FUEL UP TO PLAY 60 DELIVERS ON FIRST LADY’S PLATFORM

Fuel Up to Play 60

National Dairy Council and National Football League Program

Aims to Reach More Than 90,000 Schools by 2011

Fuel Up to Play 60 is joining the First Lady’s call to improve the health of our next generation. An in-school nutrition and fitness program launched in partnership by National Dairy Council and National Football League, Fuel Up to Play 60 shares the ambitious and attainable goals outlined in the First Lady’s childhood obesity platform. The program recognizes that many of today’s youth are overweight yet undernourished and encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods – particularly low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – along with 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Fuel Up to Play 60 is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers. Already impacting more than 59,000 schools nationwide, the program will further its progress by announcing the following commitment to the next generation:

Together with the involvement of the First Lady’s office, Fuel Up to Play 60 will expand its reach into more than 90,000 schools participating by the end of the next school year (May 2011), or more than 90 percent of schools nationwide. Fuel Up to Play 60 will ensure all schools have access to customizable and non-prescriptive program components such as curriculum materials, in-school promotional materials and a program Web site, to facilitate positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environment. Ultimately, through its reach and impact in schools, Fuel Up to Play 60 will help youth take small steps toward developing and maintaining lifelong healthy habits. 

More information about Fuel Up to Play 60 is available at FuelUpToPlay60.com. Media resources, including related video footage and photos are available at FuelUptoPlay60MediaResources.com.

National Children’s Dental Health Month!

National Children’s Dental Health Month Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

This year’s theme is Rock Your Smile! Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in the world. Despite rates of dental caries falling in the last 30 years, it affects a large number of children and adults. Dental caries is a disease caused by acids – fermented sugars and starches – breaking down the tooth. It can be very painful and unsightly, and may lead to tooth loss if not managed. Thankfully it’s preventable and manageable if detected early.

Children need to know that plaque, a sticky substance that gets on teeth after eating, attacks their teeth and may cause cavities. The best way to stop this attack and to keep their teeth healthy is to brush teeth twice every single day. Another important weapon against plaque is flossing. Brushing and flossing will break up the “bacteria and sugar team” so they cannot attack the teeth. Saliva is another one of the mouth’s natural defenses against this process and protects against dental caries in several ways:

• It helps to remove food from the teeth.
• It contains bicarbonate that helps neutralize acid production.
• It delivers minerals such as calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to the surface of the tooth, enabling remineralization to take place.

It is also important to eat nutrient rich foods from the 5 main food groups: grain, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. If you aren’t sure about how much to eat of these different foods, go to www.NationalDairyCouncil.org or www.NutritionExplorations.org.

Tips to help prevent dental cavities are: Cut down on snacks and sugary beverages because the more often you do this, the more acid attacks you have. You can certainly have sweet foods, but have them with meals and brush afterwards. Instead of soda, candy, cake, or cookies, try snacking on milk, fresh vegetables, fruit, or cheese.

Cows’ milk contains the sugar lactose – the least cariogenic (decay-causing) sugar. Milk on its own doesn’t promote caries and this has been attributed to the presence of protective factors: calcium, phosphate, and the milk protein casein.

Cheese protects against dental caries, partly because eating cheese causes more saliva to flow and neutralize acids and partly because cheese increases the calcium concentration in the plaque stopping demineralization. The fat in cheese also reduces the amount of bacteria on the surface of the teeth. So, a small lump of cheese eaten after a meal or a sugary/acidic drink will help protect tooth enamel.

Healthy Valentine’s Day Tips

Oh yes, it’s that time of year again when we are reminded to do something sweet for the one we love OR we are reminded that we are single. (Some call it Single Awareness Day!) Either way, you don’t want to consume tons of calories only to feel regret later. I have some ideas to help you have a great time and to make sure you don’t go up a pant size during Cupid Day!

Exercise – Yes you heard me right – EXERCISE!

Why not exercise on a date? You can go bike riding or for a romantic walk. Another great idea is to go dancing or schedule a dance lesson. This is a great way to burn calories so you can indulge a bit later. Or for the single people –take a group exercise class. They are great motivators, and you can meet new people who share a common interest in health.

