Packing Change: Why You'll Soon Be Missing Your Cardboard Egg Containers

In a few months, you may start to notice less recycled cardboard egg cartons from South Mountain Creamery and even grocery stores worldwide.

On May 1, 2013, a fire caused $13 million in damages to the egg carton manufacturer, Pactiv Advanced Packing Solutions, located in Georgia. The company is the world's largest producer of food service and food packaging. It has 55 plants worldwide, including 25 in North America, and more 12,000 employees.

SMC is working hard to find a new supplier of recycled cardboard egg cartons. Until then, we will be using egg cartons made of polystyrene. Polystyrene can be recycled into a number of different products, including egg cartons, license plate frames, foam utensils, packing peanuts, and thermal insulation. Check with recycling companies in your area to see if they recycle polystyrene products. If you are unable to recycle polystyrene, check out these alternative uses for your egg cartons:

Storage

·         Ornaments—Protect fragile objects such as glass figurines and holiday ornaments when moving or placing them in storage. To keep track of Christmas decorations, line the cups of an egg carton with cotton, foam, or tissue paper and use to store bulbs and ornaments.

·         Use an egg carton to store small change that doesn’t fit in your wallet. Separate the coins by numerical value so they are easy to sort, see, and reclaim.

·         Office—Use inside a drawer to hold paper clips, eraser stubs, rubber bands and push pins.

·         Egg cartons are great for holding small pieces of jewelry, spools of thread and sewing needles (weave them through the inside top cover for safety). If you’re traveling, hold the container together with a large rubber band so it won’t open in your suitcase.

·         Love to golf? Sort your extra balls, store, and stack neatly in egg cartons.

·         To help boots maintain their perfect upright form (especially during the spring and summer months), place an egg carton inside the opening of each.

Kids

·         Egg cartons are very useful for game and toy storage. Never lose (or step on) those doll shoes, game pieces, dice, and Legos again!

·         Store the egg cartons for later use as a children's art project. Have the kids cut out the individual egg-shaped bumps and turn them upside down, then decorate them as "egg people". Decorate the rectangular tops of the cartons as trays.

·         Create a neat finger-painting tray for your messy budding artists.

Crafts

·         Keep sewing notions, craft items, art supplies, well organized.

·         Compartmentalize beads of various sizes and colors. You can also use it to store pastels, charcoal and colored chalk.

·         A carton made of polystyrene works great as an artist’s palette, giving you the ability to separate shades of watercolor and acrylic paints. Detach the top and use it for mixing.

Packaging

·         Shipping material – If you plan to mail something fragile, simply cut up a few polystyrene egg cartons to make lightweight packing material to protect the contents. They are made of the same material as packing peanuts!

For more recycled projects, visit Earth911.

Sustainability

The dairy industry, along with the USDA, is committed to advancing their eco-friendly sustainability practices. Over the next 10 years, they plan to reduce the output of greenhouse gasses by 25 percent. This has been made possible thanks to the USDA’s funding of approximately 25,000 environmental improvement projects through grants.

Since 1944, resources to produce a gallon of milk have decreased. This includes 90 percent less cropland, 65 percent less water, and 63 percent less carbon.

Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint of a gallon of milk is 17.6 pounds, about 2 percent of the total US emissions.

Green Cows

One cow produces 17 gallons of manure a day! Cow manure is rich in nutrients, so it can fertilize the land for growing crops that both people and animals will eat. By using 17 gallons of manure fertilizer, farmers can grow about 56 pounds of corn or 84 pounds of tomatoes!

Manure isn’t just for fertilizing anymore—it can also be converted into electricity, fiber, and fuel for vehicles!

Did you know that 75 percent of a cow’s diet is not consumable by humans? Cows have four stomachs; they can recycle food that people are unable to eat.

Water

Water is important on farms to keep cows hydrated and healthy. But, water isn’t just used to hydrate the cows; it’s also used to water crops and cool milk.

Milk leaves the cow’s body at 101 degrees, so a cooling system is used to chill the milk to 38 degrees. By cooling the milk, we make sure that your milk stays fresh from the farm to your fridge!

At South Mountain Creamery, our goal is to be totally green by 2015!

For more information, check out:

http://dairygood.org/renewed-pledge-to-help-advance-dairy-environmental-efforts/

http://dairygood.org/whats-the-carbon-footprint-of-a-gallon-of-milk/

http://dairygood.org/water-more-than-just-a-refreshing-drink-for-dairy-cows/

A Well-Balanced Diet

An 8-ounce serving of milk is a good source of nine key nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Just one glass of milk has:

• As much vitamin A as two hard boiled eggs
• As much calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach
• As much phosphorous as 1 cup of kidney beans
• As much riboflavin as 1/3 cup of whole almonds
• As much vitamin D as ¾ ounce of cooked salmon
• As much potassium as one banana

A balanced diet includes portions of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. According to MyPlate.gov, “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans also describes a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; contains lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.”

To build a healthier plate, try:

• Choosing foods that have whole wheat, whole oats, or brown rice as the first ingredients
• Eating your vegetables
• Buying fresh fruits in season
• Consuming the recommended amounts of dairy

For more information on how to build a better balanced diet, read:

http://dairygood.org/fruits-veggies-and-dairy-simple-ways-to-build-a-healthier-plate/

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

http://www.milkdelivers.org/files/resources/milkpep_lactoseflyer_hr.pdf

Lactose Intolerance

Did you know that only 12 percent of adults report being lactose intolerant? Lactose intolerance is a food sensitivity, not a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance is less common in young children and more common in adults. Usually, people with lactose intolerance can eat dairy products that contain a smaller amount of lactose, such as cheese.

