Molly Morgan, our registered dietician, is the author of To Your Healthy Life.Style. Here you'll find past month's articles containing helpful advice and information on healthy eating, dairy foods, and Crowley products.

September 2005

Back to School

Backpacks, lunch boxes, and buses! It's back to school time. You can help the health of your children with the following ideas...

MORE MOTION!

FACT: Today kids (ages 8-18) spend more and more time in front of the television: a survey shows about 3 hours and 51 minutes of television per day, to be exact.

SOLUTION: Encourage activity everyday...

The number to strive for is 60 minutes of physical activity for children and teens most days of the week (preferably all days of the week!).
Make exercise FUN! Rather than looking at exercise as a chore, find ways to disguise it as fun. Try a family bike ride, go to a local park and play basketball, or go swimming.
Community Tip: Most of the local high school indoor pools are opened to the public for a small fee on the weekends. Give it a try.
Sign-up for a sports team! Even if your child is not a star athlete signing up for a sports team can help to add regular physical activity.

POWER PACKED LUNCHES!

FACT: Only 23.6% of males and only 20.3% of females in high school eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

SOLUTION: School lunches that include two servings of fruit and/or veggies!

Lunch #1
1 cup of Lowfat or Nonfat Crowley Yogurt
1 cup of chopped veggies with dip
½ cup of pudding
1 ounce of nuts (about a small handful)
100% fruit roll-up
Milk money!

This will provide about … 2.5 servings of dairy, 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, & some heart healthy fat!

Lunch #2
1 cup of Lowfat or Nonfat Crowley Cottage Cheese
1 piece of fruit
¼ cup dried fruit
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
(Strive for 100% whole wheat bread)
1 part-skim mozzarella cheese stick
Milk money!

This will provide about … 2.5 servings of dairy, 2 fruits, 2 whole grains, & some heart healthy fat!

Tips To Make Lunch A Little Easier.

Save money by making pudding at home with Crowley Lowfat Milk
Try single-serving plastic, reusable containers for dips and puddings
Buy broccoli florettes, baby carrots, or pre-cut celery sticks to save lunch packing time
When you bring home a container of nuts, place single servings (about a small handful) into small plastic bags for packing convenience

BREAKFASTS ON THE GO!

FACT: Breakfast is an important meal to include. Studies show that those who eat breakfast weigh less than breakfast skippers.

SOLUTION: Breakfast ideas that can be eaten on the go...

Trail Mix (look for a blend of nuts, dried fruit, & chocolate pieces) - keep a bag of trail mix on hand and grab a large handful and place it into a baggie or container to eat on the go. this will provide some fruit and protein!
Smoothie - It will be ready in minutes! Place 1 cup of Crowley Lowfat yogurt (e.g. vanilla), 1 cup of frozen fruit (e.g. peaches), and a splash of milk in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour this into a "to go" mug to drink in the car or send with the kids on their way out the door.
Yogurt & fruit - It's as easy as grabbing a container of Nonfat or Lowfat Crowley Yogurt out of the refrigerator and a piece of fruit from the fruit bowl! This will start your day with a serving of dairy and fruit.
Toast & PB - toast two slices of bread (try: 100% whole wheat), then once it is toasted, top with peanut butter (about 1 golf ball or less).

Remember that Crowley products are a healthy part of your children's lives, as well as yours. Using these easy tips will help your children eat better for proper nutrition and help keep them healthy during the school year.

REFERENCES:

Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds. Menlo Park, Calif.: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005.
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2003. MMWR 2004; 53[SS-2]
Cleveland L. U.S. Department of Agriculture; National Consumption Survey 1977-78.
What We Eat In America, NHANES 2001-02.
The Problem of Overweight in Children and Adolescents. Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. NHANES 1999-2000; JAMA 2004:2847-50.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. US Department of Health and Human Services. US Department of Agriculture.

The information provided on our Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, or cure an illness. Before starting a diet or exercise program, Crowley recommends you talk with your health care provider for consultation on what is right for you and your health.