DISPATCH: Nutrition News from Western Dairy AssociationJenna Allen, MS, RD, Editor, Nutrition Affairs ManagerTami Anderson, RD, Senior Director, School MarketingJudy Barbe, MS, RD, Senior Director, Nutrition AffairsKristin Tucker, School Nutrition Account Manager

12000 Washington Street, Suite 175 • Thornton, Colorado 80241303.451.7711 • 800.274.6455

New IOM Calcium and Vitamin D Recommendations Reiterate the Importance of These Nutrients The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released new dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intakes, known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), used broadly by health professionals and policy makers to guide consumers’ dietary patterns. Citing a strong body of new scientific evidence, the IOM based their recommendations on bone health outcomes, confirming the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance through various stages of life. It is imperative for consumers to get adequate amounts of these essential nutrients every day, preferably through foods.

The IOM report reiterates the importance of these two nutrients by increasing current recommendations. The report recommends that most Americans up to age 70 need 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain health, and those 71 and older need 800 IUs per day. As for calcium, recommendations range, based on age, from 700 to 1,300 milligrams (mg) per day (see tables).

Comparison of Previous and Current Calcium Recommendations

Comparison of Previous and Current Vitamin D Recommendations

While the report’s recommendations are only slightly higher than previous calcium and vitamin D recommendations, many people still fail to meet their needs of these two essential nutrients. In fact, nine out of 10 teenage girls (91%) and almost seven out of 10 teenage boys (69%) don’t meet daily calcium recommendations. The report specifically mentions girls ages 9-18, citing they often do not take in enough calcium – at a time when their needs are high to support bone growth. Teenagers aren’t the only group falling short. Nearly nine out of 10 women (88%) and six out of ten men (63%), ages 19 and up, fail to meet recommendations.

As for vitamin D status, the report states that total intake of vitamin D is below the median requirement, but that national surveys show the average blood levels of vitamin D are above the level at which the IOM committee found to be adequate to support bone health. Despite interest in vitamin D’s role in cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease, and diabetes, to name a few, the report only cited evidence supporting a role for these two nutrients in bone health, but not in other health conditions.

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Life Stage Group

Previous Calcium recommendation (md/day)

Current Calcium recommendation (md/day)

1-3 years 500 700

4-8 years 800 1,000

9-18 years 1,300 1,300

19-50 years 1,000 1,000

51+ 1,200

51-70 years – 1,000

51-70 female – 1,200

71+ – 1,200

Pregnant/Lactating

Same as for other women their age

Same as for other women their age

Life Stage Group

Previous Vitamin D recommendation (IU/

day)

Current Vitamin D recommendation (IU/

day)

0-50 years 200 600

51-70 years 400 600

71+ 600 800

Pregnant/Lactating

Same as for other women their age

Same as for other women their age

(continued on page 2)

New IOM (continued)

The milk they drink is the milk that makes them healthy

According to the American Dietetic Association, National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics, individuals should attempt to meet their nutrient needs through food first. An 8-ounce glass of milk provides approximately 300 milligrams of calcium and 100 IUs of vitamin D. Three daily servings of dairy gets you well on your way toward meeting the IOM’s

new goals. Nevertheless, there are some populations and some instances where meeting nutrient needs through food alone may be difficult, and in these cases, supplements may be warranted.

For more information on the IOM report findings, visit www.iom.edu/calcium. For patient education resources, visit www.westerndairyassociation.org

What kind of milk makes kids’ bones, teeth and bodies healthy?

Clearly, it’s not the milk they don’t put on their school lunch tray, nor the milk that gets poured down the drain.

It’s the milk they drink.

And if that milk happens to be chocolate, the good news is that it does the same job for kids that white milk does with the same nine essential nutrients.

The latest study to show that kids drink less milk when flavored milk goes off the school menu is the first to measure whether, over time, kids adjust to drinking only white milk. They don’t. A year later, they are drinking even less milk.