Cutting out milk completely can lower the intake of milk’s essential nutrients, calcium and vitamin D, which can impact your health and diet. So, even if you are lactose intolerant, dairy can still play an important role in your diet. Since all people handle lactose differently, it is important to find out what works best for you, if you do have lactose intolerance. Work with a doctor or dietitian to find a dairy-inclusive diet plan that works.

Research has shown that people with lactose intolerance may be able to tolerate a cup of milk with minimal or no symptoms. You can also keep milk in your diet by gradually re-introducing milk, drinking milk with meals or a snack, consuming small, frequent portions, and eating yogurt and cheese instead of regular milk.

Dairy foods that people with lactose intolerance can try are cheeses and yogurts. When milk is made into cheese, a majority of the lactose is broken down during aging. Yogurt contains live and active cultures that help to digest lactose.

For more information about lactose intolerance, check out these articles:

http://dairygood.org/lactose-intolerance-10-things-you-need-to-know/

http://dairygood.org/shedding-light-on-lactose-intolerance/

http://www.milkdelivers.org/files/resources/milkpep_lactoseflyer_hr.pdf

Milk: Bottled Beauty

Good nutrition is essential to maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails. Drinking milk regularly helps to keep skin looking fairer, hair shiny, and nails strong.

Acne

Certain nutrients in milk may reduce the severity and frequency of acne. An 8 oz glass of 2% milk has about 10% of the recommended daily value of zinc, which has improved acne in some trials. The same serving provides 15% of Vitamin A, which is sometimes prescribed as an acne treatment to unclog pores and decrease skin inflammation.

Aging

Poor nutrition is a contributor to wrinkles and other external signs of aging. The Mayo Clinic identifies vitamin A as an antioxidant that helps in fighting the effects of aging. Milk also contains high amounts of B vitamins, which all promote healthy skin.

Hair

Beautiful, strong, and healthy hair needs vitamins and protein. A glass of milk contains Vitamin A, B6, biotin, potassium, proteins, lipids, and calcium. These nutrients work to keep hair soft, shiny, and strong.

For example, proteins and lipids help to strengthen hair and calcium promotes hair growth and helps to prevent hair loss.

Nails

Calcium is one of the minerals found in milk that gives fingernails the proper nutrition needed to grow. While drinking milk will support healthy nail growth, it will not make them grow faster. To keep strong fingernails, and help with your calcium absorption, make sure you are also getting Vitamin D, Vitamin K, magnesium, and phosphorous.

Learn more about how SMC milk is different at southmountaincreamery.com

Learn more about the beauty benefits of milk at Got Milk? and The Livestrong Foundation.

Flash Those Pearly Whites!

Have you been making the Tooth Fairy proud? Milk helps build strong teeth and promotes good oral health. Antibacterial properties of milk promote oral health. Drinking milk can also help prevent or reduce tooth decay and contribute to overall better gum health.

Milk and dairy product consumption has been associated with a reduction in cavities with a regular oral hygiene routine. When combined with normal brushing and flossing, the calcium in milk may help to reduce cavities. Milk also contains casein, a protein, which prevents cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the surface of teeth.

An article from Oral B says, “calcium is a prime ingredient for preventing tooth decay, especially for growing children. Dairy is a great source, with choices such as milk, yogurt and cheese. And calcium isn't hiding in the fat, so skim milk and low-fat yogurt are just as good.”

Milk also contains riboflavin and vitamin D. Both riboflavin and calcium can help in reducing the risk of gum disease. Tooth loss can be avoided with an increase in calcium and vitamin D.

Learn more about how SMC milk is different at southmountaincreamery.com

Read more about the benefits of milk for your teeth at Got Milk?.

Chocolate Milk: The Ideal Post-Exercise Drink

Nutrients in chocolate milk can help athletes rehydrate and refuel after exercise. Proteins and electrolytes are found naturally in low-fat chocolate milk. Commercial recovery drinks usually add these nutrients during production.

Build Strong Bones and Muscles.

Chocolate milk contains the bone-building nutrients calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, protein, and potassium. These nutrients help athletes build and maintain strong bones and also reduce the risk for stress fractures. High-quality protein in chocolate milk helps athletes repair and rebuild muscles after a workout.

Get the Exercise Advantage.

Compared to athletes who drank sports beverages with carbohydrates only, athletes who drank low-fat chocolate milk after exercise showed better training times, body composition, and overall fitness. Three studies published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research can’t be wrong!

Chocolate milk contains B vitamins for energy to get you going, and adding more milk to your diet will add to your total energy intake.

Recover.

The recovery window after a tough workout, which usually lasts two hours, is the ideal time to refuel and rehydrate in order to stay in shape. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin completed three studies to compare recovery benefits between low-fat chocolate milk and carbohydrate beverages. The study found that drinking low-fat chocolate milk has benefits such as improved performance, quicker exercise adaption, and better body composition.

"Our research suggests that low-fat chocolate milk…can improve performance and aid training for trained and amateur athletes faced with tough routines," said a researcher on the University of Texas at Austin.

So, don’t ignore your recovery window after your next workout. Buy a bottle of our chocolate milk, get more out of your workout, and see the results for yourself!

Learn more about how SMC milk is different at southmountaincreamery.com

Read more about the benefits of chocolate milk after exercise at Got Milk?.