National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month!

As a dairy farmer, I am proud to work everyday to 

produce milk, a food that  contains nutrients, including

 calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorus; plus,

 it's fortified with vitamins A and D.

It's the perfect month for learning a little more about

the true difference in the milk you find on your grocery shelf.

       Thanks to the National Dairy Council for providing this 

        comparative information and for their commitment since 

    1915 in taking a leading role in the fight against poor

         nutrition,  inactivity and obesity among our nation's youth.

 

Dairy Farmer Delight

Providing a nutritious diet for our dairy cows is an everyday job

down on the dairy farm. The diet can include a variety of ingredients but

it is a balanced diet that is formulated by our dairy nutritionist. 

Our cows' diet currently includes silage, hay, vitamins and minerals, and ground 

corn. Each ingredient provides a nutrient that the cow needs to produce milk

and maintain body functions. 

I was reminded of the importance of good nutrition this week by my

family doctor during my "Welcome to Medicare" yearly physical.

As we reviewed the lab work, the discussion turned to the need for

a bone density test, a review of calcium and vitamin D requirements

 and how to increase the calcium in my diet.

It was music to my ears, when I was encouraged to increase the

dairy in my diet! Was my doctor trying to make this dairy farmer's day?

Instead of taking a calcium pill, could I increase the dairy in my diet?

Wow--could I increase the dairy in my diet? You bet!

A dairy farmer's delight!

There may come a time when I need that calcium pill and I

 will be happy to take it, but I'd much rather improve my 

dietary habits than to take a calcium pill!

After all, milk contains nutrients, including calcium, potassium,

 protein and phosphorus; plus, it's fortified with vitamins A and D.

When I left the clinic, my thoughts turned to the decades of nutrition research  

 and the ongoing educational efforts of the National Dairy Council.

  As a dairy farmer, a nurse and now a member of the Medicare age group,

I'm thankful and grateful for the nutritional information and education shared

 by the National Dairy Council with physicians and other health

 professionals  that are caring for all ages.

 

 

Dairy Nutrition Proud

Last week Ryan and I attended  a national nutrition conference

  in Little Rock sponsored by the National Dairy Council

 and the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, one of  six national human

 nutrition centers in the United States.

The Arkansas Children's Nutrition  Center is a partnership between

 the Arkansas Children's Hospital, USDA-Agricultural

 Research Service and the University of Arkansas Medical Center with a mission to 

conduct cutting-edge research to understand how maternal-child nutrition

 and physical activity optimize health and development.

Ryan and I  were invited   to give our dairy farmer perspective

 on our role in dairy nutrition and health and wellness  from down on the dairy farm.

It's an honor and  always fun to be invited to share our passion for dairy!

Best of all, we listened to these two Arkansas  students describe

 the impact of the  dairy farmer funded  Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

You couldn't help but be dairy proud!

Not only are dairy farmers improving the nutrition of students, 

we are providing lifelong skills in leadership and health and wellness.

And to top it off, we enjoyed beautiful and nutritious dairy products!

Peanut Butter Oat Biscuits

I'm in the midst of a personal campaign to improve my health by losing weight and getting back into a regular exercise routine (besides my farm chores).  At 60 years old, I think I'm running out of time to get this right!

According to a nutrition fact sheet from the National Dairy Council, achieving a healthy weight is about three things:

• limiting the amount of calories in your diet
• getting enough exercise 
• making smart food choices

Dairy products definitely fit into a balanced diet and offer a wide variety of regular,reduced-fat,low-fat and fat-free products to choose from to meet nutritional needs. Peanut Butter Oat Biscuits, a recipe I found on the National Dairy Council website,  is a perfect fit for my love of peanut butter,dairy  and nutritional needs.

Peanut Butter Oat Biscuits

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/3 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, honey flavored
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes (extra cold)
1/4 cup peanut butter
Melted butter for brushing on top of biscuits (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Whisk milk and yogurt together until a thick mixture forms and set aside.

Whisk together oats,flours,baking powder,baking soda and salt. Cut butter into flour
 with a fork until the flour becomes crumbly.

Combine peanut butter and milk mixture in a separate bowl until fully combined.
 Be careful to not over mix.

Place dough onto a lightly floured surface. Lightly knead the dough a few times.
Roll dough out into a 1 inch-thick disc; be careful not to overwork the dough.

Using a round cookie cutter/dough cutter,push down into dough and lightly twist.
Repeat until dough is used up and place on a baking sheet.

Brush the tops of each biscuit with a little melted butter, if desired.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden brown. (use the lower over rack if not
brushing with butter.

