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Dairy Spot: The Mid-Atlantic Spot for Dairy

Ask the Dietitian Archives:

  • April 2010
    How can I tell if my cheese is vegetarian?
  • March 2010:
    Can dairy foods can cause or aggravate autism in children?
  • February 2010:
    Do sugary drinks like chocolate milk really fuel weight gain?
  • January 2010:
    Are there any foods that can help me get rid of a puffy midsection
  • December 2009:
    Should I eliminate saturated fats from my diet?
  • November 2009:
    What's a good way to gain weight if you're underweight? Should I switch from lowfat dairy to whole milk products?
  • October 2009:
    Recently the American Heart Association stated that Americans are eating too much sugar and recommended that people cut down. Does that include dairy products, too?
  • September 2009:
    How can I, as a parent, be involved in this movement to help kids in her school eat better?
  • August 2009:
    Is frozen yogurt healthier than ice cream?
  • July 2009:
    What are sterols and what do they do?
  • June 2009:
    Is it safe to feed your family raw milk?
  • May 2009:
    What is the dairy industry doing to help support Mrs. Obama’s agenda for a more nutritious and sustainable food supply?
  • April 2009:
    Can eating at home also contribute to weight gain?
  • March 2009:
    Are natural trans-fats as unhealthy as man-made trans-fats?
  • Febraury 2009:
    Contaminated milk and milk formulas
  • January 2009:
    Is Greek yogurt nutritionally different from regular yogurt?
  • December 2008:
    Kids and vitamin D
  • November 2008:
    Where can I find kid-friendly, healthy snacks in my rush between work and sports practice?
  • 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



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    Ask the Dietitian

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





    November 2008


    Q: My two boys need to be at soccer practice by 6 p.m. several times a week, but I don’t get out of work until 5 p.m. Do you have any suggestions for kids’ snacks I can pick up on the way?

    A: You’re not alone!  Many parents are faced with sports practices and other activities in the late afternoon or early evening. They want to provide food and drink that will get their kids through an hour of concentrated physical activity. Many moms and dads leave work to head right to practice.  

    It is possible to pick up healthy food on the way! You can find many healthy, kid-friendly snacks in vending machines, at the local convenience store, or even at the fast-food drive-thru window. 

    Snacks may contribute up to one-third of total daily caloric needs and a significant proportion of nutrient needs. Because active children and teens can eat many snacks, what’s in them may go a long way to meet their nutritional needs. The nutrients most often lacking in kid’s diets are calcium, iron and fiber.

    Health experts recommend children get three servings of lowfat dairy daily. Snacks can help with their 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy and some fast food restaurants offer great dairy options.  Sonic has just introduced string cheese to its menu, and McDonald’s and Wendy’s have lowfat chocolate and plain milk in convenient 8-ounce plastic containers, as well as yogurt (parfaits and squeeze tubes, respectively). 

    To help your kids get what’s needed for their level of activity, here are four categories with “rush hour” options to choose from:

    For more information on healthy foods for active children, see:

    Kid’s Health/Nemours Foundation
    http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/feed_child_athlete.html

    The American Dietetic Association
    http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Snacks_for_Kids_English.pdf

    Mom’s Team
    http://www.momsteam.com/

    For more information on healthy foods for active children, see:
    Kid’s Health/Nemours Foundation