Give (and receive) a massage

Get some smell good massage oil and take turns rubbing those sore shoulders and back. This may be a bit difficult for the single people; however, you can always pay a dollar for a three minute chair massage in the mall!

Strawberries – (And other fruit)

Fruit is tasty, colorful and romantic. Strawberries and other fruit are nutritious and packed with vitamin C which enhances your immune system. Combine ripe strawberries with dark chocolate for a healthy but yummy snack.

Heart Shaped Food

Heart shaped grilled cheese. A great snack for your Valentine!

This can be anywhere from cookies to grilled cheese. I searched the internet for heart shaped food and I found pizza, steak, and cheese cut into hearts. So if there is a will there is a way to make your food into a heart! For grilled cheese sandwiches, layer a piece of low fat cheese between two slices of wheat bread. Use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the sandwich into a heart and grill on both sides. How fun!

Valentine’s Day Smoothie

This pink smoothie makes a great treat during Valentine’s Day. Start by adding some low-fat strawberry yogurt to your blender and toss in some frozen berries After you are done, pour the smoothie into tall glasses and top with a little low-calorie whipped topping and a strawberry. For the complete recipe: Berry Smoothie

Eat and Drink Smart

Don’t starve yourself before your big date as a strategy to eat more later. Eat a good breakfast and a light lunch including some fiber and protein. Arriving to dinner starving will only make you overindulge and make poor food choices. Also, be careful with the amount of alcoholic drinks you consume. Those calories add up fast! Have a glass of red wine, which is rich with antioxidants.

Valentine Smoothie

Superbowl Party Recipes

 

Blue Buster Smoothie 

Blue Buster Smoothie

• 1 (6-ounce) container low-fat blueberry yogurt
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/3 cup frozen sliced peaches
• 5-6 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients with ice (amount of ice will vary depending on desired consistency). Pour into a glass and serve chilled.

Miami Milk Cooler 

Miami Milk Cooler

• 2 cups fat-free or low-fat milk
• 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon coconut extract or coconut rum
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Ice cubes
• Mint sprigs (optional)

In a blender container, combine all ingredients except ice cubes and mint and blend on high speed until frothy. Pour into four tall glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with mint sprigs if desired.

Note: For a thicker drink, freeze pineapple juice in an ice cube tray. Blend these pineapple cubes with all other ingredients except mint. Omit regular ice cubes. Serve in a chilled glass.

 Ragin’ Cajun Bean-and-Cheese Dip 

Ragin Cajun Bean and Cheese Dip

Ingredients  

 

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can chili-seasoned diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 2 (16-ounce) cans pinto or red kidney beans, rinsed, drained and mashed with a fork
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced reduced-fat smoked sausage
• Cooking spray
• 4 cups (16 ounces) freshly shredded reduced-fat sharp
• Cheddar cheese, divided
• Baked tortilla chips

Combine tomatoes and next six ingredients. Spoon mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Top with cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

Pigskin Potatoes 

Ingredients                                                            

Pigskin Potatoes

• 8 (8-ounce) medium baking potatoes
• Cooking spray
• 2 cups coarsely chopped roasted chicken
• 2 cups (8 ounces) freshly shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar or
• Pepper Jack cheese, divided
• 1-2 canned chipotle peppers, minced plus 1 tablespoon liquid from can
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1/2 cup chopped chives

Prick potatoes with a fork. Bake for 1 hour at 425°. Let cool slightly.

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp for other desired use, leaving a 1/2-inch shell. Place potato shells on a baking sheet; spray inside of shells with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until crisp.

Combine chicken, 1 cup cheese, chipotle pepper and liquid, taco seasoning and sour cream; divide evenly among potato shells. Bake at 425° for 5 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with chives.

Note: For fans desiring a less spicy ’skin, use one chipotle pepper and substitute water for the liquid from the can.

