Utah District Launches "Drink Pink" Campaign To Boost Students' Calcium Consumption

The Salt Lake Tribune (10/14, Winters) reports that Utah's Jordan school district has launched a "Drink Pink" campaign encouraging middle and high school girls "to ditch the soda and pick up something pink -- strawberry milk." The effort is aimed at boosting "girls' consumption of calcium," so "every girl in seventh through 12th grades will receive a free bottle of strawberry milk during lunch one day this week." The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that "on average, girls age 12 to 19 consume only 60 percent of their daily calcium needs," while "boys consume 83 percent." Patrice Isabella, the nutrition coordinator for the Utah Department of Health's physical activity, nutrition and obesity program, said that she would rather "see kids drinking milk without the sugary strawberry or chocolate flavors," but she added, "If strawberry milk is replacing soda, then I'm all for it." Isabella also praised Jordan's "Drink Prink" campaign, calling it "clever" and "catchy."