“When flavored milk was not an option, many children wouldn’t take the white milk, or if they did, they wouldn’t drink it,” said Linda Stoll, Master of Public Health and executive director of food services for Colorado’s largest school district, Jeffco Public Schools, which participated in the national study. “The white milk frequently got thrown away.”

Conducted by Prime Consulting Group, the study covered 58 schools in seven districts across the country. Funded by the Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP), the study sought to get a true picture of milk consumption by not only looking at the amount of milk children buy for school lunch, but meticulously measuring how much milk is left over to be thrown out. The study showed that kids drank an average of 35 percent less milk in schools that offered only white milk. The range was from 18 percent to 43 percent, and kids in some schools drank less than half the milk they’d been accustomed to drinking.

In 40 schools that went into a second year of offering exclusively white milk, or limiting flavors, kids dropped the amount of milk they were drinking by another two percent.

Milk supplies three of the five “shortfall” nutrients the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Report says children need more of — calcium, potassium and magnesium. First-graders who do not drink milk for lunch are cutting

out about 10 percent of their recommended daily calcium, protein and vitamin A and 15 percent of their vitamin D and phosphorous.

Stoll served on a committee to determine what combination of foods could

theoretically replace the nutrients in flavored milk. It

can be done, but it is not very useful to attempt to do so. The

nutrition analysis committee determined it would take three or four more food items to match milk’s nutrient package, and that those foods would contain more calories and fat than the flavored milk they were to replace. They would also add back in about half the sugar, leaving a savings of 15 to 28 grams (about 1 to 2 teaspoons) of sugar per week. And they would cost an incremental $2,200 to $4,600 annually for every 100 students.

Previous studies have shown that children who drink flavored milk do not consume more sugar, fat or calories than children who do not drink flavored milk, nor does flavored milk cause them to gain weight.

Children who drink flavored milk are more likely to drink more milk overall, have better diets and be at a healthy weight compared to children who drink little or no milk. They are likely to drink fewer sugary beverages.

When both white and flavored milks are offered in schools, children choose flavored milk about 70 percent of the time. Most is low-fat or fat-free. Many dairy processors across the country have reformulated flavored milk to lower its added sugars, fat and calories, while keeping it palatable for children.

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The Western Dairy FamilyAs our feature series continues, it is our pleasure to introduce you to Bruce VandeSteeg. Bruce is a doctor of veterinary medicine, and co-owner and dairy operations manager of Monte Vista Dairy. He and his wife Marie have four children – three girls and a boy, ages 7, 10, 13 and 15 – who all help on the family farm.

Why did you decide to become a dairy farmer?

By the time I was in the third grade, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian and work with dairy cows. I started as a ranch hand in the eighth grade in Chino, California. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of California-Davis and went on to become a veterinarian in 1992. I practiced veterinary medicine for 15 years.

In 2006, I moved to Colorado to co-own and operate Monte Vista Dairy. Marie and I wanted to have a family farm, work at home, and raise our family on the farm. My goal was to expand from solely veterinary care of dairy cows to all aspects of caring for cows. I have always enjoyed working with cattle and teaching others about them. I love being directly involved in producing the food that ends up on my family’s dinner table.

What is your family’s history in dairy farming?

My grandfather was a dairy farmer and I followed in his footsteps. We began dairy farming in August, 2006. We chose Colorado because it has the right mix of agriculture and lifestyle that we desired. Colorado’s weather makes it a great place for us and our cows. We currently milk 3,000 cows. Our wonderful employees help make this possible.

Describe how you employ sustainability practices:

We use 62 million gallons of water per month and not a drop goes to waste. We reuse water two to three times, for cooling the milk, washing equipment and washing the cows. We catch what is left to irrigate our crops.

