In March 2010, California Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health and physical activity in schools, celebrated their 80th Anniversary at their annual conference held in Ontario, California. CAHPERD's 80th Round Up and Jubilee was held at the Ontario Convention Center and was considering a resounding success.

Dairy Council of California was one of the many organizations exhibiting their resources for PE and Health teachers. Many exhibit booths were selling innovative resources to get students to increase their physical activity while having fun. With the generous support of California dairy farmers and processors, for 90 years Dairy Council of California has been able to offer free nutrition education materials. These materials feature all food groups in the food pyramid and have a physical activity component.  Teachers continuously came to the Dairy Council of California booth to thanks us for offering free nutrition education materials every year. Most teachers are already using Dairy Council of California materials and we are proud to have such extensive reach across the state of California.

In addition to the exhibiting, the Dairy Council of California presented a one hour break-out session on Saturday March 6th. The presentation featured our new Online Teacher Training Program that is free for California teachers. Twenty teachers attended the session and were certified to teach Exercise Your Options, our middle school program. Teachers are pleased to learn they not only have support from their local Territory Managers but now they have additional online training support. We look forward to attending the CAHPERD conference next year to support the health and wellness of California students. 

Maureen Bligh, MA, RD

Project Manager

Lactose intolerance is a real and important clinical syndrome, but its true prevalence is not known, according to a report released in February by the NIH Consensus Development Conference: Lactose Intolerance and Health. Not enough data is available to estimate the prevalence of true lactose intolerance in the United States, the report stated, but it's likely the numbers are lower than those often reported.

Many individuals with real or perceived lactose intolerance avoid dairy and ingest inadequate amounts of calcium, potassium and vitamin D, which may predispose them to decreased bone accrual, osteoporosis, and other adverse health outcomes.  In data presented by Dr. Connie Weaver from Purdue University, among teenagers that exclude dairy from the diet, 100% lacked key nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous and potassium. Although theoretically adequate nutrients can be consumed from non-dairy sources, teenagers in our culture do not eat enough of the foods needed to get adequate amounts of these nutrients if they do not include dairy. This is especially important because peak bone mass is attained during the teenage years and if this window of opportunity is missed, bone is compromised for the remainder of life. 

In most cases, individuals experiencing lactose intolerance symptoms do not need to eliminate dairy completely. Research is clear that many people with lactose malabsorption or intolerance can, in fact, tolerate significant amounts of dairy food. There is evidence that increasing consumption of dairy foods gradually over time can improve the body’s tolerance of lactose. The following simple, evidence-based dietary strategies are a healthy approach to coping with lactose intolerance:

• Drink small amounts of milk with meals.  Consuming milk with other foods or a meal can make it easier to digest. By introducing small amounts of milk at meals, over time tolerance improves for most individuals.
• Eat yogurt. Yogurts that contain live and active cultures can make it easier for the body to digest lactose.
• Eat aged cheeses. Aged cheeses like Swiss, Parmesan, Gouda, Colby, Provolone, Cheddar, Edam, Fontina, Gruyere, Muenster and Monterey Jack have very little lactose.
• Drink lactose-free milk. Lactose-free milk is available in most local supermarkets in the dairy aisle. However, this option is more expensive and research shows in many cases is not necessary. 

I asked a colleague who has lactose intolerance if these techniques really work and she said absolutely. Her primary suggestion was to keep experimenting to find the milk and dairy foods—and the amounts—that work for you. The gradual introduction of dairy foods into the diet on a regular basis can improve the body’s ability to digest lactose. The body will slowly build up the enzyme it needs to digest the lactose.

Maureen Bligh, MA, RD
Project Manager

Just as spring flowers begin to sprout up from the ground, it reminds us that healthy food and activity choices should too … that’s why the theme for National Nutrition Month is “Nutrition from the Ground Up!” The workplace is a viable place to start making positive, ground level changes with regards to food and activity choices. Plus, your healthy actions are likely to be contagious to your co-workers, which will ultimately lead to better health and wellness for everyone!

