A Taste of 2020

Ensuring 2020 started with that all-important health kick, professional Rugby Sevens star and Love Island winner, Greg O’Shea, joined forces in February with one of Ireland’s top female boxers, Kellie Harrington, to support the second year of the ‘Everything starts with milk’ initiative. The initiative is a European Milk Forum (EMF) campaign focused on encouraging Irish consumers to drink more quality milk from Europe. Greg and Kellie announced their roles as ambassadors at an ‘Everything starts with milk’ training day that took place at University College Dublin, which saw one boxing club, one rugby team and one hockey team win the chance to train with O’Shea and Harrington, as well as several members of the Irish Women’s hockey team who were also in attendance.

Photo: Michael Chester

TASTE O

In March, the NDC published a new patient leaflet on Dairy and Cholesterol. The leaflet explains how the milk, yogurt and cheese food group can make a nutritious contribution as part of a balanced diet for those wishing to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

The publication has been endorsed by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute and is available for health practitioners to share with their patients.

Photo: Thomas Sunderland Photography Pictured above: Tara Regan, EU & Schools Programme Manager, NDC; Maeve Lynch, Deputy Head, Food Division, DAFM and children from Ballon Rathoe Childcare Facility A pilot of the EU School Milk Scheme took place in 12 Early Years Service settings in Carlow and Kilkenny in February and March 2020. Key objectives of the pilot were to cultivate and contribute to the development of healthy eating habits for pre-school children, to create a positive lasting impression of dairy produce and to encourage pre-school children to meet the recommended number of daily servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group. An additional objective was to connect children to agriculture to develop a greater understanding of where their food comes from. Participating settings received milk each day during the pilot, a suite of educational resources designed specifically for the initiative and visits from a farmer and Milly the Cow. An evaluation of the pilot was carried out by the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre in UCD. The pilot was very well received by children, care-givers and parents who cited that the programme was beneficial to children, with some parents commenting that their children were now more likely to drink milk in place of other drinks.

Photo: Conor McCabeF 2020 Advertorial

Greg’s top stay-at-home exercise tips stay-at-home exercise tips

1. Squats 10 reps with a 10 second hold on fi nal rep 2. Walkouts Walk out into a plank and back up for 10s 3. Side lunges 5 reps for each side 4. Mountain climbers 20 reps

