Low Fat Milk

Children may be coming up short when it comes to drinking low-fat milk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics finds that, although milk and milk products are recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and by the American Academy of Pediatrics , kids may not be drinking enough of the lower-fat kind. Overall, 72.6% of teens and children drink milk daily. Boys drink more milk than girls -- 77.7%, compared with 67.4%.

This post has been updated to include comments from a researcher and an American Heart Assn. spokeswoman. Giving toddlers skim or 1% milk to keep them from growing overweight doesn't seem to work, according to a study out Monday that gives pause over the common advice to avoid whole milk from age 2. Researchers led by Dr. Mark DeBoer of the University of Virginia School of Medicine looked at 10,700 U.S. children at age 2 and 4, and found that...

Eugene Sigler of Chicago Heights, Ill., was having breakfast at his daughter's home in Newbury Park, Calif., when he noticed something different about the milk. "Naomi, what is this?" he asked. "Low-fat milk," she replied, a surprise to Sigler. "It had a fuller taste than the 2% we get," said Sigler. The secret of California's milk lies in the milk solids that state law requires to be added to all 1% and 2% milk.

Children may be coming up short when it comes to drinking low-fat milk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics finds that, although milk and milk products are recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and by the American Academy of Pediatrics , kids may not be drinking enough of the lower-fat kind. Overall, 72.6% of teens and children drink milk daily. Boys drink more milk than girls -- 77.7%, compared with 67.4%.

High-fiber weight-loss diets which prescribe unlimited amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains may help shed pounds, but they are frequently low in valuable nutrients like protein, calcium and iron, says a registered dietitian with the American Heart Assn. and the Dairy Council of California.

Milkshaking News The FDA is changing the nomenclature of the different categories of milk, to go into effect between now and January. * Skim milk may call itself fat-free and carry an American Heart Assn. symbol. * 1% low-fat milk, if it chooses, may call itself just plain low-fat. * 2% low-fat will no longer be allowed to call itself low-fat; from now on, it'll be reduced fat. Whole milk, unchanged at 3.2%, will still be called milk.

  Whole-wheat pancakes Total time: 25 minutes Servings: Makes 6 pancakes Note: Hard red wheat berries can be found at select well-stocked markets and health food stores. Serve the pancakes with syrup or fruit compote. Our recipes, your kitchen: If you try any of the L.A. Times Test Kitchen recipes from this week's Food section, please share it with us: Click here to upload pictures of the finished dish. 1 cup wheat flour (ground from 2/3 cup hard red wheat berries)

The California Medical Assn. has launched a campaign to significantly reduce the fat content in milk. The effort is being pursued as a means of lowering dietary cholesterol levels, considered a factor in heart disease. At present, the group's primary focus is to encourage the Legislature to require dairymen to cut whole milk's fat content by 50%.

A wealthy nutritional activist who has forced such companies as General Mills and Nabisco to lower the fat in their foods on Monday launched what some medical experts say is a misguided attack on 2% milk. In newspaper advertisements, millionaire businessman Phil Sokolof urges parents not to serve their children 2% milk because a single glass contains as much fat as two strips of bacon. Sokolof advocates skim or 1% milk. But child nutrition experts cautioned against following Sokolof's advice.

Reducing fat in the diet has become a healthy American habit, but there are some foods that may be harboring more fat than you know, warns the California Dietetic Assn. "While there are many health risk factors other than diet, to keep your diet at its healthiest we suggest curbing artery fat intake to 30% of total calories," said Cheryl Loggins, a registered dietitian with the group.

  Whole-wheat pancakes Total time: 25 minutes Servings: Makes 6 pancakes Note: Hard red wheat berries can be found at select well-stocked markets and health food stores. Serve the pancakes with syrup or fruit compote. Our recipes, your kitchen: If you try any of the L.A. Times Test Kitchen recipes from this week's Food section, please share it with us: Click here to upload pictures of the finished dish. 1 cup wheat flour (ground from 2/3 cup hard red wheat berries)

Milkshaking News The FDA is changing the nomenclature of the different categories of milk, to go into effect between now and January. * Skim milk may call itself fat-free and carry an American Heart Assn. symbol. * 1% low-fat milk, if it chooses, may call itself just plain low-fat. * 2% low-fat will no longer be allowed to call itself low-fat; from now on, it'll be reduced fat. Whole milk, unchanged at 3.2%, will still be called milk.

Americans may get some help soon in deciding how much fat is in that morning glass of milk. Congress in 1990 voted that 2% milk could be labeled low-fat even though it isn't. Federal law says 3 grams of fat per serving is the most that every other food can contain and still advertise as a low-fat alternative--but 2% milk has 5 grams per serving.

A wealthy nutritional activist who has forced such companies as General Mills and Nabisco to lower the fat in their foods on Monday launched what some medical experts say is a misguided attack on 2% milk. In newspaper advertisements, millionaire businessman Phil Sokolof urges parents not to serve their children 2% milk because a single glass contains as much fat as two strips of bacon. Sokolof advocates skim or 1% milk. But child nutrition experts cautioned against following Sokolof's advice.

Eugene Sigler of Chicago Heights, Ill., was having breakfast at his daughter's home in Newbury Park, Calif., when he noticed something different about the milk. "Naomi, what is this?" he asked. "Low-fat milk," she replied, a surprise to Sigler. "It had a fuller taste than the 2% we get," said Sigler. The secret of California's milk lies in the milk solids that state law requires to be added to all 1% and 2% milk.

There has been a revolutionary breakthrough in the frankfurter world, according to a meat industry publication. A Chicago-based firm has announced that it has developed frankfurter casings that can carry messages, logos or labeling claims. Now link lovers can enjoy advertising or promotion, as well as mustard, on their frankfurters. Late last month, Viskase Corp. made available the versatile enclosures to meat processors after receiving the required federal approval, Lean Trimmings reports.

There has been a revolutionary breakthrough in the frankfurter world, according to a meat industry publication. A Chicago-based firm has announced that it has developed frankfurter casings that can carry messages, logos or labeling claims. Now link lovers can enjoy advertising or promotion, as well as mustard, on their frankfurters. Late last month, Viskase Corp. made available the versatile enclosures to meat processors after receiving the required federal approval, Lean Trimmings reports.

You don't have to eat a lot of food to be overweight. All you have to do is choose the wrong foods. "The chances are that overweight people eat foods that are very dense in calories, and that means foods that are very high in sugars and fats," said Sue Magrann, registered dietitian, a weight-control specialist speaking for the California Dietetic Assn.

The California Medical Assn. has launched a campaign to significantly reduce the fat content in milk. The effort is being pursued as a means of lowering dietary cholesterol levels, considered a factor in heart disease. At present, the group's primary focus is to encourage the Legislature to require dairymen to cut whole milk's fat content by 50%.

Dairy products have been lauded for their contributions of protein, calcium and riboflavin to the American diet. They have also been highly criticized, like other foods from animal sources, for their fat content and the large number of calories they add. But milk, butter, cream, yogurt, ice cream and cheese can be healthful additions to a conscientious diet when included in either reduced-fat form or when portion size is controlled.