[Phillygirl2]

Since I am over 50, I am supposed to get 3 servings of dairy a day, at one cup each, I believe.

I am finding it difficult to do this. I put a half cup of FF milk in my cereal, and try to eat two yogurts a day, but I that's still half a serving short. Plus, I just can't always make myself eat all that yogurt, plus it sometimes breaks me out. I really hate FF milk, can only stand it in the cereal.

How can I get my dairy requirements easier?

[meowee]

It can be difficult . . . luckily I happen to like skim milk, but I know that a lot of people do not. You could try making SF/FF puddings . . . and don't forget some veggies (such as brocolli) are pretty high in calcium, too.

[Phillygirl2]

Well, I have created what I call "chocolate mousse." I make two boxes of SF FF chocolate pudding with FF milk, and fold in a tup of Cool Whip Free. It's absolutely sinful, but since it tastes so good, I figure it probably isn't good to eat too much of it. I figured out that one cup of this stuff is two points, figuring that one cup of pudding is two points, and since I'm folding in the Cool whip, it knocks it down to 3/4 cup of pudding and 1/4 cup of Cool whip, which is not even one point. Am I correct here, or have my math skills failed me, as usual?

Also, this weekend I am going to try to make a yogurt cheese cheesecake. Will that count as a dairy?

[WaterRat]

I hear you on the dairy. While I like FF milk okay, I'm not crazy about yogurt, cottage cheese doesn't have as much as you'd think, and while I'd like to I can't afford the calories to eat enough cheese to qualify as dairy. What I do is to take calcium supplements. I recently had a bone density test, as well as have vitamin D levels checked (vitamin D deficiency is rampant in Alaska), and both were at normal levels. So while I try to eat enough dairy, I also cover my bets with the supplements. I've found that the "off brands" of the Viactiv give you the most calcium for the lowest price.....

[Phillygirl2]

Well, I do have a bone density problem, but my doctor told me to lay off the Viactiv stuff, because it is fattening. I do have to admit that I can't stop at one or two, especially the chocolate ones! Today, I was way below my points and short two dairies, so I had a 2-cup glass of FF milk with Hershey syrup in it.

I am a cheese lover, but it really ticks me off how many points it uses up. I know what you mean. I don't know how people who are limited to 20 points do it at all. Just to get three dairies in uses at least 6 points!