Make Mine Milk

Milk consumption in the United States has been on a steady decline since the mid-seventies, causing many in the dairy industry to rethink how they market their product. Growing up we drank pretty much nothing but milk, and in fact had our milk delivered right to our doorstep from a local farmer. Back then, milk was considered “the healthy drink of choice” for kids. Now, milk has to fight for a spot on school lunch menus. A fad diet drink or a caffeine loaded energy drink has a better chance of making it under the radar on school campuses than milk does. Some would argue that the problem is the price of milk nowadays, but in reality Americans pay much less for dairy products than nearly any other nation in the world. I’m sure that a gallon of energy drink or vitamin water would cost far more than milk. Then there are those that complain about milk not being pure anymore, all while sipping on drinks that are loaded with extra sugars, chemicals, and preservatives. Ah, well, my family will continue to do our part in supporting the dairy industry, because nothing goes with PB&J, chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, or a bowl of cereal like cold milk.