Let cool on cooling rack for 5 minutes and serve warm with your favorite filling.

Filling suggestions: low-fat yogurt and berry mixture,butter,
                                 fat-free cream cheese,jam,apple butter,honey,chocolate,
                                 chocolate hazelnut spread, or more peanut butter
Serving Suggestions: Best served warm or re-toasted in the oven with apple butter or
                                   cream cheese on top.

Yield: 9-12 biscuits

Helpful Hints: Store biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for a
                         few days or freeze.
                     

10 Reasons I Love Dairy

I'm joining a few friends in celebrating June Dairy Month by sharing 10 reasons I love dairy. A lot of my reasons are connected to the work of the National Dairy Council that was founded  in 1915 by dairy farmers.   

10 Reasons I Love Dairy

I=infinite uses of ingredients 

L=leader in nutrition research and  school health and                              wellness programs like Fuel Up to Play 60

O=opportunity for improved nutrition through proven science and         research

V=Value and Variety

E=Everyday effort by local farmers to produce safe,healthy milk

D=Delicious

A=Academics to support the fight against poor nutrition,inactivity         and overweight/obesity among our nation's youth

I=Instruction  for healthy nutrition validated by research

R=Refuel with dairy proven by research 

Y=Yummy  (Dairy Good Cookbook )

                       The reasons to love dairy don't end here.

               Check out more from DairyMakesSense.

Dairy Q&A

                                                                      Question:

                                                                  What is whey?

                                            

Answer:

Whey is one of two major proteins found in cow's milk. Whey protein is produced during the process of making cheese, which begins when special enzymes are added to milk causing it to separate. The curd are used to make cheese, leaving behind whey protein in the liquid portion. This liquid whey is then pasteurized and dried into a powder for various uses.

National Dairy Council

Kraft opened a cheese plant in Bentonville,Arkansas in the 1940's. At that time, the whey from cheese production was taken to local farmers and fed to dairy and beef cattle.

Thanks to dairy research and development of food products, whey protein can be found in powders,drink mixes, energy bars,yogurt, and other foods.Whey protein powder is very convenient and can be added to smoothies,oatmeal,soups,sauces,dips,baked goods, or other common foods.

Dairy Makes Sense

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Five years ago, America's Dairy Farmers and the National Dairy Council teamed up with the National Football League and others to empower kids to make their schools a healthier place. So far, Fuel Up to Play 60 has reached over 38 million kids in 73,000 schools, encouraging them to choose good-for-you foods, including dairy, and get 60 minutes of play a day!

I had a front row seat in the auditorium of Pulaski Elementary in Chicago last week when the public announcement was made that funding for the Fuel Up to Play 60 would be funded for #5MoreYears!
We heard from every representative  in this public-private  program--the National Dairy Council, National Football League, GENYOUth Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education.


Activity with Chef Carla, from the Chew, leading the NFL players kicked off the celebration,

 

followed by comments from the partners,

activities with the NFL players,

 

and, of course,

enjoying a healthy dairy snack!

 

 I'm thankful for the impact Fuel Up to Play 60 is making to  improve the health of this  

                next   generation and  that as a dairy farmer, I'm contributing to this program  
                                                 everyday from down on the dairy farm.

Whey to Go

Our dairy farm schedule doesn't permit a lot of sitting around like Miss Muffit 'eating her curds and whey' but thanks to dairy nutrition research, it is now possible to have Whey to Go!


Whey is one of the two complete high quality proteins in cow's milk that is seperated out from the casein protein during cheese making. It is used in a variety of products such as infant formulas,food supplements,sport bars, and beverages to meet the health goals for people of all ages. According to the National Dairy Council, whey protein:

• Contains all of the essential amino acids ("building blocks") for your body needs.
• Is one of the best sources of amino acids to help increase muscle protein.
• Helps increase protein synthesis,which can help the body funciton properly.

Whey protein can be consumed in an energy or meal bar, a drinking beverage with whey protein or dropping a scoop of whey powder into your milk,yogurt,cereal, or smoothies. Whey powder can boost protein intake without adding excess calories to everyday foods and can also be:

• Stirred into hot foods (not boiling) immediately after cooking
• Used as an ingredient in baked goods
• Added to ground meats before cooking
• Included in savory or sweet dips
• Stirred into hot cereal or creamy soups and sauces
• Added to peanut or other nut butters

Whey to Go is definitely an important addition to our nutritional tools regardless of age or activity level. You can find recipes and  more information about whey protein at http://www.wheyprotein.nationaldairycouncil.org.