| Milk Yogurt and Cheese Food Group Guide | | | | Pyramid Guide - how boring!" Hang on to your |
| I don't know about you, but I grew up drinking a | | | | shorts, folks, I'll let you in on a little, but very |
| lot of milk, and it was always whole milk. That's | | | | important, secret. The Food Pyramid is the best |
| fine for kids, because they can burn off the extra | | | | guide to achieving healthful, long-term eating |
| calories and need the vitamins, minerals, protein, | | | | habits. There's no magic diet for losing weight or |
| and even fat that milk and dairy products offer. | | | | achieving better health. It isn't about eating a |
| But, as adults, we may not have the same needs. | | | | truckload of grapefruits, carcasses of beef, or |
| Milk and dairy products are great sources of | | | | even forty acres of vegetables. |
| calcium and other minerals, many B vitamins, and | | | | For most of you, a well balanced diet which |
| milk is often fortified with Vitamins A and D, so | | | | encompasses a variety of nutritious foods eaten |
| don't ignore this group. Calcium is a key element in | | | | in moderation is the best and healthiest way to |
| helping to prevent osteoporosis, while vitamin D is | | | | lose weight. The Food Pyramid Guide can be just |
| necessary for calcium to be absorbed properly. | | | | that for you - a guide. It makes life easy for you, |
| Postmenopausal women are especially prone to | | | | because it doesn't exclude any types of foods |
| osteoporosis and loss of calcium. Dairy products | | | | and its daily serving recommendations mean "on |
| are also good sources of complete proteins. | | | | average." It is flexible and not an absolute formula. |
| The problem with this food group is that it is | | | | Eating a variety of healthy foods ensures you will |
| often accompanied by a large entourage of fat! | | | | get balanced nutrition and that you'll be satiated |
| And most adults don't need that kind of | | | | and satisfied by those foods. |
| entourage hanging around! Choose to consume | | | | I don't know about you, but I'd get really sick of |
| lower fat choices such as skim milk or low fat | | | | any diet that would only let me eat one type of |
| milk, low-fat cheeses, and non-fat yogurts. | | | | food - or very little of anything! Any diet has to |
| My recommendation is to include this food group | | | | be flexible and wide ranging enough to be |
| in any well balanced diet, but try to wean you | | | | interesting and healthy - so you can happily follow |
| from the high fat choices. Choose skim milk or | | | | it for the long term. So really it isn't a diet but a |
| low fat milk, low-fat cheeses, and non-fat yogurt. | | | | lifestyle change. And creating the habit of a |
| The Food Pyramid Guide | | | | healthier lifestyle is what this article is all about. |
| You may be saying to yourself, "The Food Group | | | | The Food Guide Pyramid can help. |