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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) The Midwest Dairy Council has awarded Valley City High School a “Milk on the Go” Cooler grant, which will allow students to power up with milk during and after school.  Valley City High School was one of 10 schools chosen in part for their participation in Fuel Up to Play 60.

VCHS program advisors Trevor Bakalar and Deb Beilke said, through the grant, each school will receive soft-sided coolers to transport 8-ounce containers of milk.  The coolers are intended to be a shared resource for both the athletics program and school nutrition department.  This grant will provide all Valley City students better access to a healthy beverage to fuel their bodies.

Chocolate milk provides numerous benefits to high school athletes: protein to support growing muscles, carbohydrates to replenish energy stores and calcium to promote bone health.  Additionally, electrolytes in chocolate milk support hydration, which can positively impact performance on the field or court.

The athletic department will use the coolers to transport cold chocolate milk to practice, games, and events for athletes to enjoy after a workout or game.  Our plan is to implement the coolers into all sports beginning this year.  This fall, the Hi-Liner Cross Country team used the coolers at every meet and numerous times after practice.  Runners understand the importance of milk after an intense run to help reduce muscle damage and improve muscle recovery – which in turn, may help the body perform better during its next workout.

Bakalar and Beilke said, with this grant, our students have increased access to milk to help replenish nutrients and fluids lost during their activity of choice.  We are grateful for the support of Midwest Dairy Council for making this possible.

Fuel Up to Play 60, is an in school health and wellness program launched by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL) with additional partnership support from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.