WHAT IS DAIRY the lunchroom fills with fifth graders The smell of delicious food fills the air Some kids go right to the tables They open their lunch bags and start eating Some kids wait in line for school lunch One by one they collect trays full of food Before sitting down almost every kid picks up a small rectangular white carton of milk At her table Janie opens her carton She folds open the cardboard top Then she drinks a big gulp of milk is refreshing The milk is cold slightly sweet and a little creamy Janie keeps sipping the milk in between bites of her lunch When she's finished eating Many schools have milk available at lunch 5
Milk has nutrients the body can use for energy the carton is empty The milk is on its way through her digestive system After eating Janie goes outside for recess She runs around with her friends Then Janie goes back to the classroom All the while her body is breaking down the milk she drank Janie's stomach and intestines break the milk into tiny parts her body can use 6
Some parts are sugars The sugar in milk is called lactose It gives Janie energy right away It powers her muscles helping her run climb and jump on the playground Milk's fats and proteins come in bigger pieces They take longer to digest Her body uses this energy later in the day Other parts of the milk including calcium will become part of Janie's muscles bones brain and skin as she grows 7