off for me. I used to play a lot of sport, I don’t play as much anymore, but coming home to a young family allows me to switch off from farming. I’ve also got my parents, I work with my dad every day, he’s a fountain of knowledge, and we bounce ideas off each other, I’m very lucky to have someone with me on the farm. For other people it might be staying active, going for a run, a walk. It’s important to have something that when you come home in the evening, you can switch the mind away from what you’ve been doing during the day, giving you something else to focus on. SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE OF FARMING Being sustainable is very important. The consumer in every country is well aware of what’s on the shelves and want to know where their food comes from. For us as farmers, to be part of the whole story of sustainability is important. How we spread our slurry, moving towards low emission slurry spreading. We’ve recently instaying active, going for a run, a walk. It’s important to have something that when you come home in the evening, you can switch the mind away from what you’ve been doing during the d you something else to focus on. OF FARMING important. The consumer in every country is well aware of what’s on the shelves and want to know where their food comes from. For us as farmers, to be part of the whole story of sustainability is important. How we spread our slurry, moving towards low emission slurry spreading. We’ve recently inAdvertorial 2 MaY 2020 IRISH COUNTRY LIVING 7 This health and wellbeing page is the fourth in a five-part series brought to you by the National Dairy Council. Check out ndc.ie for more information on enjoying dairy as part of a healthy, balanced diet and for recipe ideas. Health & Wellbeing, brought to you by The Tom Power is a fi fth generation dairy farmer who farms in the shadow of both the Comeragh and Knockmealdown mountains in west Waterford.Tom farms alongside his par-ents James and Bríd, while Shane (who is shane?) also works on the farm part-time.Tom is married to Moya and has four kids; Ella (fi ve), Chloe (three), Aoife (two), JJ (six months). Alongside his busy home life Tom runs a spring calving herd which has 300 cows in-calf this season. Says Tom: “Many of those will stay on the farm, to maintain the herd population, while others will be raised until they are mature enough to go to market.”Below Tom shares his thoughts on a number of major issues facing farmers as well as his experiences of being a dairy farmer. THE RESILIENCE OF FARMERS Every year for as long as I have been farming there has been a challenge. We had the spring with the really bad snow, we had the drought during the summer a couple of years ago, ongoing milk price volatility. So there’s never a year where its plain sailing, there’s always some issue. COVID-19 on the other hand is a worldwide issue. In terms of getting through the day-to-day, there hasn’t been a massive change to our working day, we have introduced social distancing measures and extra hand washing facilities on the farm and obviously we are keeping to ourselves a bit more. We don’t have people coming into the yard unless it is an absolute necessity. We are treating it as another challenge where we focus on the important aspects such as animal health and wellbeing and all that goes into producing a high-quality product. THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING POSITIVE AND LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Staying positive is so important and keeping the mind right is equally important. If you think too deeply about anything, you can get down about it. Staying positive is a huge thing. I’m lucky because when I come home in the evenings, I’ve got Moya and the kids so it’s a switch NDC and Kerrygold Milk Quality Awards winner Tom Power looks at the challenges that farmers face, the importance of family right now and the future of farming Farming is all about family – especially now! stalled a new parlour and are very conscious of how we use water in terms of volume when washing down and how we heat the water. The win-win is that these measures are environmentally sustainable and often result in a better return on investment. The other side of sustainability that probably gets lost a bit in farming is personal sustainability, we need to be able to work and employ people in the manner that allows us to have a good quality of life and that people working with us have an enjoyable and rewarding job to come to. We feel that we’ve got good facilities for milking, animal housing, silage pits. We try to put in good facilities for ourselves and the animals so that it’s an enjoyable place to work. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN THE FARMING BUSINESS The family element of farming is such an important part. COVID-19 has really hammered home the importance of family, especially from a safety point of view. I’ve got a very young family so I am limiting how much they are with me on the farm at the moment. All of a sudden, we’ve got four kids at home that need to be looked after.I get a real kick seeing the kids on the farm, being curious about what’s happening, showing interest. We’ve a really nice situation at home with three generations of the family involved on the farm. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A QUALITY MILK AWARDS WINNER We were delighted to be nominated. We had never even dreamed of winning it. For me, it really highlighted the importance of family and having a generation ahead of you leading the way. Having family involvement on the farm is really important. I grew up watching my mum and dad on the farm and that’s how I got into it. In terms of winning the award, I feel it is really about doing the simple things right. It’s important to have something that when you come home in the evening, you can switch the mind away from what you’ve been doing during the day LABNEH AND HOMEMADE FLATBREADS For the labneh: 400ml yogurt ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds For the fl atbreads: 250g self-raising flour 250g yogurt ½ tsp salt 1.Place a piece of muslin or cheesecloth into a large sieve set over a bowl. Stir the salt through the yogurt, then spoon the yogurt into the centre of the cloth and gather up the sides. Tie the four corners into a knot and hang over the bowl overnight. I usually tie it on to the handle of a kitchen cabinet or the tap. The liquid will slowly drip into the bowl leaving a thick creamy cheese.2. Transfer the cheese to a serving 1 bowl and smooth it out with a spoon. Drizzle olive oil over the top and scatter with the sesame seeds. 