Midwest Dairy hosted a webinar targeting health and wellness thought leaders titled Nourishing Futures: Bridging Health Disparities During Pregnancy and in the First Years of Life. This was the third and final webinar in 2024 designed for this audience, attracting over 340 registrants—the highest registration of the year.
From pregnancy to the first five years of life, expectant mothers, infants, and young children face heightened nutritional needs. Limited access to nutrient-rich foods disproportionately affects women and children from racially and ethnically marginalized communities, thus increasing health disparities. During this webinar, leading nutrition expert Lori Jones, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., L.D., the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University, reviewed common health barriers during these developmental stages. She also highlighted accessible foods that contribute key nutrients, such as dairy foods. The webinar provided culturally relevant strategies for healthcare professionals, from understanding federal food programs to practical strategies for accessible nutrition.
While thought leaders tend to already be favorable toward dairy’s role in nutrition, health, and wellness, this webinar effectively increased positive sentiment toward dairy’s nutrition. The pre-and post-webinar surveys showed that all respondents agreed dairy foods could be part of culturally relevant nutrition recommendations during pregnancy and the first five years of life.
