Dairy Council’s Turkey Tetrazzini, Cheddar and Parmesan Recipe (AllRecipes)

Ever hear someone say, I love milk, cheese and yogurt, but I can’t have them because I’m lactose intolerant? Actually, an estimated 30 to 50 million Americans identify as lactose intolerant and a common misconception is that lactose intolerance equals dairy avoidance. But some of the facts about lactose intolerance might surprise you, including how easy, delicious and important it is to incorporate the three daily servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods recommended by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as part of a healthy eating plan for those 9 years and older.

Incorporating dairy into everyday eating habits can be easy and enjoyable!
Check out more recipes on our hub at AllRecipes.com, also found under "Trusted Brands: Partner Recipes," and pinboards on National Dairy Council's Pinterest page for dishes that offer the great taste and nutritional benefits of milk, cheese and yogurt that are typically easier to digest for people with lactose intolerance.

In fact, you can impress family and friends at your next dinner party by whipping up our easy turkey dish (pictured above). Parmesan and Cheddar cheeses, which contain a small amount of lactose, make this dish a friendly option for guests with lactose intolerance.

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Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics

In planning my own workouts or working with star athletes as a sports dietitian, the goal is always to refuel after intense exercise. Investing time in the gym isn’t as effective if you don’t take time to recover with proper nutrition.

I recommend low-fat dairy foods for my athletes because they are great options to help satisfy muscle and bone nutrient needs. Providing protein, calcium and phosphorus, low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt can be perfect workout partners, even for those with lactose intolerance.

Low-fat or fat-free milk — including lactose-free milk — delivers a number of benefits. Milk provides nutrients that help refuel and recover after intense exercise, and is a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that is lost in sweat. With over 300 mg of potassium per serving, low-fat or fat-free milk is a great way to also help rehydrate after a workout. Additionally, dairy foods like low-fat milk and yogurt contain high quality protein that can support muscles for active individuals.

Reaching for a glass of low-fat milk, cup of yogurt or a serving of reduced-fat cheese post-workout are nutrient-rich and convenient ways to help refuel. Those with lactose intolerance can choose lactose-free milk or whey protein isolate powder, which contains less than one percent lactose. And, whey protein can be mixed with water and fruit to make a tasty post-workout, nutrient-rich smoothie.

So, if you are lactose intolerant and looking for the perfect workout partner, try these great lactose intolerant-friendly post-workout snacks:

• Fruit smoothie with 1 scoop whey protein isolate, 1 banana, ½ cup strawberries and 8 ounces water (freeze the banana for a thicker smoothie)
• 6 ounces low-fat vanilla Greek-style yogurt with 1 tablespoon honey and ½ cup chopped fruit
• 8 ounces low-fat chocolate milk or lactose-free chocolate milk

For more sports nutrition tips, follow me on Twitter at @amy_goodson_rd.

To your health,
Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD
Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics

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Have you entered National Dairy Council's Flavor Fusion Recipe Contest? Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group are invited to show off their culinary skills and create an internationally-inspired dish with dairy that is also friendly to those with lactose intolerance. But entrants should hurry because the contest will end Friday, February 15. Participants have the chance to win a trip to an upcoming Food and Wine Festival or a cooking class with the Culinary Institute of America. Stay tuned for more information on the winner, whose recipe will be featured on National Dairy Council's Facebook and Twitter pages.

In celebration of Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month, National Dairy Council (@NtlDairyCouncil) is hosting a Twitter chat, and we want you to participate! Join Karen Kafer, RD, and Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, on Wednesday, February 20 at 2 pm CT to discuss health and wellness, favorite dairy cooking tips, a lactose intolerant lifestyle and more. Follow the #BeyondLI hashtag and we hope to see you there!

How much do you know about lactose intolerance? Check out Huffington Post Healthy Living this month to test your knowledge and separate fact from fiction. There, you’ll find two exclusive blog posts from National Dairy Council President Jean H. Ragalie, RD, and Dr. Jeanette Keith, Director of Gastroenterology and Bariatric Medicine at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, on the important role that dairy plays in a healthy lifestyle and the latest on lactose intolerance management, prevalence and proper diagnosis. Additionally, our interactive slideshow will answer frequently asked questions, and our infographic will show how the nutrient package of lactose-free milk stacks up to regular fat-free and low-fat milk. National Dairy Council will be featured in Huffington Post Healthy Living starting in mid-February.

From Left to Right: Matt Forte (Running Back, Chicago Bears), Kammi J., Stephanie K., Matt Schaub (Quarterback, Houston Texans)

By fueling up their schools with oatmeal, two Fuel Up to Play 60 Super Bowl Breakfast Challenge winners received a trip to New Orleans and a fun-filled weekend ending in the ultimate prize: a seat at Super Bowl XLVII. Kammi J. from Whitehall Ealy Elementary School in Whitehall, Mich. and Stephanie K. from Hartnett Middle School in Blackstone, Mass. won the Challenge by submitting their creative and tasty ideas to provide their classmates with a nutritious start to the school day. Kammi and Stephanie also received tickets to the NFL Experience, where they ran practice drills and checked out autograph sessions with NFL players. To see all the action from the weekend and the big game, visit the Fuel Up to Play 60 Facebook page and the new Fuel Up to Play 60 Twitter page for updates and photos.

Kicking off in March, Fuel Up to Play 60 will continue helping students discover how small bursts of movement throughout the day can easily add up to at least 60 minutes of play with a new physical activity-focused Challenge. The Activity Scavenger Hunt Challenge, which runs from March 4 to May 3, encourages students to collaborate with their friends, family and school faculty to get moving both indoors and outdoors. By completing easy and fun physical activities, such as doing jumping jacks or tossing the football around, students have a chance to win an NFL player visit to their P.E. class.

Encourage students you know to get a group of friends together, take pictures of themselves completing the suggested activities listed online, and upload them to the template provided on the Challenge page on FuelUpToPlay60.com by May 3. With your help, youth can learn how fun it is to play for at least 60 minutes a day while taking a great step toward forming lifelong healthy habits. Starting March 4, you can visit the Challenge page on FuelUpToPlay60.com for more information on the Activity Scavenger Hunt Challenge and how to get involved.

Improved nutrition, including daily breakfast, and increased physical activity may lead to improved academic performance. Spread the word about the Activity Scavenger Hunt Challenge so students can be at their best in the classroom, and stay tuned for more information in March about the learning connection — the link between improved nutrition, increased physical activity and academic performance.