3. To make the fl atbreads, mix the yogurt with the fl our until a smooth dough forms. Leave to rest, covered with a tea towel, for half an hour. Divide the dough into six and roll into balls. Use a rolling pin to fl atten the breads about 5mm thick. Place a dry frying pan over a high heat, no need for any oil. 4.Lay two fl atbreads at a time in the pan to cook. Each will need about four minutes each side. They should puff up and blister, this all gives fl avour. Repeat with the remaining dough balls. Serve the labneh with the warm breads for dipping. Advertorial 9 MaY 2020 IRISH COUNTRY LIVING 7 This health and wellbeing page is the fifth in a five-part series brought to you by the National Dairy Council. Health & Wellbeing, brought to you by The Never before has food had such importance in our lives, comforting us, nourishing us and soothing us in these challenging times. With a practical and approach-able style of cooking Lilly Higgins features fresh, local produce in her recipes, whether its for feeding a family or for special occasions. How are you coping with the challenges of the lockdown with three young children? “I work from home normally writing recipes, cooking food and doing food photography. My kids are young so they are used to me working around so there hasn’t been a major change. Before the current lockdown, there was a window for me in the morning when my youngest would go to playschool and the two boys would go to school, so that’s gone now. It’s gone back to the way things were before they went to school where I would do a lot of the work in the evenings when the kids are gone to bed. It’s just about getting back into the routine of it. “On a positive note, we’ve never eaten better. We’re baking and cooking every day. We are very much into home schooling, with the kids having a snack at a set time.” Any tips for keeping the children entertained? “Getting them involved seems to have worked out the best. They want to do the things that we are doing. They’re taking lots of photos of their food. I’ve started to get them to make their own snack and they are doing a lot of baking with me. They are really enjoying that because they all have their own preferences. We can create our own normal by making our own food.” What are their favourite dishes? “For Liam, it’s defi nitely duck pancakes, he absolutely loves them. He also loves any type of Chinese food. We cook up stir fry vegRHUBARB FOOL WITH CANDIED ALMONDS Serves 6 2 For the almonds: 2 tsp sugar 2 tsp hot water 1 tbsp brown sugar 60g chopped almonds For the fool: 650g rhubarb 100g caster sugar 400ml cream 150ml yogurt 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Mix the water and sugar in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add the brown sugar and almonds. Mix well to combine. Spread the nuts on a tray lined with parchment paper and bake for eight minutes until bubbling and evenly coated. Set aside to cool.2. Meanwhile, roughly chop the rhubarb and place in an ovenproof dish and scatter over the caster sugar. Cover with foil and place in the oven to bake for 10-15 minutes until the rhubarb is just done. You don’t want it to be too soft. Set it aside to cool completely. 3. Whip the cream until thick and voluminous. Fold through the yogurt. Next gently fold through the cooled rhubarb. You can keep aside some of the juice for pouring on top. Once the cream is rippled through, spoon it into cold glasses. Top with any reserved cooking juices and scatter the candied almonds over. Serve chilled right away. >>Recipes Food for the body and soul Award winning food writer and photographer Lilly Higgins spoke to James Taylor about shopping local, new recipes and supporting Irish farmers and producers Lilly Higgins is a food writer, blogger, photographer and chef. Lilly lives in Cork with her partner Colm and their three children; Liam (8), Cathal (7) and Hazel (4). For more delicious recipes, visit www.ndc.ie/recipes etables with noodles and he loves that and he’s learning how to make that now. Cathal is our resident carnivore, he loves every type of meat. When he gets steak and two veg, he just pushes the veg aside! “We are having loads of barbecues now that we are at home, when the weather is good, which is great. He also loves smoked goats cheese. Hazel eats everything. “I’m always trying different recipes and cooking different things to see what they like and don’t like. The more they discover about food and the more that they taste, the more their preference changes which is really good.” How important is shopping for local produce? It’s more important than ever, sourcing locally produced food you know has zero air miles. We are so lucky that a lot of Irish produce is grass-fed. It’s often something that is taken for granted in an Irish setting. Shopping locally is great from a health perspective, buying the raw ingredients to make our own dishes and recipes. The distinct quality and taste of Irish dairy is the best in the world and I love to cook with it in my dishes. The vegetables, the meat, the milk. It’s all about supporting farmers and small Irish food producers right now. How you are coping with the current lockdown due to COVID-19? “Initially it was very disappointing. My rugby 7s teammates and I were down in the dumps. We were within touching distance of going to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. What we realised after a couple of days though was that it has given us another year on the world series circuit to improve, get better, get stronger and to become more cohesive as a team. It gives us a better chance in the long run of getting to the Olympics. It’s obviously very tough for everybody, but the whole world is in the same boat. It’s the same with all sporting events across the world.” How long have you been playing rugby? “I started playing rugby when I was fi ve and I absolutely hated it so I didn’t go back until I was eight. I just didn’t like the contact element of it at all. From eight, I’ve been playing it ever since.” What highlights of your rugby career to date? “The main highlight came this time last year. We [the Ireland 7s side] qualifi ed for the World Series and won the Hong Kong leg. It was the proudest moment of my life as an Irishman. It took four years but we got there!” Tell us about your diet and how you incorporate milk into your daily routine? “Until I became the Irish ambassador for the ‘Everything Starts with Milk’ campaign, I didn’t realise how much milk I use! In the morning I have milk in my porridge, milk in my protein shake, milk in my tea and milk after every session. “I particularly like to have it after an intense training session as it helps me address the ‘3 R’s of recovery’ by providing a natural source of protein to assist my muscles Repair; helps Refuel the body by providing a natural source of carbohydrate; and helps Rehydrate by being a fluid with electrolytes. “Of course, these benefits are a main focus for me after sport - but it’s great also knowing I am getting important nutrients as well from milk such as calcium, B vitamins and iodine. So yes, as you can tell, I am a big fan of milk and it plays a massive role in my daily routine.” going for walks two to three times per week, that stimulus and release of endorphins will make you feel so much better.” What advice would you give young rugby players today as they begin their sporting journey? “It’s really so simple. You need to do the training that you are told and have a balanced diet that provides all of the nutrients and foods you need to fuel up for your training session and matches; and ensure you recover well afterwards. So, I would say to my younger self to train right and get the right nutrition – couldn’t be simpler!” Tell us about your role with the National Dairy Council “Last year I became the Irish ambassador for the European campaign ‘Everything Starts with Milk’. We try to encourage people to drink quality milk in Europe. “It’s great to be on board with the team at the NDC because I can see myself the healthy lifestyle that it brings about and supporting local. Dairy is just amazing and it’s important to support the farmers that are working so hard and produce such a top-quality product. I’m delighted and proud to be working with the National Dairy Council.” 