We’ve all seen the 3-a-Day campaign at work. Supermodels, athletes, rock stars, they’ve all “Got Milk” and the Dairy Council promises weight loss for those who consume three servings of dairy a day.
Well, ladies, Haagen Dazs is not the kind of dairy product you should be having 3-a-Day of!
There are conflicting reports made by qualified studies done all over the world. At this point, we don’t really know if we need to consume three servings of dairy foods or just boost our calcium supplementation. If we do just need to boost our supplementation, then we have to think about which calcium formula is the best. The only thing we know for sure is that we don’t know for sure!
What we do know is that crash diets and diet soda deplete our bodies of much needed calcium. Did you know that? Think about it.
What is the first thing we drop when we diet?
Fat.
Where do we get the most dietary fats?
Dairy.
So where are we getting the calcium to stave off osteoporosis?
We aren’t.
So, whether you want to give the 3-a-Day weight loss program a try or not, you really do need to get those 3-a-Day PLUS some form of calcium supplementation.
If you’re anything like me and don’t care to drink milk, here are some thoughts on how to work those 3-aDay into your nutrition plan:
Sugar-Free, Nonfat Yogurt
4 ounces is all it takes. Try making a parfait with sugar-free, nonfat yogurt and blueberries. Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants! Then top it off with a few tablespoons of a low-sugar bran cereal. You’ll get calcium, antioxidants and fiber all in one delicious treat!
Neufchatel Cheese
It isn’t non-fat but it is the cream cheese that has “1/3 less fat” prominently marked on the package. Look for it near the Philly. OK, spreading it on a bagel is a big NO-NO for those of us who have carbohydrate issues (you’ll find an average of 50 grams of carbs in one bagel). But mix it up with a bit of parsley and some Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash and you have a lovely soft cheese spread to slather on your celery or Triscuits.
No Sugar Added Ice Cream
Slim-a-Bear makes some fantastic ice cream sandwiches that have no sugar added and they taste fantastic. A word of warning, the chocolate ones are for those who really like their snacks sweet. I found them too sweet for me but the vanilla ones really hit the spot.
Nonfat Sour Cream
Take a pint of nonfat sour cream and mix it up with one package of Hidden Valley Ranch mix and you’ve got a great dip for carrots and celery. Just don’t eat the whole pint in one sitting!
Whether you’ve fallen for the 3-a-Day weight loss promotions or not, if you are a dieting female, chances are you are not getting enough calcium and you’re making a date with osteoporosis. Try to add more dairy to your nutrition plan and don’t forget to take a good calcium supplement as well.