Give Credit Where Credit is Due

A couple of days ago, I had a great experience with McDonald’s. First, I am not a fan of fast food. I rarely eat at any of the fast food chains…probably Chik-Fil-A more than others.

So, yesterday was an extremely hectic day for me; preparing for a potluck, buying gifts for my job’s angel tree child, and many other things. I spent my lunch break in Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree. By the time I got back to the office I hadn’t eaten anything for lunch. McDonald’s is within walking distance from my job. So around 3:30, I walked to McDonald’s and fought with myself on what and how to order, because I was really hungry, yet I wanted to make a healthier decision.


I finally came to the conclusion to order a cheeseburger happy meal…yes I know I should have left off the cheese. I substituted a bottle of water for the drink…and what happened next is what made me realize that fast food chains are trying to offer healthier options, especially for children. The lady handed me my box and said “Would you like apples or carrots?” Now, this may not be new to you, but it was definitely new to me. I chose the apples. When I got back to my office, and opened my box, I found the smallest little French frie box. As I ate my fries I read the nutrition label on the fries….and much to my surprise it read “100 calories.” So, even though I chose a cheeseburger, I was pleased with the changes McDonald’s has made toward fighting the obesity epidemic.


There were also a few other changes that I noticed:

· For breakfast they have the option of oatmeal with fresh fruit.

· Apple dippers are a staple on the menu

· They have real fruit smoothies (I haven’t checked the nutritional content)

· They have no fat milk option for the McCafe coffees

So, all in all it’s about the choices that we make. Parents, if you are ordering your child a happy meal MAKE them eat the carrots or apples…substitute the drink for water or milk. Those small changes will make a world of difference. Adults, we can do the same thing. Take the time to scan the menu for healthier items and modifications as you see fit.

That’s my experience; I hope it encourages you to make healthy modifications for you and your children.

We always hear about whole milk vs. skim milk and almond milk vs. organic milk and so on and so forth…but which one is better? Or are they all the same? Well, I’m not a fan of milk…at all. As a matter of fact, I only use milk when I absolutely have to…I mean I only put enough in my cereal to keep it from scratching up the roof of my mouth! But, I received a question about the different types of milk and their benefits, so here it is!

I began researching for this article about a week ago and I should have written it then because Yahoo posted an article today that kind of threw a wrench in my plan. The article gave 4 milk myths…one of which is kind of "iffy" in my book (Myth #4)….but hey they have their theories and I have mine and I’ll let you decide which you do or do not agree with. Click here to read the article from Yahoo.

As you know milk is one of the major sources of calcium and Vitamin D, but those are only a few of the benefits. Other benefits of milk consumption are listed below.

Benefits of Milk:
• Help with skin, hair, and nails (calcium, Vitamin D)
• Helps rebuild muscles
• Helps with PMS
• Helps with sleep
• Helps build strong bones
• Helps with cavities

Now that that’s out of the way, lets get back to the matter at hand. What type of milk is the best? My answer is: It depends on what your needs are, but no person over the age of 2 should have whole milk as a staple in their diet. Yes, it is ok to drink from time to time and even to use for different recipes, but almost 50% of the 146 calories (in 1 serving) come from fat. Better choices include 2%, 1% , no fat or even almond milk.


I hope that this helps when deciding what type of milk you should drink
Below I have listed the nutritional value of different types of milk as well as some benefits of each.

Milk vs. Milk
Whole Milk	146 Calories per serving (71 calories from fat) Good Source of Vitamin D and Calcium, but high in saturated fat
2%	122 calories (43 calories from fat) Good source of essential vitamins and nutrients (Vit.D, calcium, protein), but high in saturated fat.
1%	102 calories (21 calories from fat) Good source of vitamins, but high in sugar (13g)
0% or Fat Free	80 calories (0 calories from fat) Good source of vitamins, but a large portion of calories come from sugar
Lactose Free	For lactose intolerant individuals
Almond Milk	70 calories, doesn’t spoil. Good source of magnesium, potassium and Vitamin E, flavorful
Organic Milk	110 calories, extremely limited exposure to any type of drug, ultra pasteurized. ** Make sure the milk is truly organic**Consuming this is more about personal choice
Chocolate Milk	192 calories (52 calories from fat). High in sugar
Soy Milk	131 calories (38 calories from fat). Contains no lactose and only vegetable proteins. Made from soybeans
Nutrition Facts from : www.nutritiondata.self.com www.livestrong.com