18 April 2020 IRISH COUNTRY LIVING 7 The lifestyle is amazing and you get to represent your country all over the world. I’ve landed on my feet really! This health and wellbeing page is the second in a five-part series brought to you by the National Dairy Council For more information on sports nutrition, see ndc.ie/nutrition/sports-nutrition diet and how you incorporate milk into your daily routine? per week, that stimulus and release of endorphins will make you feel so much better.” What advice would you give young rugby players today as they begin their sporting journey? “It’s really so simple. You need to do the training that you are told and have a balanced diet that provides to represent your country all over the world. I’ve landed on my feet really! What does it feel like to play for your country and was it always your ambition? “Putting on the green jersey is amazing. Like any young rugby player, my initial goal was to play for my province and then the Ireland 15s. That didn’t work out for me, my career went a different path with injuries. I got picked up by the 7s team and I’ve never been happier. The lifestyle is amazing and you get to represent your country all over the world. I’ve landed on my feet really!” How do you gear yourself up ahead of your matches? “Some of the lads would listen to music, some might have to put one boot on before the other but I wouldn’t have any real superstitions like that. The big thing for me is knowing that I’m prepared, that I’ve done the proper training during the week, that I’ve slept well, that I’ve eaten and hydrated properly and that I’m ready to go mentally. It’s more about preparation rather than getting a pre-match stimulus.” Who are your rugby idols? “Growing up, I really looked up to Doug Howlett and Jason Robinson.” Any tips for mental health and well-being during these tough times“Two big things for me are routine and exercise. Just because we are experiencing different living circumstances, you shouldn’t be staying up until 4am in the morning and eating foods you wouldn’t normally eat. I think that you should try and stick to the same schedule that you’ve always had. Another thing for me is getting some exercise in. Even “I started playing rugby when I was fi ve and I absolutely hated it so I didn’t go back until I was eight. I just didn’t like the contact element of it at all. From eight, I’ve been playing it ever since.” What highlights of your rugby career to date? “The main highlight came this time last year. We [the Ireland 7s side] qualifi ed for You can do as many as you like but I’d recommend three rounds of each. Check out my video on the Irish Country Living website to fi nd out how the routine goes! 5. Jumping Jacks 20 reps Advertorial 25 April 2020 IRISH COUNTRY LIVING 7 This health and wellbeing page is the third in a five-part series brought to you by the National Dairy Council. Check out ndc.ie for more information on enjoying dairy as part of a healthy, balanced diet and for recipe ideas. Health & Wellbeing, brought to you by The O ur daily lives have been changed dramatically during the current pandemic, but thankfully there is lots of advice out there to help us all adjust to this new normal. One of the most important areas is around food and nutrition and what we are feeding ourselves and our families as we are staying home together. Everyone is in a different place right now – you may be cocooning, feeding a teenage family, trying to work and mind children but remember that this is a new normal for everyone right now so we need to try our best. Just remember, doing your best is good enough when it comes to nutrition. We know that eating well is good for mind and body. Maintaining healthy diets will benefi t ‘ Eating well is good for mind and body’ Dietitian Louise Reynolds provides advice on maintaining healthy eating habits and how to practise more mindful eating Tips for more mindful eating: • Don’t ‘eat on the go’. It can make it more difficult to be aware of how much you are eating. • Have a seat at the kitchen table. Make the meal an occasion rather than standing eating from the kitchen worktop. This will help you see and appreciate what and how much you’re eating. • Resist eating straight from the packet. Serve your food on a plate and take a seat. • Remove distractions. Turn off the TV and put away any iPads or phones during mealtimes. • Try putting your utensils down regularly and take the time to chew food well. Chat to family members and enjoy these mealtimes when possible. • Don’t try to finish the whole plate. If you feel full, keep the leftovers in the fridge/freezer for another meal. PLAN A WEEKLY MENU If you are only going to the shops infrequently or someone is dropping the groceries to your house, then having a list is the most effective way to prevent food waste and to allow you to make a range of healthy meals. Stock up your store cupboard with a wide variety of nutritious foods as this will make it easier to put together healthy meals and snacks. • Wholegrains – go for high fi bre varieties of pasta, brown rice, wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals and porridge. These foods will provide the basis for many meals and snacks and the wholegrain varieties provide much needed fi bre for a healthy gut. • Fruit and vegetables - fresh fruit and vegetables are great snack foods and provide a wide range of nutrients. Try raw veg with everyone at this challenging time, so do try to establish healthy routines. Here are some tips to help you stay on track with healthy eating habits: FORM A ROUTINE Habits take time to both establish and to change, so start with small steps. Don’t decide to radically overhaul your diet right now, just build a healthy routine which can help everyone in the family. It is a good idea to set mealtimes for the whole household and try as much as possible to stick to that – it will give the day structure. ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO HELP Now is a great time to teach basic cooking skills to children and more adventurous meals for teenagers or other family members. Before you know it you may be having dinner prepared for you! There are lots of recipes on ndc.ie for some inspiration. hummus as a snack or fresh fruit topped with yogurt and a few seeds or nuts for a healthy midafternoon bite. It’s also a great idea to have a good stock of frozen and tinned vegetables and fruit on hand too if it is not possible to get fresh supplies as regularly as normal. • Dairy foods - make sure to keep milk, cheese and yogurt in the fridge. They are nutrition power houses and can be used to prepare a wide range of quick lunches and snacks. They contain calcium, protein and phosphorus to support normal bone health. Milk, cheese and yogurt are also rich sources of vitamin B12; with cheese also providing vitamin A and zinc. These nutrients contribute to the normal function of the immune system. • Protein rich foods – in addition to including fresh meat and fi sh in the weekly meals, eggs, nuts, tinned beans and lentils are very handy to have in the store cupboard to add protein to your diet. They can make quick, proteinrich meals or snacks. 