We feed hay, silage, and agricultural by-products such as brewer’s grain (from the beer industry), corn gluten (from ethanol manufacturing), cotton seeds and culled fruits and vegetables. The by-products are nutrient-rich animal feed. The feed we use is high in protein, fiber and other nutrients. This is a win-win situation. Rather than discarding to landfills, the food is repurposed as nutritious, cost-effective feed.

What values do you stand behind as a dairy farmer?

My philosophy: Above all do no harm.

My charge, at the foundation of being a dairy farmer, is taking care of the animals. We enjoy being around them and are passionate about caring for them to the best of our ability. We take pride in quality - providing quality food to our quality animals and keeping the quality of the environment in mind. This all translates into high-quality milk.

We provide top-notch animal care and our crews are in charge of taking care of the animals, every hour of every day. We have a crew trained specifically to look at fresh cows (post calving) healing from the birth

experience. We consistently monitor computer records and milk

weights. If a certain animal shows a decline in milk production, we are alerted and we bring the cow to the

hospital for examination. Our men walk through the corrals

every day to keep an eye on cows in the main herd. We have one crew

that focuses only on waste disposal and keeping corrals as clean as possible 24/7/365. My role is to oversee and train employees and assist them whenever possible.

We work hard, but we love what we do.

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What’s Not to Love? Do you love a glass of chocolate milk but hate the unsettling digestive side effects that sometimes follow? Fall in Love with Dairy Again is a useful tipsheet for enjoying dairy and answering questions about lactose intolerance.

Visit our website to download the handout or contact us to order a tear pad.

The Facts on Milk PowerPointFlavored milk isn’t just delicious, it’s packed with nine essential vitamins and minerals – nutrients that aren’t easily replaced in a typical school lunch nor in any other beverage option. Learn why milk – flavored or plain – is an important part of a child’s diet. Milk Facts: A Science-Based Discussion is a ready-to-use PowerPoint for school nutrition professionals. To preview it, visit www.westerndairyassociation.org/schools/flavored-milk/

Winter Specials Just for You!

See the Difference Cards / Food Models Combo

Our newest tool resembles National Dairy Council’s “Comparison Cards” which were widely used and enjoyed by health educators. The visual comparison of the nutrient composition of foods in See the Difference Nutrient Bar Graph Cards will help teach the nutrient-rich foods concept to audiences of many ages. Each set includes an eight-page Leader Guide and 50 bar graph cards. These cards complement our Food Models — life-size cardboard photographs of 200 commonly-eaten foods with Nutrition Facts information. See the Difference Cards sell for $15; Food Models sell for $20. Order both for only $25!

Buy One, Get One Free See the Difference Bar Graph Cards

Purchase a set of See the Difference Nutrient Bar Graph Cards and get another set FREE!

Unsure about our Educational Materials? Contact us for a FREE sample. Certain restrictions apply.

Online Education Kits for Health ProfessionalsNational Dairy Council’s online Health Education Kits provide tools and reproducible materials to assist you with nutrition education. The newest addition to this toolbox is the Fuel Up to Play 60 Health Education Kit. Visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org, and click on “education materials” to find the Fuel Up to Play 60 Health Education Kit. Other Health Professional Education Kits include Lactose Intolerance, Healthy Weight, African American Health and the DASH diet.

resourcesFor The Educator…

To place an order or inquire about any of the above offers:

visit www.westerndairyassociation.org, or contact Sarah at 800-274-6455 or

sgarrison@westerndairyassociation.org.

Also find us on and , or at 1-800-274-6455

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For the first time in our nation’s history, obesity is a bigger issue than hunger. Children today are increasingly overweight yet undernourished – missing out on essential nutrients because they are not choosing nutrient-rich foods first. Nationwide:

• Only14percentofadolescentsingrades9-12consume three servings of milk a day.

• Only22percenteatatleastfiveservingsoffruitsandvegetables a day.

This is what students self-reported in a nationwide seven-day dietary recall reported by the 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

For decades, Western Dairy Association has collaborated with schools and school-associated organizations on nutrition education, school meal programs and school wellness.

