Media Contact: Dr. Carolyn Dunn
(919)-515-9142
June 16, 1997
A DAIRY MONTH REMINDER:
YOUNG CHILDREN NEED MILKFAT
The American mantra of a "low-fat, high-fiber diet" makes sense for adults, but such dietary recommendations should not be applied to the youngest children, especially where milk is concerned.
Adults and teens have long been encouraged to drink low-fat or non-fat milk, a recommendation that makes sense for diets aimed at promoting good health. During Dairy Month in June, parents are reminded that milkfat should be an important part of the diet for children under the age of two.
"We need to realize that some dietary recommendations for adults are different for children," said Dr. Carolyn Dunn, food and nutrition specialist with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, based at North Carolina State University. "Children are not just small adults."
From birth through one year, infants should drink breast milk or formula. From age 1 to 2, whole cow's milk is recommended. At this age, children are growing rapidly, and milk makes up a high percentage of their dietary intake. The extra calories provided by whole milk are important for growth in children this age, Dunn said.
"We want to make sure children are getting the energy they need for high growth and development," she said.
After the age of 2, some pediatricians encourage parents to have children drink milk with 2 percent milkfat. But the recommendations will vary from child to child. It is important that the transition to a diet low in fat and high in fiber be a gradual one, Dunn said. When decreasing fat, keep in mind that, as part of a child's balanced diet, calories from fat should not dip below 30 percent of the daily total. Fat itself is not taboo; it is a needed source of calories and energy in the diet of growing children, whose growth and activities can undergo several major spurts over the years.
General guidelines for a healthy diet emphasize eating a variety of foods to promote growth and maintain healthy weights. This includes eating foods low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, and consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables and grain products. Foods high in sodium, salt and sugars should be eaten in moderation.
As children get older, their need for calcium continues, but studies show that many children and youth, especially adolescent girls, are not getting the calcium they need. Since milk provides 75 percent of calcium in the American diet, youth and young adults should be encouraged to consume milk and dairy products.
"It's what we've heard our whole lives -- calcium builds strong bones and teeth. It's almost impossible to get the calcium we need without consuming dairy products," Dunn said.
Children who are big milk drinkers tend to have denser bones as adults. About 40 to 45 percent of bone building occurs during teen years, with peak bone mass occurring at about age 35.
Only 14.4 percent of girls ages 11-19 consume the recommended daily allowance of calcium. At age 11, the need for calcium increases from 800 milligrams daily to 1,200 milligrams. Increased calcium intake, combined with weight-bearing exercise, can help young people head off risks of osteoporosis later in life.
Dunn acknowledges that some children are not big fans of milk, but with many different dairy foods available, finding a dairy source of calcium that children like should not be a problem. Parents can choose from a variety of dairy food options including:
Some new dairy products that have gained popularity include dairy spreads, mostly cream cheese-based, with flavors ranging from smoked salmon to honey walnut. Yogurt-based drinks offer another flavored dairy beverage alternative, available in whole-milk and fat-free blends.