GOT MILK? has partnered with the dietitians from the Dairy …]]> Get the Most “Bang for your Buck” at the Grocery Store

GOT MILK? has partnered with the dietitians from the Dairy Council of California in celebration of National Nutrition Month to provide tips on how to stretch your dollar at the grocery store.  With a soft economy, many families are striving to get the most “bang for their buck” without sacrificing nutrition.  Family can still consume authentic, wholesome, natural foods for as little as one dollar as long as they pay attention to what they add to their grocery baskets.

What can a buck buy at the grocery store?

• Drinks: A can of soda coup costs up to one dollar and has no nutritional value. For that same buck, consumers can get four, eight-ounce cups of skim milk while getting nine essential nutrients including Vitamin D and calcium for strong bones, muscles, teeth, hair and nails.

• Fruits: Fruits are packed with a lot of essential vitamins, like Vitamin A and C, which can promote proper growth and improve our immune system. There are many fruits that are also a great source of soluble fiber, which may help lower cholesterol. Nutrient-packed fruits for about a dollar include three oranges, three to four bananas or three apples.

• Vegetables: A diet high in vegetables provides important antioxidants, which may help protect cells in the body from damage. Most vegetables are also low-in fat and calories yet packed with many vitamins, minerals and fiber. Nutrient-packed vegetables for about a dollar include three servings of sweet potato or three servings of baby carrots.

• Whole Grains: Whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet and are good sources of complex carbohydrates and B-vitamins, which our bodies need for energy. Whole grains are also packed with fiber, which can help you stay full longer. Nutrient-packed whole grains for about a dollar include six servings of oatmeal or 10 servings of brown rice.

• Protein: Protein is crucial to building and maintaining healthy, strong bones and muscles, which is why athletes make it an important part of their diet. Protein also helps our bodies resist against infection. Nutrient-rich lean proteins for about a dollar include eight servings of beans or one, four-ounce serving of chicken breast.

How do these consumer guidelines translate into meals? According to the easy-to-follow food guidelines by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last year, each meal should use the following ratios:

• Fill half of the plate with fruits and vegetables
• Make another quarter of the plate whole grains, like oatmeal and brown rice
• Serve nonfat or low-fat (1%) milk rather than sugary drinks
• The remaining quarter of the plate should be healthy and/or lean proteins, such as fish, skinless chicken, beans or eggs

To get more information on how to stretch your dollar this National Nutrition Month, visit the news section on www.gotmilk.com.

California residents taking part in this weekend’s Carlsbad Marathon …]]> Free chocolate milk at the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half!

California residents taking part in this weekend’s Carlsbad Marathon & Half will be greeted with the ultimate recovery drink at the finish line: cold chocolate milk. As one of the sponsors at the community event, GOT MILK? will be giving away thousands of units of chocolate milk to participants.  Studies show that this beverage competes effectively with commercial sports drinks when taken within 30 minutes post workout. It has the right combination of calcium, protein and carbohydrates to help replenish muscles post-exercise.

On SUNDAY, JAN 22, 2011 from 7 a.m.-12 noon

Stop by the GOT MILK? booth at the FINISH LINE AND FESTIVAL
at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real
2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008

See you there!

The Got Milk Team

By Registered Dietitian Mary Barbour

As we enter 2012, many of us vow, with the best intentions, to …]]>

By Registered Dietitian Mary Barbour

As we enter 2012, many of us vow, with the best intentions, to start the New Year right. But resolutions can be difficult to accomplish if you don’t have the right strategies to see them through. Here are some of the tips from one of our partners, Dietitian Mary Barbour.

Half Full vs. Half Empty - Instead of having a bad attitude towards your resolution, change the way you think about it. Let’s say you want to eat more vegetables, but the thought of it makes you wince. Instead of thinking about lunchtime salads as boring, look at them as something that’s healthy and good for your body. When you start to look at something in a more positive light, you will change your experience.

Eat Better – After the holiday binge, we’re more resolved to eat better. Try making one small change a day like taking a piece of fruit as a snack or increasing your calcium intake with a glass of low fat milk. Small changes snowball into becoming a part of your lifestyle.

Exercise More - Working up a sweat is so good for you! Instead of dreading it, embrace it. Exercise improves your mood, relieves stress and improves quality of life. Ditch the sugary post workout “power drinks” and have a glass of nonfat chocolate milk instead. It has all the protein and calcium you need to make your body strong.

Get Organized – Plan for your successes. Schedule your workouts with all of your other appointments. Make a shopping list of healthy foods and only buy items on that list. The more organized you are the more successful you will become.

Family Time - With everyone on such crazy schedules, it can be hard to coordinate family time. Schedule family dinners and have everyone pitch in. Be more active with your family as well. Have one family member choose an activity a week so that everyone gets a chance to do what they want.