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free tools for patients, expert nutrition advice and information on updated
dairy nutrition resources.
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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
a great
tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Dairy Foods' Contribution to Nutrient Dense Diets
Dairy Foods' Inclusion in Food Guides & Dietary Recommendations
Because of dairy foods' natural combination of essential nutrients, these foods have continued to be a key component of dietary guidance issued by the U.S. government and supported by health experts (24,72-75).
Early food guidance issued by USDA emphasized a foundation diet based on "protective" or nutrient-rich foods (e.g., calcium-rich milk, vitamin A-rich vegetables) to meet nutrient needs. In 1943, USDA released its Basic 7 food guide as the leaflet "National Wartime Nutrition Guide." This guide recommended 3 to 4 cups of milk/day for children through adolescence and 2 or more cups of milk daily for adults (24,73,74). In 1946, this guide was updated as the National Food Guide, which specified a foundation diet based on suggested numbers of food group servings, including dairy foods. In the 1950s, "Food for Fitness. A Daily Food Guide," popularly known as the "Basic Four," was released (24,74). This guide recommended a minimum number of food servings from each of the four food groups: milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
With the release of the Dietary Goals for the United States by the Senate Select Committee in 1977, the focus of dietary guidance shifted from obtaining adequate nutrients to avoiding excessive intake of foods associated with chronic diseases. In 1979, USDA issued "Food: The Hassle-Free Guide To A Better Diet," in which the Basic Four was revised to include a fifth food group called Fats, Sweets, and Alcohol (24,74). In 1980, USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the first edition of "Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans." Subsequent revisions of the guidelines occurred in 1985, 1990, 1995, and most recently in 2000 (18,23,72). Each of these additions includes the recommendation to consume 2 to 3 servings/day of foods from the Milk Group.
To help consumers understand and follow the dietary guidelines, USDA released the Food Guide Pyramid in 1992 (16). This graphic representation of the food guidance system remains in effect today and is an integral part of the current edition of the Dietary Guidelines (18). USDA is reassessing the Food Guide Pyramid to ensure that it continues to be based on sound science, that it meets its nutritional goals, and that it provides useful advice to consumers in the 21st century (22,24,76). The update of the Pyramid is being coordinated with the review and potential revision of the Dietary Guidelines (23,24). Final release of the updated Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines is scheduled for 2005.
Because of dairy foods' unique nutrient composition, these foods have long held a position as a separate group in basic food guides such as the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Since release of the Pyramid in 1992, new information about nutrition, health, diet, and consumption patterns, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 2000 (18) and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for most nutrients, has become available. To meet the DRIs for calcium (14), most people need to consume 3 to 4 servings from the milk group. A recent assessment by USDA scientists indicates that 3 servings of dairy foods a day is the most practical option to meet the majority of the public's calcium requirement (25). Also, some government and physician health organizations including Health Canada (26), the American Academy of Pediatrics (27), and the American Heart Association (28) recommend up to 4 servings of dairy/day to meet daily calcium needs. Family physicians, dietitians, and pediatricians recently surveyed recommended 3 to 4 servings of dairy a day for children and adults (29).
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