11 April 2020 IRISH COUNTRY LIVING 7 Collection of pensions or other bene ts Those who are worried about collecting pensions or benefits can also use the option of nominating a temporary agent who can fill out a form and collect the payment for them. Alternatively, for those that cannot collect a payment, it will be held in the post office, as the six-week holding period has been temporarily lifted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bills can be paid over the phone or online, where necessary. Social distancing does not mean being housebound Those confi ned to their home can still use their garden, balcony, polytunnel or shed. It is very important to continue pursuing hobbies and pastimes as they offer a welcome distraction to what’s going on. It is also vital to exercise daily. Depending on where a person lives, some may still be able to go for a stroll or bring their dog for a walk but need to know that they must keep an unnatural distance from others that they may meet. If you are over 70 and need to cocoon, try and be as active as possible around the house or out in the garden.Social distancing may leave many people facing a greater degree of loneliness than ever before. We all need to look out for those that are more vulnerable and offer reassurance. A day should not go by without some contact with family or friends during these challenging times. Advertorial Chartered psychologist Shane Martin, discusses the importance of adopting a positive attitude during these uncertain times and o ers tips on how to overcome social isolation It is an undeniable truth that people need people. As humans, we are social creatures through and through. Research has shown that in cases where we are deprived of social interactions and connection, it can have a more damaging effect to our health than being overweight, smoking and having high blood pressure. Some research even suggests that it may even lengthen our lives. Social connection strengthens our immune system and helps us to recover from disease faster. Medical and non-medical experts are recommending social distancing to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This will prove to be the most challenging of all recommendations as its application goes against the essence of who we are as people. We need each other and being social sustains the very relationships that keep us healthy and fulfi lled. We need to be mindful of our own social interaction and keep a watchful eye on elderly or vulnerable relatives, neighbours and friends. Some of us may be accustomed to degrees of loneliness but social distancing can be a major culture shock, which could lead to increased anxiety. Farmers are still farming, but if you are confi ned to your home you can use these practical tips for addressing issues that may arise while isolated during the current climate. Health & Wellbeing, brought to you by Adopting a positive attitude Physical isolation does not mean social isolation It is solely physical one-to-one contact that is to be avoided. Family members may no longer be able to enter the home of loved ones. However, we can still talk through the window pane or at the recommended 2m distance outside. We can reassure each other that everyone will be making a bigger effort to speak through all available devices such as the phone, via Skype or Facetime. It is helpful to remember that this is temporary. Ensure essential supplies are available Not visiting the supermarket or pharmacy further reduces social connectivity, but is sadly a necessary precaution. Many of us who now have more time on our hands can collect shopping or prescriptions for those who need to stay at home. Alternatively, those with computer know-how may be able to guide others through the process of making the order online. Local volunteer groups are also available to help those in need and your local volunteer centre can be found at www.volunteer.ie/about-us/vcs-andviss/find-your-vcvis/. Alone (alone.ie) and Making Connections (makingconnections.ie) are providing additional support to older people at this time. Given the vulnerability of older people, or those with an underlying condition, it may be a good idea to have access to several weeks’ supply of necessary medications. The feasibility or need for this should be discussed with your GP.ALONE, the national charity for older people, is partnering with the national COVID-19 Community Response Forum. If you need to talk or are looking for emotional support, you can call them on 0818 222 024 or your call can be directed from your local COVID-19 Community Response Forum helpline. You can also contact ALONE if you are experiencing difficulties with physical and mental health, finance, housing, loneliness and other challenges. An Post is also really stepping up to the plate and reaching out to the community. Post men and women across the country will call to the front doors of older and vulnerable customers along their delivery route in isolated areas. If you are an older person in an isolated area you can request a check-in online (anpost.com) or ask a friend/family member to do this for you. The post man/ woman can also take any post you might have for free and put it into circulation for you. The postal delivery staff will apply a postage mark in the local mail centre before onward circulation. If an elderly person has a mail item they need collecting, they can put a sign in their window that says I HAVE MAIL and the postal delivery staff will collect it on their route. An Post is working with newspapers to develop a delivery service for customers who cannot get to shops to get their daily newspaper. This initiative will be launched in the coming week and more details will be shared once available. Using FaceTime or Skype If an older person can use FaceTime, Skype or similar applications on their mobile phone, laptop or computer, it will prove very useful in maintaining regular contact. Neighbours should call on the elderly who live nearby and make regular contact as some may have no family or close friends. ing on where a person lives, some may still be able to go for a stroll or bring their dog for a walk but need to know that they must keep an unnatural distance from others that they may meet. If you are over 70 and need to cocoon, try and be as active as possible around the house or out in the garden.Social distancing may leave many people facing a greater degree of loneliness than ever before. We all need to look out for those that are more vulnerable and offer reassurance. A day should not go by without some contact with family or friends during these ch working with newspapers to develop a delivery service for customers who cannot get to shops to get their daily newspaper. This initiative will be launched in the coming week and more details will be shared once available. applications on their mobile phone, laptop or computer, it will prove very useful in maintaining regular contact. Neighbours should call on the elderly who live nearby and make regular contact as some may have no family or close 5 4 3 A day should not go by without some contact with family or friends during these challenging times This health and wellbeing page is the first in a five-part series brought to you by the National Dairy Council.

