Dairy milk has just three ingredients – milk, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Read on for easy ways to incorporate milk into a balanced diet.

We all lead busy lives. Let’s face it, sometimes that busyness can take over and wreck havoc on our diet. This holiday season, and all year long, I am committed to a more balanced lifestyle for my family. Adults and kids take in about 400 calories per day as beverages, according to My Plate. So it’s important to remember that beverages can be a key source of nutrition in our diets, and should be carefully selected.

Today, I’m sharing a few easy ways to incorporate milk into a balanced diet. Read on to see if your favorites are listed below!

Incorporate Milk into a Balanced Diet

Serve Whole Grain Cereal with Milk for Breakfast
Starting your day with a bowl of whole grain cereal topped with a cup of your favorite dairy milk. It’s important to know milk and non-dairy alternatives to milk are not created equal. Unlike many non-dairy milk alternatives, farm fresh, real dairy milk is naturally nutrient-rich. The naturally-occurring nutrients in many non-dairy milk alternatives, like almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk, are not the same as in cow’s milk. In fact, few can match the full nutrient package found naturally in milk, which contains calcium, phosphorus, protein, potassium and B vitamins. This means that many non-dairy milk alternatives often fortify their products with these nutrients.

Serve Milk with a Straw at Mealtimes
There is something about a straw that makes my kiddo want to drink more milk. You can jazz up cute paper straws by adding a washi tape flag.

Cook and Bake With Milk
Milk is the foundation for many American favorites and tastes from around the world, and has been for centuries. From creamy macaroni and cheese to a classic alfredo sauce to a delectable crème brulée, milk adds dimension, accentuates the flavor and serves as a decadent base to many of your favorite dishes.

Enjoy a delicious afternoon coffee
C’mon now. We all know what an amazing treat it is to carve out a few minutes in the afternoon for a coffee break. Kick it up a notch and treat yourself to a cafe latte or flat white instead of traditional coffee. Both of these fancy coffee drinks are made with a full serving of milk.

When you incorporate milk into a balanced diet, you’re providing your family with a natural source of high-quality protein. Every 8-ounce glass of milk contains 8 grams of protein. You can visit MilkLife.com for more content and recipes.