Prairie Fare: June is Dairy Month

June 3, 2004

Prairie Fare: June is Dairy Month

By Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and Nutrition Specialist
NDSU Extension Service

The other day we had a birthday party for my daughter. She wanted pizza and cupcakes, and, being “Mom, the Nutrition Specialist,” I added some carrot sticks and strawberries to round out the menu.

I always learn something from these parties.

I ordered three kinds of pizza, including a plain cheese pizza. We ran out of the six-year-olds favorite: cheese pizza. Our hungry little guests cleverly picked the ham and pineapple off the Hawaiian pizza. Of course we had plenty of carrot sticks left over.

Cheese is a long-standing favorite among people of all ages. June, which is Dairy Month, is a good time to sample the many types of cheese and the wide variety of dairy foods.

How much do you know about cheese and dairy foods in general? Try these questions:

1. How many varieties of cow’s milk cheese are made in the U.S.?

a. 100
b. 200
c. 300

2. About how many pounds of cheese did the average American eat in 2002?

a. 11 pounds
b. 21 pounds
c. 31 pounds

3. How many pounds of milk does it take to make one pound of cheese?

a. 2 pounds
b. 6 pounds
c. 10 pounds

4. About how many 8-ounce glasses of milk does a dairy cow produce daily?

a. 25
b. 50
c. 80

5. Which of these is true about dairy nutrition research?

a. Consuming three servings a day of dairy promotes healthy bones.
b. Consuming three servings a day of dairy promotes weight loss.
c. Both of these

All the answers are “c.” How did you do?

New research about dairy and weight loss is capturing the attention of the nutrition world. In a recent study, 41 obese people were placed on diets with various amounts of calcium from either supplements or dairy foods. The 24-week study was designed to cause a one-pound weekly weight loss.

The 32 people who finished the study lost weight, but those on diets with calcium-rich dairy foods lost the most. The people on the low-calcium diet lost 15 pounds, those on supplements lost 19 pounds, and those on high-dairy diets lost 24 pounds.

Stay tuned for more research on dairy foods and weight management. Aim for three servings of dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) daily to meet your calcium needs.

Here’s a colorful, tasty and calcium-rich recipe for your next picnic from the Midwest Dairy Association. Each serving has the same amount of calcium as one cup of milk. For more dairy information and recipes, visit this Web site: www.midwestdairy.com/

Snappy Slaw

6 c. finely shredded cabbage*
2 c. thinly sliced carrots
2 c. (8 oz) shredded Provolone cheese
1/2 c. sliced green onion
1/2 c. chopped pimiento, drained
1 carton (8 oz) plain yogurt
2 tsp. prepared mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine cabbage, carrot, cheese, onion and pimiento. Combine yogurt, mustard, salt and pepper. Toss yogurt mixture with cabbage mixture. Chill, covered, 2-3 hours to allow flavors to blend. Serve on cabbage leaves.

*Note: Reserve dark green outer leaves of cabbage. Wash, pat dry and chill. Use to serve finished slaw.

Makes 8 servings (1 cup each). Each serving has 151 calories, 10 grams protein, 9 grams fat, 10 grams carbohydrate and 300 milligrams calcium.

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Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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