Dairy from Indiana farms helps power your family’s most active season yet.
May in Indiana is magic. Soccer cleats are muddy, baseball diamonds are busy, and sunscreen is flying off store shelves. And right in the middle of it all, at one of the world’s most iconic sporting events, an Indiana dairy farmer hands a cold bottle of milk to the winner of the Indianapolis 500®.
It’s not a coincidence. It’s a tradition nearly 90 years in the making, and it’s rooted in something Indiana farm families have known for generations. Milk fuels winners!
For the American Dairy Association Indiana (ADAI), that message isn’t just for race day. It’s for every spring soccer Saturday, every post-practice parking lot moment, and every family picnic that stretches into a golden evening. This May, as your family shifts into full activity mode, dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are some of the simplest, most nutrient dense ingredients in your kitchen. Each serving gets you closer to meeting the recommendation of 3 servings per day for those 9+ years old (aim for 2 ½ servings for kids 4-8 years old and 2 servings for 2–3-year-olds). For information about dairy nutrition and what counts as a full serving, visit winnersdrinkmilk.com/sustainable-nutrition/all-about-milk/
Your Secret Weapon After Practice: Milk
Here’s something that might surprise you: one of the best post-workout recovery drinks for your young athlete isn’t a sports drink with a neon label, it’s milk; particularly chocolate milk.
No matter which milk your family reaches for — whole, 2%, skim, or lactose-free — that 8-ounce glass delivers 13 essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and 8 grams of complete protein working together to rebuild muscle, replace fluids, and build bones for a lifetime of activity. And if your kids are reaching for chocolate milk after practice, that’s a win too. Those added carbohydrates are exactly what their bodies need to refuel energy stores after a busy day of practice and play.
Kids who drink milk, including chocolate milk, have higher overall nutrient intakes than kids who don’t. And when chocolate milk is available at school, students drink more milk altogether. Did you know that flavored milk in schools follows strict guidelines that limit the total added sugar to no more than 10 grams per 8oz serving? That’s a win any parent can get behind.
Spring sports snack ideas featuring chocolate milk:
- No prep. Just Pour: Hand your athlete an ice-cold bottle of chocolate milk after a game or practice. Every year at the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, runners and walkers make a beeline for the chocolate milk booth — many even say that they participate just for the chocolate milk! That kind of post-activity ritual is worth starting at home too.
- Smoothie Upgrade: Blend chocolate milk with a frozen banana and a spoonful of peanut butter for a recovery smoothie that feels like a treat.
- Cooler Staple: Freeze individual chocolate milk cartons the night before — they’ll thaw perfectly by halftime and double as an ice pack.
Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
Take It Outside: Dairy-Powered Picnic Ideas
Spring is picnic season, and Indiana dairy farms make it delicious. Cheese and yogurt are nutritional powerhouses that travel well, satisfy hungry families, and make outdoor eating feel like a celebration.
When you’re building your picnic basket this May, think of Indiana cheese as your MVP. And if you’re not sure where to start, ADAI’s official Indiana Cheese Guide is a fantastic resource for discovering locally made varieties worth trying. A simple spread of sliced cheese, whole grain crackers, fresh fruit, and veggies covers protein, calcium, and staying power with no cooking required. Cheese boards have had a moment in recent years for good reason as they are endlessly customizable, genuinely crowd-pleasing, and surprisingly easy to pull together.
For yogurt, think beyond breakfast. Greek yogurt-based dips pair beautifully with vegetables and pita, and individual cups of yogurt are perfect grab-and-go fuel for kids between activities. Yogurt parfaits layered with granola and spring berries are the kind of thing kids will get excited about eating.
Easy dairy-forward picnic concepts:
- A cheese and fruit board built around Indiana-made varieties
- Greek yogurt veggie dip with colorful vegetables and whole grain crackers
- Yogurt parfait cups prepped the night before — layered and lidded, ready to grab
- String cheese and fresh fruit as the ultimate no-fuss snack for younger kids
The goal is simple: real food, real nutrients, real enjoyment. Indiana dairy farms make all that possible.
