Eat Better, Eat Together is a blog series by registered dietitians and parents whose stories and advice help families start or strengthen a commitment to balanced family meals and create healthy, successful families. Take the Eat Better, Eat Together Family Meal Pledge at Facebook.com/DairyCouncilofCalifornia.

Many of us know the important role calcium plays in developing and maintaining strong bones, which is especially important for children. But do you know the benefits of consuming calcium-rich foods extend to all ages of life?  Whether you're 6 or 60, the importance of eating a variety of high-calcium foods is critical for many reasons, such as:

• Building strong bones and teeth. High-calcium foods help build peak bone mass and also slow the natural loss that can occur with age.
• Lowering blood pressure. A diet rich in low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains works as well as some medications to improve blood pressure.
• Keeping your heart healthy. Calcium is a mineral that helps contract muscles and regulate your heart beat.
• Decreasing your risks of some types of cancer. Calcium in foods may slow down the growth of cells that lead to cancer.
• Managing your weight. Getting 3 servings of milk and milk products each day may help you manager your weight and lower your body fat.
  

Sharing the benefits of calcium in our diets and helping ensure all of us are getting enough is extremely important, which is why we have recently revised our nutrition education booklet Calcium Connection- Healthy bodies one generation to another. This booklet is filled with age specific information about why we need calcium from adolescence through older adulthood. A simple calcium quiz allows you to see your personal 'calcium score', and also includes simple steps for helping you get enough if you aren't already. Enhanced with new graphics, a calcium-rich shopping list, recipes and even a calcium plan, this booklet is a must read for all adults! If you're a health professional or teacher, these booklets are available for you to provide for your clients or parents with whom you work. It's easy to request your booklets, and remember, if you work in California they are completely free! Health professionals and/or teachers residing outside California can request them for a nominal charge.

Since adequate calcium intake is important at all ages, planning family meals at home that include calcium-rich foods can help everyone meet their daily calcium needs. Eating together can be any mealtime occasion from breakfast to dinner. Benefits of family meals go beyond just knowing that your family is getting the adequate nutrients they need for optimal health, like calcium. Families who eat together also have time to engage in important conversation which helps builds self-esteem and healthy emotional connection.  So, the next time you pour milk into your kids glasses at dinner, enjoy a yogurt smoothie with lunch, or have a piece of broccoli and cheddar quiche for breakfast, think about all of the unique benefits you're getting, from healthy bones and beyond!

Subscribe to the Dairy Council of California blog, follow @Dairy_Council and #EatBetter2Gether on Twitter for more Healthy Eating Made Easier.

Ashley Rosales, RD

Project Manager

Halloween may be synonymous with candy and sugary sweets, but that is no reason to give up on healthy eating. Serving a balanced family meal before heading out to Halloween festivities can help to keep your ghouls from gobbling up all their candy before they get home.

Start with a festive family meal of Dinner in a Pumpkin, Spiced Hot Chocolate and Baked Pears. Be sure to save the seeds when scooping out your pumpkin and enjoy Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds later in the week. Enjoy Pumpkin, Potato and Leek Soup, Cauldron of Chili with Spider Bread and Cauliflower Gratin with Prosciutto to Eat Better, Eat Together all week long.

Visit Facebook to take the Eat Better, Eat Together family meal pledge and follow the Twitter hashtag #EatBetter2Gether for family meal updates. Then register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features registered dietitian-approved recipes from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at the free family-nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter, maintained by registered dietitian moms with Dairy Council of California. Healthy Eating Made Easier™

Happy Halloween from the Dairy Council of California

 Photo Caption:  Spiced Hot Chocolate, EatingWell.

This week we are celebrating the important role the National School Lunch Program has played in child nutrition. Our previous blog post shared the reason for its being, which was to provide hungry children the foods needed to be optimally nourished so they can learn and grow healthy. The National School Lunch Program has a long history of helping achieve this goal, and since the early 1900’s the dairy industry has also played a pivotal role supporting this effort. In fact, it was around this time that the founders of the Dairy Council of California, Sam Greene and Chester Earl Grey, saw the opportunity to bring the nutrition inherent in dairy products to California schools. They knew that they could provide a much needed service to the public that would benefit generations to come.