Here are some ideas to help you get started at your workplace:

• Focus on the basics. A healthy diet doesn’t have to be complicated. When meal planning include plenty of whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables as well as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts.
• Bring your lunch to work. Whether you pack a sandwich or take left over’s from the night before, brown bagging it helps you save money and prevents temptations for less nutritious meal options. 
• Take ten. Try using your breaks and lunch to get a brisk walk or other activity in. Even short intervals of activity, like 10 minute walks, add up throughout the day and are just as effective.
• Make it fun! Try starting a walking club or a brown bag lunch group. Exercising and eating well is always more enjoyable with company.
   

Dairy Council of California has some fun staff wellness activities planned for National Nutrition Month as well. In our Sacramento office we are planning a “My Pyramid” potluck, where staff members share nutritious recipes that represent all of the food groups. We are also planning a weekly lunchtime exercise group, where staff will be led through fun yet effective exercises that can be done in any office. The American Dietetic Association has even more great ways to celebrate National Nutrition Month. Start the spring season right with a healthy and happy you!

Ashley Rosales, RD

Project Manager

Redwood City School District joined many school districts across the nation by celebrating National School Breakfast Week by organizing special events that promote healthy eating habits for their students. National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program to all children. For more information about school celebrations held across the country check the School Nutrition Association’s website.  

For the Redwood City School District, fostering a healthy school environment and reaching high student achievement is of utmost importance for teachers, administrators and parents. Earlier this week I met with Redwood City School District’s Food Service Director, registered dietitian Anna Lague. She shared with me how their schools planned to celebrate National School Breakfast Week. Students participated in Lucky Tray Day at breakfast, in which students who receive a tray marked with a special sticker receive a prize. This year students received a coloring book with crayons and stickers. Another popular event is the A-Z Salad Bar. At this event, students who participate in school lunch have the opportunity to see and taste 26 different fruits and vegetables. It is a fun time as the students really enjoy their favorite fruits and vegetables like watermelon and some are brave enough to try something new.

As a territory manager with the Dairy Council of California, I have been able to support Redwood City schools by providing nutrition education curriculum to elementary, middle and high school teachers. I am also a member of their district’s school wellness committee and have enjoyed being a part of their mission to create awareness and spark enthusiasm for health and wellness in their schools and community.

Check out our online educational game that teaches students how to eat a healthy breakfast, BreakFAST & Jump To It. Students build a healthy breakfast by selecting foods from a virtual kitchen to put on their breakfast plate. In addition, Dairy Council of California also offers this free downloadable handout, Parents…Get Straight A’s With a Healthy Breakfast which offers specific suggestions parent resources that encourage healthy breakfasts.

Let us know what your school is doing to celebrate National Nutrition Month or National School Breakfast Week in a healthy and fun way!

Nicolina Mulcahy,

Territory Manager

Almost 900 middle school teachers, administrators and facilitators attended the California League of Middle Schools annual conference on February 26-28th, 2010 in Sacramento.  The theme this year was, Accelerating Student Achievement in Tough Times. In spite of slightly lower conference attendance compared to last year, a current trend at conferences statewide due to budget cuts, the conference was a resounding success with excellent presentations and networking opportunities.  

Many positive and energetic teachers and administrators visited Dairy Council of California’s exhibit booth. What a pleasure it was to chat with loyal customers and meet principals and teachers, many of whom were eager to learn about our free nutrition education curricula and how it meets California content standards.

A Physical Education teacher from Cupertino Middle School, Judson Sickler, graciously joined me to co-present a nutrition education workshop. After first adapting the Dairy Council of California Exercise Your Options program to work with his sixth grade classes two years ago, Judson has successfully implemented his model of nutrition education in the entire sixth grade. The audience appreciated his practical strategies to engage students in making lifelong healthy choices. Check out his website, Mr Stickler's Physical Education Page. 

Dairy Council of California congratulates teachers like Judson and thousands of others who make nutrition education work in their classrooms. We are proud to provide teachers with free nutrition curricula and to encourage wellness in your schools and homes. Teachers, if you have adapted our programs in a creative way, please let us know. 

For extra support, contact your local territory manager or watch our free professional development training.

Tracy Witmer, R.D.
Territory Manager