Q&A with Registered Dietitian Melissa Dobbins
15 July 2009 Labels: contests, Kitchen 2 commentsHere is the Q&A from Melissa Dobbins, RD. I chose composite questions for the second and third, since they were the most popular questions submitted. Enjoy!
Question 1: "I leave one stick of butter on the counter in a closed butter dish so that it is spreadable. It only takes my family a few days to use on toast, popcorn and other foods. Is this safe?"
Answer: It is always recommended to keep perishable foods at the proper temperature (below 40 degrees or above 140 degrees) for food safety. For more information see: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/How_Temperatures_Affect_Food/index.asp Having said that, butter can be left unrefrigerated but it will go rancid much faster than if it were refrigerated. There are special containers (called butter keepers or “French butter keepers”) that you can purchase that holds butter and water that makes it possible to keep butter at room temperature for a longer time before it goes rancid.
Note from Sarah: I was actually going to mention butter bells if Melissa didn't. You can find them here: http://www.butterbell.com/
Question 2: The role of dairy in weight loss.
Answer: Enjoying three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods each day in a reduced-calorie diet along with exercise can be a healthy part of a weight maintenance plan for adults. A significant and growing body of scientific research continues to strengthen the connection between dairy consumption and weight maintenance. The Dietary Guidelines also concluded that consuming milk and milk products is not associated with weight gain and therefore children and adults should not avoid these foods because of concerns about weight gain. It is very important to get three to four servings of nutrient rich dairy foods every day to help get the nutrients our bodies need. Together, milk, cheese and yogurt provide 9 essential nutrients including calcium, protein, potassium and vitamin D. This powerful package of nutrients helps nourish your whole body – not just your bones.
Question 3: The role of dairy in the diets of diabetics.
Answer: As a Certified Diabetes Educator, I’m often asked this question. The bottom line is that people with diabetes can eat any foods that people without diabetes can eat – they just need to pay more attention to portion sizes and amounts of carbohydrate so they can keep their blood sugar levels more stable. And, since people with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, it is recommended to follow a heart healthy diet. Therefore, I recommend choosing low-fat or fat-free milk and dairy products. One cup of milk or yogurt typically contains about the same amount of carbohydrate as one slice of bread or one half cup of pasta. People with diabetes should talk with a registered dietitian to find out how many carbohydrate servings they can have at each meal and snack. Including nutrient rich dairy foods in the diet is always a good choice because you’re getting calcium plus eight other essential nutrients your body needs.
