My name is Natalie Graves and I am a 5th grade student in Union County 4-H. I titled my 4-H Project this year “Home Cooking”. The goal of my project was to cook a breakfast, a lunch, and a dinner for my family. I also hoped to learn new cooking skills and recipes during the course of my project. I cooked many meals for my family by myself and occasionally with my grandparents. I also participated in a teen cooking class called “Adventures in the Kitchen”, which taught cooking tips and safety, recipes, and the importance of a “balanced plate.” At every meal, your plate should consist of 30% grains, 40% vegetables, 10% fruits and 20% protein, accompanied by a cup of dairy. You can go to https://www.myplate.gov to find out more about the importance of a balanced diet and take a quiz to get your own personalized MyPlate Plan. I learned a lot about the nutrition our bodies need, including dairy!

June is National Dairy Month, which was first established in 1937 by grocer organizations to distribute extra milk during the summer. By 1939, June was officially “Dairy Month”. Dairy is an important part of a balanced diet as it provides calcium, potassium and vitamin D. Dairy plays an important part in reducing heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. National Dairy Month is a time to highlight the importance of dairy and the work of dairy farmers across the country. You can learn more about National Dairy Month at https://thedaityalliance.com/dairy-farm/june-dairy-month/

You can get your three serving of dairy daily by eating or drinking any dairy product such as milk, cheese, yogurt, or cottage cheese. A yogurt parfait is a quick and easy breakfast or snack. A parfait is simply layering yogurt, fruit, and granola. Put a cup of your preferred flavor of yogurt in a bowl, then a half a cup of the fruit you like, then a half a cup of granola, or another crunchy grain product like cereal. It is fun to see what flavor and texture combinations you come up with. You can come to the Union County Farmers Market at Wilson Park in Maynardville on June 12th to celebrate National Dairy Month and meet the farmers in our area.

From the Agents: Natalie Graves is a student learning more about the Food Science and Nutrition 4-H projects areas. There are project areas and opportunities for students of all interests. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H to volunteer or get your students involved, call 865-992-8038 or email ashley.mike@utk.edu. The Union County Extension Office is a part of the University of Tennessee Extension Service and offers the community research-based programming in Agriculture, Family & Consumer Sciences, and 4-H Youth development. This allows us to collaborate to offer students hands-on learning experiences, including reflecting on what they have learned and teaching others. Great Job Natalie!