Confetti Quesadillas with Cilantro Yogurt Dip 

Confetti Quesadilla

Ingredients

• 12 soft corn tortillas
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim Colby cheese
• ½ cup fresh corn kernels or black beans
• ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
• 1 red bell pepper, finely minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely minced

Preheat large skillet over low heat. Line up six tortillas. Divide cheese, corn, cilantro and peppers between the tortillas, then cover each with a second tortilla. Place a tortilla on the dry skillet or grill and warm until cheese is melted and tortilla is slightly golden, about three minutes. Flip and cook other side until golden, about one minute. Cut into wedges and serve. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. Serve each wedge with a dollop of cilantro yogurt “sour cream.” Makes six.

Cilantro Yogurt Dip

Straining yogurt gives you a no-fat version of sour cream with a light tang that blends nicely with cilantro. Try it with chili and other spicy dishes as well.

• 2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
• ¼ cup finely minced cilantro
• ½ teaspoon salt

Line a large strainer with a coffee filter or paper towel and place over a mixing bowl. Pour in yogurt and let sit until some of the liquid has drained away and the yogurt is the consistency of sour cream, about one hour. Transfer to small mixing bowl; stir in salt and cilantro. Makes about 1½ cups.

 

World’s Largest Super Bowl Pizza Event

Wow – now that’s a lot of pizza!
Enough Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza and Stuffed Pizza to feed 30,000 servicemen and women, provided at-cost by The Original Gino’s East of Chicago and Edwardo’s Natural Pizza, along with 7,000 bottles of high protein Athlete’s Honey Milk provided by America’s Dairy Farmers, will be headed for several bases throughout Iraq in time for Super Bowl events. Dairy farmers also are providing 500 footballs to support the impromptu games at the bases.

So the troops in Iraq will receive a care package of pizza, milk and footballs in time to celebrate the upcoming Super Bowl courtesy of America’s Dairy Farmers, Pizzas 4 Patriots, DHL, Gino’s East of Chicago and Edwardo’s Natural Pizza. However, you can have your own Super Bowl pizza party by either ordering pizzas or making your own pizzas at home.

Cheese Lovers Pizza Squares

If you make your own pizzas, you can come up with fun names to support your favorite team and you can use local cheeses to make the pizzas unique to you! For the Colts, my favorite team, – you can name the pizza ‘Trendy Indy’ – - make a boutique pizza with caramelized onions, blue cheese (Blue cheese for Colts Blue) and chicken. Another idea to support the Colts is to put your toppings such as Pepperoni in the shape of a horse shoe. Or if you are a Saints fan – you can theme your pizza ‘Ragin’ Cajun Pie’ and use hot sauce in place of red sauce. With so many methods and ingredients to work with, the possibilities for pizza on Super Bowl Sunday are nearly unlimited.
Cooking pizza is easy with a crowd. Get the store bought crust or make the pizza crust ahead of time. Choose whole wheat crust to increase the nutrition value of your pizza. This could be just as simple as substituting whole wheat flour instead of white flour. You can have the invited guests bring some of their favorite pizza toppings. Your friends and family can assemble their pizzas together which will make for a fun, interactive time in the kitchen. Here are some additional pizza recipes:

Cheese Lover Pizza Squares, Monterey Jack Pita Pizza and Cheeseburger Pizza

To donate to Pizzas 4 Patriots.

Have a Super Bowl Pizza Party by ordering or making your own pizza!

Our Animals are Our Livelihoods

David Brand Operates Brand Dairy Farm with his family in Northeast Indiana. They milk just over 300 registered holsteins and raise all of their replacements as well as feeder cattle. You can follow their day to day farm operations on Twitter at @BrandFarms and on Facebook at Brand Dairy Farm

David enjoying time with his family

 Last night there was an investigative TV report focused on dairy farming and where you milk comes from. The media and activist groups use isolated incidents to create a sense of a larger problem then there really is. The problem is that the rest of the story is never told.

Dairy farmers and all farmers with animals strive for the very best for their animals. A cow’s health is of utmost importance to a dairy farmer. Healthy cows produce more milk. Most animals on farms are treated better than the farmers treat themselves. For example, I was up until 2 o’clock twice this past week delivering calves and making sure the mothers were in good health and the calves got their colostrum (their mother’s first milk) that will help them every step of their life.

Here's a pic of mom and the new baby bull. She's being a great mother getting him all cleaned up.

