FAQ Archive

  • August 2008:
    "Healthy choices from fast-food menus?"
  • October 2008:
    What does the Daily Value represent on my yogurt’s nutrition label?
  • September 2008:
    "Isn’t diet and exercise the best way to promote heart health?"
  • August 2008:
    "Healthy choices from fast-food menus?"
  • July 2008:
    Body detoxification
  • June 2008:
    Is it possible to eat well without breaking the bank?
  • May 2008:
    "Downed" cows
  • April 2008:
    “Are there healthier espresso options?”
  • March 2008:
    “Deceptively Delicious”
  • February 2008:
    What does "nutrient-rich" mean?
  • January 2008:
    Raw milk vs. pasteurized milk
  • December 2007:
    The dairy industry’s involvement in eating “local”
  • November 2007:
    E. coli and dairy foods
  • October 2007:
    School lunches vs. packed lunches
  • September 2007:
    Fat-free half-and-half
  • August 2007:
    Milk’s impact on teeth
  • July 2007:
    Dealing with lactose intolerance
  • June 2007:
    The relationship between calcium and heart disease
  • May 2007:
    Mothers’ influences on daughter’s eating habits
  • April 2007:
    “Extreme eating” at restaurants
  • March 2007:
    The validity of industry-sponsored dairy studies
  • February 2007:
    What is cloned milk and is it safe?
  • January 2007:
    Cholesterol guidelines for children
  • December 2006:
    Home-cooked healthy meal suggestions
  • November 2006
    E. coli and dairy foods
  • October 2006:
    Hormones and children’s health
  • September 2006:
    Back to school and healthy eating
  • August 2006:
    Healthy eating and summer fun
  • July 2006:
    Dietary guidelines and beverage choices
  • April 2006:
    Women’s health and eating plans
  • March 2006:
    Birthday party treats and healthy eating
  • February 2006:
    Heart healthy food plans
  • January 2006:
    Kidney stones and calcium

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    December 2006

    By Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
    Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association

    Q: Around the holidays I have plenty of leftovers, but once the New Year starts my refrigerator always seems empty. With two working parents, it’s difficult to get quick meals on the table, but my family wants home-cooked food. Any suggestions?

    A: Many working parents could benefit from reducing the stress of having to worry what’s on your dinner table every night. After you’ve eaten up the last of the turkey or other holiday foods, one consideration for 2007 is the new meal assembly or meal prep stores.

    Meal-assembly stores that offer do-it-yourself dinners are popping up to help busy families solve the daily problem of picking a menu and figuring out whether you have the ingredients to make it. These outlets help customers put together more than a week's worth of freezer-ready meals in less than two hours. And that nagging question of “What’s for dinner?” can be pulled out of the freezer in the morning and heated up as the family unwinds from their busy day. 

    Meal prep centers are found outside major and mid-sized cities throughout the country. Shoppers usually are required to have an appointment and can make a family outing and/or social occasion out of their session —inviting children and friends to attend the dinner-making gathering. Stores supply customers with a menu, ingredients and cooking directions. For busy families, this can be a no-worries time saver with no chopping and no cleanup. But to fill out the meal nutritionally, use the USDA MyPyramid as your guide:

    • Does your meal contain at least one serving of dairy? A simple way to fill this food group is to serve milk with your meals, whether they are made at a meal prep establishment, picked up at take-out, or cooked from scratch at home. Grated cheese in salads or on favorite entrees ups the dairy offerings.
    • Does you meal contain at least one cup of veggies? Bagged salad, baby carrots or canned vegetable soup are easy choices.
    • Does your meal contain at least one serving of fruit? Add dried cranberries to a salad, serve applesauce as a side dish, or choose fresh fruit for dessert.

    Remember, there are lots of ways to have something nutritious on the dinner table for your family to enjoy.  Cooking on weekends and reheating Mondays through Friday can help. The Internet also is a terrific source for quick, healthy, family-friendly recipes. Check out these sites:

    Do you have a dairy-related question for “Ask the Dietitian?”

    If so, please submit your question to dairyspot.com. We will try our best to answer your question in an upcoming “Ask the Dietitian” column. We cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered.