industry or the farmers that make up the industry, Susquehanna County residents and organizations may contact me to attend or speak at an event of yours. You can reach me at 570-290-0605 or by email at tescakes@aol.com.