In April, the NDC launched its ‘Health and Wellbeing’ series, which included a 5-part series of full page articles in the Irish Farmers’ Journal’s Irish Country Living magazine (148,000 weekly readers). It featured NDC-associated experts and ambassadors, including Dietitian Louise Reynolds, Psychologist Shane Martin, Dairy Farmer Tom Power, Food Writer Lily Higgins and our ‘Everything Starts with Milk’ ambassador, Rugby Sevens athlete, Greg O’Shea. The series provided readers with practical and supportive health and wellbeing advice during the pandemic, at a time when readership of the publication was estimated to have increased from 4-12%, depending on the week. Accompanying videos were also created for these articles in the online publication, with over 2,000 views in total. In addition, three related radio interviews featured on Midlands 103’s ‘Country Life’ programme, with contributors Shane Martin, Louise Reynolds and Tom Power. The NDC also promoted its health and wellbeing portfolio with a press release and a number of relevant consumer articles on their website on topics such as ‘Healthy Habits when Working from Home’; ‘Looking after the Vulnerable in our Community’; and ‘Keeping Active – Benefits for Body and Mind’.

Pictured above: Greg O’Shea, Hockey Players Elena Tice, Nikki Evan, Chloe Watkins and Kellie Harrington

Twenty years ago, World Milk Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. Each year since, the benefits of milk and dairy products have been actively promoted around the world, including how dairy supports the livelihoods of one billion people.