The Beginning of the School Milk Program: In the early 1920’s, Greene surveyed California schools to get a clear picture of the state of school nutrition. This survey found that on average 36% of children did not receive milk on a regular basis. This meant a significant number of children were missing out on milk's critically important nutrients needed for optimal growth and health, such as calcium, protein, vitamin A and D. The results of this survey were instrumental in adding milk to the school lunch menu. As a result of milk being served in the California school lunch program, by 1950 per capita milk consumption had increased 25%. And with the inauguration of the Child Nutrition Act and its Special Milk program, milk consumption in schools increased nearly 10-fold over the 23 year period from 1947-1970.

Dairy Industry's Commitment to Child Nutrition: The dairy industry has been committed not only to providing milk and dairy foods to students as part of a balanced, nutritious meal, but also to teaching them how to eat healthfully from all five food groups. Providing nutrition education about the health value of milk and dairy products was at the core of Greene’s vision for the creation of the Dairy Council of California. He believed that you could make a lifelong impact on the health of children if you taught them how to include nutrient-rich foods, like milk, into their everyday choices. This commitment to nutrition education and the desire to contribute to community health is the reason the California dairy industry has continued to support the Dairy Council of California for over 90 years.

Let’s continue to celebrate this commitment by supporting the efforts made on behalf of the National School Lunch Program and take the time to teach nutrition education in schools.

Ashley Rosales, RD
Project Manager

There has been a lot of attention on the national school lunch program recently, and for good reason. School lunches play an integral part of child nutrition, nourishment, and helping children to grow healthy. The week of October 10-14 marks the celebration of National School Lunch Week. One of our longstanding partners, the School Nutrition Association (SNA), has announced the theme, “School Lunch: Let’s Grow Healthy” in partnership with the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP). In order to honor the accomplishments of the National School Lunch Program, let’s reflect briefly on its reason for being, look at the strides that have been made to improve the health of children through school lunches, and lastly, reinforce the positive direction all of us are taking to ensure children grow up healthy.

History of the School Lunch Program: In 1904 Robert Hunter published a book called Poverty, which had a very strong influence on the U.S. effort to feed hungry, needy children in schools. Hunter shed light on the epidemic of hunger plaguing American children from impoverished families. He brought attention to the fact that “learning is difficult because hungry stomachs…are not able to feed the brain. The lack of learning among so many poor children is certainly due, to an important extent, to this cause.” In the years that followed, and with motivation to resolve this problem, cities around the country began experimenting with school feeding programs.

School Lunches Help Children ‘Grow Healthy’: Since President Truman began the National School Lunch Program in 1946 it has served our nation admirably for over 60 years through advanced practices and nutrition education. Every day, the National School Lunch Program serves over 31 million children with nutritionally balanced, healthy meals. And just like 60 years ago, they are addressing major public health concerns through this program. We have watched as school lunches helped diminish an epidemic of rickets caused by malnutrition back in the early 1900’s, and we are now helping address an epidemic of childhood obesity. Today, all meals provided are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which means they are served in appropriate portions and limited in the amount of calories from fat. They also provide one-third the Recommended Daily Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories. But for all that the National School Lunch Program is doing to help address childhood obesity, they are still fulfilling their founding mission, to provide hungry children the foods needed to be optimally nourished so they can learn and grow healthy. For that let us all say “thank you”, as feeding our nation’s children is one of the most important jobs there is.

Ashley Rosales, RD
Project Manager

Children see right through us when our actions don't match our words. They look to parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults as role models. The back-to-school time of year is a good time to remember how influential adults are in the lives of children in regard to healthy behaviors. Parents are a child's primary teachers and role models, yet teachers and school personnel play a key role by modeling healthy behaviors.

A few thoughts on being a healthy role model for school children:

• Do you emphasize to your children the importance of breakfast for each school day?
• Are the food and drinks on your desk the same ones you encourage your students to choose?
• Are classroom party foods healthy & balanced? If not, try a food-group party; it can be creative, fun and tasty!
• Do you celebrate success with non-food rewards? Rewarding behaviors with food teaches children to associate food choices with emotion; instead try offering fun activities or privileges to facilitate a healthy relationship with food.
• Can you encourage nutrition education as a regular component of your child's school day, not an “extra”? See how our curriculum meets required content standards and what teachers say about our lessons.

