The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland is celebrating World School Milk Day (30th September) with the launch of a scheme offering a grant to post primary schools towards the cost of buying a fridge for their PE department.
The scheme, which is part of the Dairy Council’s sport and exercise nutrition education programme for 12–18 year olds, will provide grants of up to £200.
Dr Mike Johnston, Chief Executive at the Dairy Council said,
“Milk plays an important role in a healthy balanced diet for young people providing calcium along with other vitamins and minerals. It is also recognised as a suitable drink after exercise as it’s a rich source of protein as well as supplying fluid and electrolytes. As a result, more athletes are drinking milk following exercise, a trend that is particularly evident in post primary schools.
“To encourage this trend, and to complement our education programme, we are working with post primary schools to contribute to the purchase of refrigeration for their PE department to help supply milk to students following training or competition sessions.”
The provision of refrigeration facilities will allow students to put into practice the theory learnt through the various education programmes provided by the Dairy Council and help promote good nutritional practices following training sessions.
Pictured helping celebrate World School Milk Day are Methodist College students Zach Jordan and Kristen Webb.