While, the reality of Covid-19 has been challenging for us all, it presented a powerful moment to connect consumers with natural food production in Ireland. In 2020 more than ever we needed to really celebrate our local food heroes all around Ireland producing high quality produce 365 days a year. To celebrate this, the NDC secured a themed 3 minute ad break during the 6PM RTÉ news on June 1st (World Milk Day). Families from all over Ireland featured in the ad raising a glass for World Milk Day.

In June, a National Quality Milk virtual farm walk was broadcast live from the farm of Kieran and Ann Hearne, Co. Waterford, national winners of the 2019 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. The broadcast was produced by Teagasc with the support of the NDC, Ornua and Glanbia Ireland and featured interviews with the winning farmer, Kieran Hearne, his Teagasc Adviser - Seamus Kearney, and his Glanbia Milk Quality Manager - Brendan Walsh. The event was facilitated by David Gleeson, Teagasc and covered a number of areas including producing high quality milk, selective dry cow therapy, grassland management, herd breeding, calf rearing, biodiversity and the environment.

Photo: Clare Keogh

Photos: Appetite Media

One of Ireland’s best loved TV cooks and food writers, Donal Skehan, announced his second year as the official ambassador for the European Milk Forum (EMF) and National Dairy Council’s (NDC) “Cheese Your Way” campaign.

Donal returned to Ireland from Los Angeles, kicking off the campaign with brand new recipes to inspire people to use cheese in a variety of meals throughout the day.

Well-known for his accessible, inspiring and encouraging recipes geared to the everyday home cook, Donal was helping to promote everyone’s secret food addiction – Cheese!

This was the second year of the EMF and NDC partnership to deliver the EU funded “Cheese Your Way” campaign; created to encourage more Irish consumers to enjoy quality cheese from Europe.

In July, the NDC welcomed the return of summer camps to the Sport Ireland Campus. To celebrate this year’s camps in a unique way, each participant took part in an NDC Sports Day, encompassing traditional games such as sack/sprint/ ‘egg & spoon’ races, obstacle courses and long/high jump challenges. This came as children around the country will have missed out on their school sports day due to the school closures in mid-March.

Photo: Morgan Treacy INPHO

The World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases took place in August. It was attended by a wide range of health professionals with expertise in bone and muscle health.

As part of the NDC’s collaboration with the European Milk Forum, the Congress included a sponsored symposium on the ‘Impact of the whole dairy matrix on musculoskeletal health and aging’. Expert international speakers shared the latest research on the unique role that dairy can play in bone and muscle health.

Photo: L Reynolds

The NDC began its ‘Back to School’ communications in August. Our press release on ‘Lunchbox Tips’ received significant coverage again this year, and our website featured a new Lunchbox Tips video presented by INDI dietitian Louise Reynolds and a lunchbox weekly planner. The Moo Crew Back to School Campaign ran alongside, with a 4-page advert published in the Irish Independent Weekend Magazine. It included an online article, featuring Back to School tips and information on Moo Crew, the EU-funded school milk scheme.

In August, the NDC published its new booklet on Eating Sustainably. The booklet outlines the key principles of a sustainable diet, explains where dairy fits and offers practical tips on lifestyle choices. With a growing awareness of how the food we eat impacts climate change, consumers are seeking reliable information on this topic. The new booklet has been endorsed by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute and the Department of Health’s ‘Healthy Ireland’.

