June is National Dairy Month!

Give me a big milk mustache smile if you've heard the phrase "Got Milk?"  Many well-known people have been sporting milk mustaches in magazine ads and TV commercials, trying to get Americans to drink more milk.  June is National Dairy Month and your chance to celebrate healthy, non-fat or low-fat dairy foods!

Unfortunately, many of us don't drink enough milk.  For many Americans (of all ages), soda has replaced milk as the drink of choice.  Comparing the nutrients in milk to those in soda is no contest at all.  Milk gives us calcium, Vitamin D, and potassium to help our bones and teeth stay strong.  Milk also has a protein that helps us build and repair active muscles.  Soda and other sweetened beverages are sometimes called "liquid calories" because they give us nothing but calories!

Dairy foods are part of a healthy diet and one of the five food groups shown in MyPlate.  Low-fat or non-fat dairy is your best choice for milk, yogurt, and cheeses (Cheddar and Swiss are lowest in fat among the many cheeses).  The MyPlate website says that even lactose intolerant people may be able to enjoy smaller portions of dairy foods.

Why not try new dairy foods during National Dairy Month?  If milk isn't part of your day now, add it in small amounts!  Try a new type of cheese.  Give low-fat yogurt a try.  When June ends, keep dairy in your diet all year long!

For more information, visit ChooseMyPlate
For tasty dairy recipes, visit www.eatsmart.umd.edu and look in the recipe box.

"Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day" with MyPlate

March is National Nutrition Month, and each year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a unique theme to promote healthy eating.  This year, the theme is "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day".  This theme brings to mind the unique tastes, beliefs, and cultures of the American people.

Think about the foods that you and your family eat everyday.

• Do you use special spices and herbs -- like cilantro, basil or curry?
• Do you cook your foods a certain way -- like bake or stir-fry?

Not only are these foods special, but they can also fit into a healthy diet.  In order to provide your family with a healthy meal, just think about MyPlate.  MyPlate is a symbol that helps explain all of the pieces to a healthy meal.  Half of MyPlate is filled with fruits and veggies; the other half has whole grains and lean protein.  Fat-free or low-fat dairy is also a part of MyPlate.  So, even with different colors, flavors, and textures your meals can still fit into MyPlate.  If you are unsure if your meal fits, check out the MyPlate food groups below. 

Group	Type	Some Examples
Fruits	Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% fruit juice	Apples, grapes, peaches, mangos, 100% orange juice
Veggies	Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% veggie juice	Green beans, beets, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, onions, 100% tomato juice
Grains	Whole grains from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or other grains	Whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, oatmeal, popcorn
Protein	Lean meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, soy products, nuts and seeds	Lean beef, chicken, tuna, black beans, lentils, almonds, veggie burgers
Dairy	Fat-free or low fat milk and milk products	Skim milk, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, cheedar cheese

How are you trying to "Eat Right" with MyPlate?