Child Nutrition

• Want a Great Smile? Brush, Floss…Eat Yogurt
• DASH to Dairy to Lower Blood Pressure
• New Online Menu Planner Helps Consumers Build Better Diets
• Calcium + Protein = Strong Bones
• Will Drinking Milk Help Girls Breathe Easier?
• Calcium and Beyond: Dairy Foods, Fruits and Vegetables May Help with Bone Fractures and Hypertension
• American Academy of Pediatrics Revised Statement on Pediatric Allergies is Good News for Moms Who Love Milk
• MyPyramid Plan for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Calcium from Food May Benefit Bones More Than Supplements
• Adolescents with Dairy-Free Diets Fall Short On Calcium
• American Heart Association Calls for Women to Establish Healthy Lifestyle and Eating Habits
• American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Dairy for Children with Lactose Intolerance
• School Meals and Nutrition
• Flavored Milk

Calcium and Bone Health

• Exercise and Good Diet Can Assist Bone Health
• African Americans Not Getting Enough Calcium
• First Ever Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health

Weight Management

• Dairy Helps Weight Loss
• Two New Studies Show the Positive Influence of 3 Servings of Dairy a Day

Hypertension

• Eating Dairy Lowers Systolic Blood Pressure
• National High Blood Pressure Education Program Updated Recommendations
• The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet

Nutrition Research

School Meals and Nutrition

A new commentary concluded that although school meals are becoming healthier, less nutritious competitive food options such as snacks, sodas and convenience foods are influencing students' choices. These competitive foods are sold a-la-carte, in vending machines and in school stores and are contributing to the development of nutrient-void eating patterns and possible overweight and obesity among students.The authors noted several keys to providing healthy foods in schools, including:

• Making the cafeteria pleasant
• Developing nutritional standards for all foods sold in schools
• Obtaining an action plan for nutritious food choices among school administrators and parents
• Educating school administrators and integrating nutrition education into the curriculum.

Additionally, the authors suggest stocking healthier lowfat, nutrient-dense foods such as granola, canned fruit, lowfat milk and yogurt in vending machines, a-la-carte and in school stores.

Kramer-Atwood, J.L. et al. Fostering healthy food consumption in schools: Focusing on the challenges of competitive foods. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2002;102: 11228-1233.