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Food idealism vs. real actions to combat obesity

Connie Tipton

Connie Tipton is president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. She contributes this column exclusively for Cheese Market News®.

Over the past year, I have been amazed at the growing number of discussions, articles and books expressing personal beliefs about what we should, and more importantly, should not, eat. It looked like the “food idealists” were driving the broader discussion about how to combat obesity, and that the food industry, including the dairy food industry, was under siege by people with idealistic agendas about food.

Take the author of a number of recent food books, Michael Pollan, who sums up his beliefs by saying, “If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t.” Okay, maybe it would be nice if we all had the time and place to grow our own food or were able to buy only from our local farmers, but that’s not realistic. It is food idealism run amok!

Then, earlier this month, First Lady Michelle Obama focused the power of the White House and our government on the challenge of solving childhood obesity. It will be her No. 1 priority to tackle this year. This is a big deal because it puts in motion realistic initiatives to begin to make a difference in diets and lifestyles instead of just more food idealism. The initiative, called “Let’s Move,” is built on four pillars:

• giving parents the support they need;

• providing healthier food in schools;

• helping our kids to be more physically active; and

• making healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.

Recognizing that it will take time to turn around the trend that has been occurring for the last decade or more, the First Lady has set the goal to end childhood obesity within a generation. And she has invited the food industry to be a part of real discussions about what needs to take place to balance diet and nutrition, as well as calories, with exercise.

The U.S. food industry has made significant advances in producing and processing food, which make it widely available, fresh and safe. It also has enhanced our food choices and improved our ability to have good, nutritious foods with little preparation time required.

Already top companies in the food industry have joined together to take many positive, voluntary measures — real actions — to improve food offerings and to communicate clearly about the importance of good diets and nutrition combined with exercise. Take, for example, how Safeway has motivated its non-union employees to be healthier by giving financial incentives to reduce their health benefit premiums. Real voluntary actions can make a big difference, and the food industry can do more.

Our association, along with others who represent the dairy and food industries in Washington, D.C., can be a part of this by advocating actions that will make a real difference in people’s lives.

Fortunately, dairy has been at the forefront in promoting good diets, nutrition and health. The National Dairy Council has done tireless work to share dairy’s story with schools for many years. In the last decade, the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) has focused with laser-like intensity on fat-free and lowfat milks as part of a healthy diet. In fact, MilkPEP’s marketing to teens targets messages through athletes who inspire them to achieve better bodies in many ways by including milk in their diets.

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has played a huge role as well with research and programs over many years. But its recent partnership with the National Football League to promote Fuel Up to Play 60, a program encouraging kids to eat right and exercise 60 minutes a day, is right on the money for the message we need to deliver today. It is important to consume nutrient-rich foods like milk and other dairy products, but it is equally important to exercise and burn up those calories. It’s a balance, and we have to get that message into practice!

And, yes, as part of our broader message, we must continue to adhere to high standards. That’s true at the farm where good animal practices ensure that we have healthy and, yes, happy cows. It’s true in our plants and facilities, which employ first-class safety standards, and it’s certainly true in the high quality and healthfulness of our products.

Winston Churchill once said, “No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism.”

Costly indeed. We know that good nutrition is more than a simplified prescription of do’s and don’ts, and that years of science and research continue to prove dairy’s important role in a healthy diet. So let’s join with First Lady Michelle Obama and meet these challenges head on, making sure our collective voices are heard and working together to protect the healthful image of dairy products.

CMN

The views expressed by CMN’s guest columnists are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheese Market News®.