Midwest Dairy Council National Nutrition Month Gift Pack Review and Giveaway

Did you know that March was National Nutrition Month? This is a time dedicated to spreading the word about the importance of healthy eating habits, physical exercise and overall wellness. I do my best to take care of myself by eating well and exercising, but I know I can always do more and learn more about ways to keep it up and live a healthier lifestyle! That's why I was excited when contacted with more information from the Midwest Dairy Council on the lesser-known nutritional benefits of dairy and how these benefits contribute to healthier living!

Milk and other dairy products are great sources of vitamins and minerals. Most of us have probably heard the saying that milk "does a body good," but research shows that many people don't fully understand the whole story of the nutritional value found in dairy! It goes far beyond just calcium for strong bones...each serving of dairy actually provides 8 other essential nutrients, including:

• Vitamin D: Vitamin D (“The Sunshine Vitamin”) promotes calcium absorption and helps strengthen bones. Milk is one of the few dietary sources of vitamin D and just one 8 ounce glass provides 25% of your recommended daily value.
• Protein: Protein builds and repairs muscle tissue while giving you a boost of energy! The protein in milk, cheese and yogurt builds and repairs muscle tissue and can help you feel full.
• Potassium: Did you know that milk and yogurt contain as much potassium as a banana? Potassium regulates the body’s fluid balance and helps maintain normal blood pressure.
• Vitamin B12: Milk and yogurt are also excellent sources of B12, which helps maintain healthy red blood cells and nerve tissue.

Three daily servings of dairy (including low-fat/fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt) deliver exceptional nutrition and can contribute to your family's plan for a healthy diet and lifestyle.

For more information on dairy's nutritional benefits and links to several recipes, you can visit DairyMakesSense.com.

The Midwest Dairy Council wanted to help us make incorporating dairy into our diet tasty and fun! That's why they sent us a fun gift pack (and are offering one to giveaway) which included:

• A Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick Hand Blender ($55 Value)
• Dairy Makes Sense recipe cards with new tasty recipes to try out
• Dairy Makes Sense apron
• Hot pad
• Cheese knife
• Grocery pad
• Refrigerator magnet
  

I was really impressed with everything included in this gift pack. The blender, cheese knife and apron made preparing these tasty recipes easy and a lot more fun! We tried several of their recipes, including The Riot Smoothie. It's one the family really enjoyed! I had never used a Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender and thought it worked very well. I was amazed how easy it has made preparing several recipes so far.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup low‐fat vanilla yogurt
• 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
• 1‐1/2 medium bananas, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup low‐fat milk
• 8‐10 ice cubes
  

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes

Preparation:
Clean and cut fruit. Place all ingredients in blender beginning with yogurt; blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into glasses and serve.

Kaelyn wants to try the Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Shake sometime, so we'll be trying that out as well.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fat-free or 1% low-fat chocolate milk
• 1/2 cup frozen banana slices
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Serve in tall glass or on-the-go drink container.

I am thankful that the Midwest Dairy Council educated me more on the benefits of dairy. They have helped to encourage my family and I to eat healthier while making it fun in the process.

Win It: The Midwest Dairy Council is generously offering one lucky reader the same gift pack I received.

• A Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick Hand Blender ($55 Value)
• Dairy Makes Sense recipe cards with new tasty recipes to try out
• Dairy Makes Sense apron
• Hot pad
• Cheese knife
• Grocery pad
• Refrigerator magnet

To enter, visit DairyMakesSense.com and leave a comment letting me know something you learned.

Extra Entries: (only valid after the required entry has been completed)

1. For TWO extra entries, subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (easily found along the side column). Be sure to leave TWO comments so that both entries can be counted.

2. For FIVE extra entries, blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and DairyMakesSense.com) and leave me FIVE comments with the URL to that post.

3. Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

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5. For TWO extra entries, Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (Tweet once a day for an extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste: Win a prize pack from Midwest Dairy Council (apron, Cuisinart Hand Blender, etc) @MomBalancingAct http://tinyurl.com/yar9lu5 Ends 4/14

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Please be sure to leave me a *separate* comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address so that I can easily and accurately contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end April 14th and is open to the US Only!

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided at no cost by the Midwest Dairy Council. This was not a paid post and my honest opinions were given.**