Parents, you can use these tips to be a healthy role model with your kids at home. Not only does modeling healthy behaviors encourage others around you, but it also instills those healthy habits into your daily routine. Before you know it, it becomes a normal part of your lifestyle.

Share with us how you act as a healthy role model.

Tracy Witmer, R.D.
Territory Manager

The 6th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference was held in San Diego, California, June 28 – 30, 2011. It was my privilege to attend this exciting event.

With almost 2,000 participants from across the country this was a great venue to build new relationships and reacquaint ourselves with friends and colleagues that share our passion and determination to help make a difference in the future of our children’s health and well-being. This year’s theme was Celebrating Success and Moving Toward Health in All Policies. It underscored the importance of working together in a cohesive direction to successfully make an impact; it was invigorating to hear all of the success stories from efforts that have already been implemented and sustained throughout the state such as: breakfast in the classroom, joint-use facilities, and creating safe parks, sidewalks and communities. It was reassuring to learn how districts have strengthened their Local School Wellness Policies and are incorporating an emphasis on nutrition education and physical education through research-based practices. The sessions also provided insight into how new policies such as the Healthy & Hunger Free Kids Act and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will impact change in schools.

One highlight from the conference was Dairy Council of California partnering with California Department of Education’s Nutrition Services Division to sponsor breakfast during the pre-conference session, Nutrition Education That Works! which included hands-on activities on how to choose the right nutrition education curriculum and how to become an expert in using the 2010 Nutrition Competencies. In addition to providing a healthy, balanced breakfast, Dairy Council of California distributed the new interactive fact sheet, Boost Brainpower with Breakfast!, and highlighted the breakfast lessons from each of the Dairy Council of California grades K-8 curriculums. This pre-conference session was so popular the attendees were overflowing into the halls hoping to still be able to walk away with every bit of information that was shared. It was a great start to a great conference.

Be sure to save the date for the 7th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference, June 18–20, 2013, in Long Beach, California. I am sure the conference in 2013 will be even bigger and better!

Tracy Conkey, Territory Manager
Dairy Council of California

It’s hot outside and one of the best ways to keep cool is to quench your thirst with an ice cold beverage! Whether you’re blending up a smoothie for an afternoon snack, pouring some lemonade after a long day outside or enjoying a soft drink at a ball game, beverage options are plentiful. But navigating this wide array of choices can be difficult.

Our new narrated lunch and learn presentation, ReThink your Drink…Tips for Choosing Beverages, was designed to help guide you through the process of choosing a healthy beverage. Learn about why proper hydration is important and how much fluid we really need.  Get tips on the importance of portion sizes, why to consume more nutrient-rich beverages like low-fat milk, and how to avoid some of the common high-calorie/low nutrition beverage pitfalls. Share this 15 minute presentation with your clients, high-school students and work colleagues.

Take advantage of all summer has to offer and quench your thirst with delicious and nutritious beverages!  Follow these simple D-R-I-N-K tips:

Don't forget to consider nutrients when making your drink choices.
Reference the nutrition facts label on the back of your beverage.
Individualize your fluid choices based on your activity level, age, body size and climate.
Nosh on nutrient rich beverages like low-fat milk, water and 100% juice instead of soda, fruit drinks and energy drinks.
Keep track of portions, and limit those beverages full of calories and no nutrients!

Rather than counting calories, make every calorie count. Nutrient rich beverages make excellent snacks on hot days!

Ashley Rosales, R.D.
Project Manager 

When we think of summertime, we often think of children reading a favorite book, family picnics, children splashing in a pool or just hanging out with friends and family. For me, summertime in the Central Valley conjures up images of children who are hungry because they lack access to the school meal program.

I am a registered dietitian and the School Food Service Director for Merced Unified School District. I find it gratifying to provide healthy school meals full of the veggies, fruit, and low-fat dairy products that help children to grow strong. To help solve the Merced summertime childhood hunger problem, our School District Nutrition Program is partnering with the local Women, Infant and Children Program (WIC) and the local 4H programs to offer healthy meals and fun educational, activities to better meet our community needs.