Dairy farming takes a great deal of dedication and hard work. How many of you were out in the middle of the night for your “job”? I say “job” because, yes dairy farming is a job, but it’s more of a lifestyle. We know that dairying is a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week job. Cattle need milked and fed every day. No matter the weather, holiday or event that is going on. We do our job to feed the world. Farmers are the final 2% of the American population that are an amazing bunch. The 2% of us left are able to feed the remaining 98% of Americans and many, many more worldwide. We do what’s right for our animals because it’s the right thing to do. Not because we have to but because we know we should.

Remember, the next time you eat, think of where that food comes from. And if you don’t know, feel free to ask a farmer. And remember, we all work hard to provide the safest, most affordable food in the world.

Dairy farmers across the United States are working toward implementing a best care practices program for animal care called the National Dairy FARM Program. When this program is in place we will have an animal care manual that all dairy farms can use to demonstrate and verify that U.S. milk producers are committed to the highest standards of care for their animals.

If you have questions about how we care for our animals feel free to ask them on here or visit our Facebook page where you can find more pictures taken on our farm.

Are You Ready for Super Bowl XLIV?

Super Bowl XLIV is the perfect time to gather with family and friends, and it is a great way to catch up and have fun. The guys may be glued to the game on TV, but most gals I know use the time to chat, catch up, and spend some quality time with friends. It is rare that you can see everyone socially during the holidays because of crazy schedules, so use this time to your advantage.

Get the kids involved by making a football themed obstacle course throughout the rooms of house where the game is not on. It gets the kids up off the couch and gives them some exercise, while having fun. Have them run hula hoops, then jump over the back of the couch and land onto cushions. Lastly, they can run between a slalom pattern. To make it even more exciting, the kids can time themselves to see who can do it the fastest. However, be sure to supervise the kids because you never know what may happen when kids get wound up. I also suggest dividing up the supervision responsibilities between quarters so everyone can be part of the action. Don’t forget the camera to catch some great moves on film!

As for food, make a crock-pot pie and serve it in bread bowls. Thaw frozen bread rolls, bake them until golden, and then remove the tops and some of the insides. Set them near the crock-pot and let the guests ladle in pot pie mixture to their desire. Serve BLT Dip with the main entrée (recipe below). Then, serve Colts horseshoe shaped cookies and milk for dessert. With these three dishes and activities, everyone will get their nutrition and exercise all in one great evening of watching the Colts!

Regardless of who wins the Super Bowl, the cook in the house will be the real winner by serving up delicious snacks using Nutrient Rich Foods and Dairy Delicious toppings!

Super Bowl BLT Dip:
Put 3 sliced green onions, 1 cup mayo, 1 cup low fat Greek yogurt, and ¼ cup chopped arugula in a food processor. Pulse until chunky. Stir in ¼ cup crumbled bacon bits and 1 pint chopped grape tomatoes. Serve with veggies or chips.

Healthy Weight Week 2010!

Eating nutrient-rich foods such as these will help you maintain a healthy weight.

The 17th annual Healthy Weight Week (1/17 – 1/23) is a time to celebrate healthy living habits that last a lifetime and prevent eating and weight problems, rather than intensifying them, as diets do.

Traditionally, many Americans begin a diet the first week in January and “blow” it the second week. Healthy Weight Week, the third week, is a time to stop dieting for good and help people normalize their lives. It’s a welcome change to the dieting and bingeing that typically begin the New Year!

Healthy Weight Week promotes healthy non-diet lifestyles for children and adults of every size. It helps them move ahead to healthy habits they can live with long term – sound, reasonable habits that allow them to live well and get on with their lives. Eat well, live actively, and feel good about yourself and others.

Choose 2 or 3 of the following activities to carry through the week, at a comfortable level. Continue four months while gradually adding the others. Then decide how to keep them up all year.

· Stop dieting. Stop making weight loss goals and “waiting to be thin.” Stop weight-obsessive thoughts. Instead, be your own best self, starting right now. Decide it’s time to get on with living your life to the fullest.

· Be active in your own way every day. Focus on the pleasure of movement and its health and energy benefits, not calories burned. Don’t overdo it, or it won’t become a habit. For most adults, an appropriate level is about 20 to 30 minutes a day for at least five days a week.

