Feeding Children Which Milk for Growing Bones?

Why Milk? Calcium and Vitamin D for building strong bones and teeth Protein for building a growing body Vitamin A for healthy eyes and skin

Milk in the Younger Years Experts agree that breast milk is the best choice for newborns, up to age one If breast milk is not an option, iron fortified infant formula is a good choice Whole milk is recommended for children 12 to 24 months “As a concentrated source of energy, fat helps to fuel this period of fairly rapid growth. The extra cholesterol in whole milk helps a child’s brain to develop properly.” (Dyuff, The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food and Nutrition Guide)

Which milk is best for your child? Starting at age two, children can drink low-fat milk Low-fat milk contains less saturated fat than whole milk Skim milk (fat free),1% milk (low-fat) and 2% milk (reduced-fat) are all considered ”low-fat” products All milk contains the same amount of calcium per serving.

Nutritional Comparison of Milks Whole2%Skim1%

Calcium Needs by Age 1 cup = 300 mg Birth - 6 Months200 mg/day 6 to 12 Months260 mg/day 1 to 3 Years700 mg/day 4 to 8 Years 1,000 mg/day 9 to 18 Years 1,300 mg/day

How much calcium do kids need? Children ages nine to eighteen can get most of their daily calcium from: 4 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk (900 mg of calcium), AND Additional servings of calcium-rich foods to get the 1,300 mg of calcium necessary to build strong bones and teeth for life

Other Calcium-Rich Foods SourceAmount of Calcium 1 cup yogurt294 milligrams 1 ounce natural cheese213 milligrams 3 ounces canned salmon, with bones 167 milligrams ½ cup collard greens145 milligrams ½ cup broccoli, fresh, cooked 90 milligrams

Reference: United States Department of Agriculture 2010 Dietary Guidelines, September, 2012 Roberta Larson Dyuff, MS,RD,CFCS, The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, p. 390, Chronimed Publishing, American Dietetic Association position paper, “Dietary Guidance for Healthy Children Aged 2 to 11 Years,” Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2004; USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, USDA “Nibbles for Health”, Nutrition Newsletter for Young Children, Number 7, December Graphics: Microsoft Word, United States Department of Agriculture Jackie Walters, MBA, RD, LD Extension Specialist for Nutrition Education Programs November 2012 Copyright © 2003, 2012, for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Questions