Eating Sustainably

Photo: NDC

In September, the NDC hosted an educational webinar for dietitians, in association with the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI).

The theme of the webinar was ‘Evolving with the Changing Climate of Nutrition’. Expert speakers included Prof Frédéric Leyroy from Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, who spoke about ‘Evolving foodscapes and thoughtscapes’; and Dr Sinéad McCarthy from Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, who spoke about ‘How sustainable is the Irish diet?’. The virtual event was broadcast live from Airfield Estate, headquarters of the INDI, and watched online by over 70 dietitians. The purpose of the webinar was to keep dietitians and nutrition scientists informed regarding the latest research on the role of dairy in sustainable diets.

Photo: NDC

Our popular HPX (High Performance knowledge Exchange) conference with the Sport Ireland Institute took place in October. These conferences are tailored for nutrition, sport and medical professionals; as well as coaches, athletes and academics. This year’s theme was ‘Behaviour Change – The Real Game Changer?’ and had a total of 364 attendees over its two half day webinars. Along with a fantastic calibre of speakers, Dr Kirstie McAdoo, Head of Education & Research at Airfield Estate, provided a presentation on ‘SuSTRAINability’ - a focus on how a diet filled with sustainable, indigenous food can help the athlete, local producers and the environment all at the same time. This included highlighting key messages around the role of Irish dairy as part of a healthy, sustainable diet.

Following the event, 96% of those who completed the feedback questionnaire said they now have a better understanding of the considerations required in order to eat sustainably; with 86% agreeing that Irish dairy belongs as part of a sustainable diet.

Photo: Jessica McGuirk

The NDC, in association with Cappagh Hospital Foundation, teamed up with leading racehorse trainer Jessica Harrington to raise awareness about bone health to mark World Osteoporosis Day (20 October). Jessica Harrington is one of the world’s leading horse trainers and the most successful female trainer ever at Cheltenham.

The campaign received considerable media pick-up and Jessica also appeared on Virgin Media’s 6 O’Clock Show.

Photo: Clive Wasson In October, the NDC and Ornua announced the Starrett family, supplying Aurivo Co-op, as the winner of the 2020 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. Now in its 11th year, the awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars of the Dairy World’, acknowledge and celebrate the highest standards of excellence in dairy farming.

The 2020 shortlist was made up of 11 dairy farming families representing 11 dairy co-ops nationwide. All farming finalists underwent a detailed assessment by an expert judging panel including Professor Patrick Wall from UCD, Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc and Dr Jack Kennedy, Deputy Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal. Each of the finalists was judged on sustainable farming practices, milk quality, technical knowledge and animal welfare on-farm practices.

Photo: Robbie Reynolds

The actions of Ireland’s 18,000 dairy farmers to improve sustainability, reduce climate emissions and protect rural biodiversity were highlighted in a new Fact Book “Irish Dairy, Sustainable Ireland”, published in December by the European Milk Forum (EMF) in association with the NDC. This publication spotlights sustainability actions currently being implemented on dairy farms across the country – in areas such as grassland and fertiliser management, low emissions slurry spreading and measures to improve water quality and herd genomics – areas highlighted as priorities in the Irish Government’s recently published ‘Ag-Climatise’ roadmap, as well as the EU Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies. The Fact Book is the third annual edition produced in Ireland, as well as five other EU countries, as part of the EMF’s ‘Sustainable Dairy in Europe’ campaign, which is focused on the challenges and innovative responses to the issues of sustainability and climate change in the dairy sector.

In 2020, the NDC commissioned renowned food writers John and Sally McKenna to write a book devoted to the subject of Milk. The book explores the culture, history and culinary potential of the magic liquid, which is Ireland’s culinary treasure, and features some of the family-farm winners of the annual NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, who outline the importance of pasture-fed milk and butter. The book also features recipes from 60 Irish chefs with each recipe using Irish dairy as a main ingredient. The recipes themselves are culturally diverse and impressively styled and shot by Kildare-based photographer Mike O’Toole and chef Anne Marie Tobin.

John felt it was important to showcase other cultural uses for milk; methods which are not only interesting, but sometimes superior to our own. By combining these recipes and techniques with Irish dairy, something special was achieved. The book went on sale in bookstores all over Ireland in October.