· Identify & build on your own special talents, traits, & interests. Use self-talk and affirmations to enhance personal acceptance, respect, self-esteem, and positive body image.

· Feel good about others. Expect and extend respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

· Promote good relationships & communication with family, friends, and acquaintances. Spend time enjoying social activities.

· Rediscover normal eating. Eat at regular times, typically three meals and snacks. Tune in to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness – eat when you’re hungry and stop when full and satisfied. Enjoy your food. Notice how much better you feel!

· Eat well. Include all five food groups every day: bread and grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy, meat and alternates. Choose balance, variety, and moderation. All foods can fit.

· Relax & relieve stress in your life. Take a 10-15 minute relaxation session daily, or just empty your mind and let your body go limp for 30-second relaxation breaks occasionally throughout the day. Stress can lead to high blood pressure, chest pain, back pain, indigestion, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, confusion, mood swings, irritability, and anger. Listen to your body.

· Respect & appreciate size diversity. Recognize that size prejudice hurts us all. Reassure yourself and others that beauty, health, and strength come in all sizes. Promote healthy living at every size.

It might take a week or two before you notice any changes, but they will steadily appear. After the first month you’ll be able to see the results and measure them in terms of looser fitting clothes. Keeping your motivation up is one of the most difficult aspects of dieting. There will be days when healthy eating goes out the window, and there will be weeks where you may not lose any weight – or put a little back on. This is normal for everyone – dieters or not – so don’t let it undo your plans for a healthier you. Celebrate your goals. All the above are great goals to be achieved!

Value

Dave Forgey and Scott Foerg partners of River-View Farm checking a pasture at their dairy farm

 Dave Forgey operates River-View Farm in Cass County along with his wife Helen and partners Scott and Darla Foerg. Dave is active in social media, you can follow him on Twitter @GrassCow.

I just returned home for the Indiana Livestock, Forage & Grain Forum. Upon checking my email I had received a forwarded message from our daughter who farms with her family over 150 miles south of our farm. The forward was titled “Value”. I will admit after many years of receiving forwarded messages I frequently hit the delete button and never open them. But since our daughter seldom sends anything but personal messages I knew it was something she felt was important.

The forward related to the “Value” of time, from a split second incident to years of relationships with family and friends with whom we sometimes see often and sometimes only meet on special occasions.

That reminded me of the wonderful day I had just experienced at the Forum. It was a “Special Occasion”. Of over 500 people in attendance, I realized that from years of relationships, I was on a first name basis with probably over100 of them.

I arrived early to see the documentary titled “Food Inc.” That first hour was heart wrenching after spending all of my 66 years working on my family farm and realizing the disconnect this movie brought to those who no longer have a relationship with those who work so diligently to produce food for all those who can’t or don’t produce it for themselves.

“Value”, had come to mind today as I realized that everyone in attendance was involved in some fashion, in providing the safe, nutritious and sustainable food that we have in this Great Country. From the opening speaker Dr. Lowell Catlett, another old man like me, who sees the value in new technology that allows us to improve our production practices and also allows us to share those improvements through communicating that information with the new technology we have today.

“Value” came to mind as we shared a progressive lunch. Having the opportunity to relate our experiences with at least 20 new people instead of perhaps the 8 sitting at each table. “Value came from attending the many educational session for the commodity groups that shared our interest.

“Value” came from understanding how distanced today’s consumer is from the food supply and how important it is for us to share the passion we all have as food producers in providing so many high quality foods for them to choose from.

How would you like free groceries for a year?

The Kuehnert Family on their dairy farm.

Whoever said there’s no such thing as a free lunch has never met Indiana’s farmers! In fact, they will be offering the chance for all Indiana residents to win a free breakfast, lunch and dinner by way of free groceries– for an entire year!

Beginning today, Indiana residents can register for two grand prizes of “FreeGroceries for a Year!”* courtesy of Indiana’s farmers, at www.FarmersFeedUS.org. Upon visiting the site, consumers just register by “meeting an Indiana farmer” through a short video that shows how they produce safe, nutritious and affordable food. Consumers can register with each of the eight featured farmers daily through April 11, the end of the 90-day program.