2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was recently released and is filled with healthy eating recommendations for the public to help decrease the risk of chronic disease. Three of the major recommendations are:
1.) Balance Calories
a. Enjoy your food, but eat less
b. Avoid oversized portions
2.) Foods to Increase
a. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
b. Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk
3.) Foods to Reduce
a. Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals—and choose the foods with lower numbers
b. Drink water instead of sugary drinks
The Guidelines specifically call out that milk and milk products provide the body with nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D and potassium and have been linked to improving bone health, lowering blood pressure in adults and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Also, how important it is that parents make drinking milk a habit with young children because those who consume milk at an early age are more likely to continue drinking milk as adults.
So, what does this mean for you? Here is the recommended daily intake for fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products such as milk, yogurt or cheese:
- Adults, children and adolescents ages 9 to 18 years – 3 cups
- Children ages 4 to 8 years – 2 ½ cups
- Children ages 2 to 3 years – 2 cups
1 cup of fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products is equal to: 1 cup milk or yogurt, 1.5 ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces processed cheese
Unfortunately, Americans are currently consuming about two dairy servings per day on average and are missing out on some of the key nutrients dairy provides. So let’s add at least one more serving of milk and milk products to our diets and not only help meet the recommended intake, but also achieve better health!