Merced School District Nutrition Program is offering a healthy lunch, including foods from all five food groups, to all children ages 1-18 at ten different locations in the city of Merced. But this year a new pilot educational program is also being offered. In partnership with the local WIC and 4-H programs; fun, nutrition education activities for children will be provided alongside the lunch meals.  While MCSD offers children a healthy lunch, WIC and 4-H volunteers will be providing nutrition and garden activities that focus on choosing and growing healthy foods. One of the activities will provide children the opportunity to plant a favorite veggie. In addition, children will be learning the health benefits of eating a variety of foods including vegetables and parents will receive a healthy recipe they can make at home. I hope to expand this pilot project by working with WIC and the local 4-H program to increase the number of Summer Feeding Sites that will provide children a healthy lunch served up with fun nutrition and garden activities.

My hope is that this project will change the image of summertime from hungry children to images of children with nourished bodies and minds.

Terri Soares, Registered Dietitian
School Food Service Director

Merced Unified School District

This weekend is Fourth of July which means summer is officially here! We hope you have some wonderful plans to enjoy friends and family, be physically active and eat healthy and delicious food.

The Dairy Council of California meal planning website, Meals Matter, offers some terrific suggestions for a healthy and safe summer. Ideas for healthy barbecue and tips to eat well while on vacation can help you as you make your summer plans.

Check out a Fourth of July complete menu plan (complete with recipes and meal nutritional analysis):

• Steak, Veggies and Rice
• Spicy Corn Salad with Chilies and Cilantro
• Summer Strawberry Orange Cups

If you would prefer to hit the grill, here is another terrific recipe:

• Yogurt and Spice Grilled Chicken Skewers

And this roasted beet salad would make a colorful side dish:

• Roasted Beet Salad

All of us at the Dairy Council of California would like to wish you a happy and healthy holiday weekend.

Maureen Bligh, MA, RD

Project Manager

Thursday morning was typical for most people, but for those of us who are nutrition professionals the day started a bit differently than usual. Here at the Dairy Council of California main office, many of us crowded together hunched over a computer, anxiously anticipating USDA’s public announcement of the new food guidance icon, MyPlate. Having worked intimately with MyPyramid for the last 5 years, it was hard not to compare the new MyPlate, just like many of us do when introduced to something new. Both of them have many positives, as well as some disadvantages, but really it’s like comparing apples to oranges (no fruit group pun intended). But the most noted difference between the two is that MyPyramid was intended to be a tool for nutrition education and diet planning, whereas the new MyPlate is more of a “symbol” for how we should be eating.

Earlier this year the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released, and this new icon was created to serve as a quick, simple reminder for Americans to make healthy, balanced food choices from all of the food groups based on these recommendations. Here are a few key points which are emphasized from MyPlate:

• The graphic is a “place setting” image of the nutrient-rich food groups that make up a healthy meal: fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy. 
• The plate is a universal visual that communicates the importance of optimizing each meal occasion, especially family meals.
• Dairy is depicted by the glass and beyond (e.g., milk, yogurt and cheese).
• Following MyPlate will help Americans close the gap between actual and recommended consumption of “under consumed” food groups like low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• The graphic offers simple solutions for consuming more of the ‘nutrients of concern” and can be as simple as pouring a glass of milk with meals or incorporating more whole grains.

It is important to realize that MyPlate is merely a symbol and only in-depth nutrition education can effectively teach individuals the skills needed to make healthy decisions. Thankfully, Dairy Council of California has the nutrition education programs and resources available to assist you in this effort. All of our programs for educators and health professionals align with the most recent USDA Dietary Guidelines and they play a vital role in teaching children and adults the necessary skills needed to make positive healthy changes.

Although what we put on our plates is important, it’s really the pattern of our food choices, commitment to family meals, and ongoing physical activity habits that matters over the long-term. Your dedication to teaching nutrition education will create lasting changes in the health of Americans!

Ashley Rosales, R.D.
Project Manager