We are big milk drinkers in our house. From drinking a glass of milk with breakfast in the morning to incorporate milk into a delicious smoothie option, my family is a huge fan of milk and all the nutritious benefits it offers. I love to use it with dark chocolate chunk granola for the perfect breakfast that I know my entire family will enjoy.

My family, and especially my kids keep busy all day long so milk is a perfect natural source of high quality protein. We all know how important milk is to a nutritious eating plan and The Great American Milk Drive strives to make sure everyone has access to this important source of nutrition and protein. The Great American Milk Drive is a collaborative effort between Feeding America, America’s dairy farmers and milk companies which turns online donations into gallons of milk for families in local communities. To date, the program has provided more than 12 million servings of milk to families across the country. 

My children are fortunate to be able to reach into the refrigerator and pour a glass of milk or enjoy milk on their granola. Milk helps fuel their life so they can play, grow and learn. Unfortunately, not all children have this ability. The Great American Milk Drive focuses on delivering a highly desired and nutrient-rich gallon of fresh milk to children who need it most. Delivering a gallon of nutrient-rich milk helps ensure that all children have the potential to play, learn and grow.

Our summers start early and go all day long so I like to make sure the kids have something to fuel their summer! Pool trips, picnics, bike rides and more mean they need a ton of energy each and every day.

They have been starting the day with chocolate chunk granola and milk. Milk’s 9 essential nutrients, including 8 grams of high-quality protein per 8 ounce serving help keep my kids going all day long.

Dark Chocolate Chunk Granola Ingredients:

2 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chocolate chunks
1/2 cup coconut flakes

Let’s Make It:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick foil.

2. In a large bowl, combine oats, cinnamon, salt and walnuts. In a medium bowl, warm coconut oil for 20 seconds. Stir in honey. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and stir to coat. Pour onto prepared baking sheet. 

3. Bake in preheat oven for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Stir one last time and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, stir in cranberries, chocolate chunks and coconut flakes. Store in an airtight container.

This summer, as I sit back and enjoy watching my children play and enjoy their day, I will pause to remember the children have to turn to food banks and other programs to get the nutrition they need. While, during the school year, they could access programs like National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) which do not reach children during the summer months. That’s why food banks play an even more critical role in helping children access nutritious foods when class isn’t in session. A donation as little as $5 to The Great American Milk Drive, at milklife.com/give, can deliver a highly desired and nutrient-rich gallon of fresh milk to children who need it most.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.