Fueling Up With Dairy

Many Americans - including First Lady Michelle Obama- are increasingly concerned about the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. That's why the National Dairy Council and the National Football League (NFL) are joining the First Lady's cause by teaming up to tackle the issue head on with the Fuel Up to Play 60 Program.
"We've been involved in nutrition and school education for generations, and when we saw the obesity epidemic hit children, we wanted to do something about it," explains Jean Ragalie, a registered dietitian and the Executive Vice President of Dairy Health and Wellness for the National Dairy Council.
"We thought it was critically important to partner with the NFL to address both aspects of keeping kids healthy: what they eat and how active they are," she says. "Together, the National Dairy Council and the NFL created Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school, interactive program that encourages children to choose nutrient-rich foods and participate in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
As part of the program, students can visit the interactive Fuel Up to Play 60 website, which features fun, down loadable tools and resources to help them eat healthier and be more active. They can also play online games and track their behaviors and progress, as well as engage through social media - including blogs and virtual worlds. The program also includes grants for eligible schools, as well as free wellness activation kits.
"We want to show kids they can perform better when they can perform better when they're healthier, both in class and on the playground or sports field," says Jean. "Too many kids are overfed but under-nourished and under exercised. We want to change that."
A large part of the program focuses on working with parents and schools to make sure kids have access to nutrient-rich foods, including low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
"Dairy products really deliver a powerful nutritional punch," says Jean. "Whether it's chocolate or white milk, cottage cheese, yogurt or cheese, dairy is a good source of protein, carbohydrates and 7 or 8 distinct nutrients."

Dairy Fun Facts
You probably already know that milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs pack a powerful nutritional punch, including healthy doses of calcium, vitamin D and protein. But there are a few other fun facts that may surprise you.
-The average American eats more than 31 pounds of cheese each year, and will consume about 1 ton of cheese during a lifetime.
- Foods rich in choline and betaine (including eggs) may help reduce the risk of inflammation associated with diseases including cardiovascular disease, bone loss and dementia.
- Eggs provide 13 essential vitamins and minerals, healthy unsaturated fats, antioxidants and all 9 essential amino acids.
- About 240 million laying hens produce approximately 5.5 billion dozen eggs per year in the United States.
- Eggs are good for your eyes because they contain lutein, which helps prevent age-related cataracts and muscular degeneration.
- It takes 7 quarts (12 pounds) of milk to make 1 pound of ice cream.
- Milk contains 9 essential nutrients: calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorous.
- The best sources of calcium are milk, yogurt, and cheese. About 72% of the calcium inthe U.S. food supply comes from dairy foods.
- 1 cup of milk has the same amount of calcium as 3 and a half cups of broccoli.

Emjoy these fun facts and add more dairy into your diet, but do so wisely. Dairy can be high in calories and fat. Intake must be monitored to avoid packing on extra pounds if you ingest too much dairy. Opt for lower fat varieties like skim or low fat milks, low fat cottage cheeses, and low fat cheeses. And exercise is always key to burning off unnecessary calories. ~ Aunt Millie