This longstanding commitment to the health of children continues today with the in-school nutrition and physical activity program Fuel Up to Play 60. This program is youth-led, and designed to engage and empower kids to take action for their own health. Their challenge is to find ways to encourage the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods in schools, along with at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Fuel Up to Play 60 originated in a partnership between National Dairy Council and the National Football League, and locally between Western Dairy Association and the Denver Broncos – with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 63,000 schools across the nation started the 2010-2011 school year on the right foot with this program.

Fuel up To Play 60 offers real hope for the next generation. Spread the word and encourage youth and schools to join the movement and visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com for more information.

Sharing SuccessesWhen the power of change is placed in students’ hands, they are inspired to improve their overall health. Following are some student-instigated innovations.

• TheFuelUptoPlay60youthteamatBoltzMiddleSchool in Fort Collins, Colorado packaged outdoor equipment, such as Frisbees and lawn games, in activity kits for teachers, inspiring them to take their classrooms outside and find new ways to incorporate fun physical activities into their lessons.

• TheFuelUptoPlay60studentteamatDenverPublicSchool’s Florida Pitt Waller (E-8) identified breakfast in the classroom as a solution to the troubling reality that many students were skipping breakfast – not

eating it at school or at home. Recognizing the importance of breakfast for health and academics, they piloted breakfast in the classroom for all middle school grades during the 2009-10 school year. It was such a success that Florida Pitt Waller has again adopted Fuel Up to Play 60 for the 2010-11 school year, and has successfully expanded breakfast in the classroom to the entire school.

KIDS EAT RIGHT

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the American Dietetic Association Foundation recently launched their first joint initiative, Kids Eat Right, to support the efforts of the White House to end the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. The goal of Kids Eat Right is to utilize the expertise of registered dietitians in community and school childhood health promotion efforts to educate about the importance of quality nutrition for children.

Visit www.kidseatright.org for expert nutrition advice on raising healthy kids. Here you will find tips, recipes and videos covering a variety of topics including shopping smart, cooking healthy and eating right for children.

Calling all ADA members … Kids Eat Right needs you. Share your expertise, and be a part of the solution. Enroll to be a campaign volunteer, get access to new materials and resources, and take advantage of opportunities to network with other leaders in child nutrition. Visit www.kidseatright.org/volunteer for more information.

Fuel Up to Play 60Western Dairy Association and Denver Broncos Fight Childhood Health Crisis with Fuel Up to Play 60

For valuable tools and reproducible materials to assist you with nutrition education, you’ll find National Dairy Council’s newest Health Professional

Health Education Kit on Fuel Up to Play 60 useful.

Visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org, and click on “education materials” to find the Fuel Up to Play 60 Health Education Kit.

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Wishing you a Nutrient-Rich Holiday Season Entertaining with Cheese

Cheese Taste & Texture Suggested Foods

BlueTangy, ripe and earthy. Semi-soft to hard.

Figs, pears, walnuts, and fruit and nut breads.

BrieCreamy, rich and buttery. Soft.

Green apples, strawberries, pears, toasted walnuts, and crusty breads.

CheddarMild to sharp, tangy and robust. Semi-hard to hard.

Red or green apples, grapes, cherries, cashews, and dark breads.

HavartiSmooth and buttery. Semi-soft.

Pears, red grapes, almonds, and rye bread.

During the holidays – and all year round – dairy has something for everyone. With 3 essential nutrients – calcium, phosphorus and protein – cheese provides so much more than just bone-building calcium.

Not sure what to serve with your cheeses? This simple guide will help you dish up the perfect combinations that will impress any crowd. We invite you to enjoy these tasty, nutrient-rich pairings as part of a healthful holiday season.

For more ideas, visit www.ilovecheese.com.

Western Dairy Association12000 Washington Street, Suite 175Thornton, Colorado 80241303.451.7711800.274.6455westerndairyassociation.org

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