Essential guide to dairy

A MATTER OF BALANCE

To grow properly and keep healthy, children need to eat a good balanced diet to obtain all the nutrients required for a good start in life. Fresh dairy products are packed full of essential protein, vitamins and minerals and are the best source of calcium, which is important for good health and the formation of bones and teeth.

PROTEIN

Protein is the building block of all the cells in our bodies and therefore an essential part of the diet. Since children grow so quickly, they have a higher requirement for protein than adults. As well as helping growth, proteins are also important for repairing any damage to body tissue. Protein is made up of amino acids - some the body can make and some can be obtained from food. Animal proteins contain all the amino acids that the body needs and dairy produce is a significant source.

VITAMINS

To grow and be healthy children need vitamins. They are essential for the maintenance of a healthy body and necessary for the correct development of the brain an nervous system. Dairy contains three essential vitamin groups:

  • Vitamin A - essential for growth, healthy skin, tooth enamel and good vision. Also known as Retinol, Vitamin A only occurs in animal foods and is important for growth, preventing infections, promoting healthy skin and providing good night vision. It is found in liver, oily fish, full-fat milk and cheese, butter, margarine and egg yolks.

  • Vitamin B complex - essential for growth, for changing food into energy, for a healthy nervous system and as an aid to digestion. Dairy is a good source of Vitamin B complex and yogurt in particular provides Vitamin B2 and B12 - needed for growth and division of cells.

  • Vitamin D - essential for proper bone formation. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth. Milk and dairy products are a good source, along with eggs, margarine, and oily fish.

CALCIUM

Pouring milk

The essential mineral for strong healthy bones, good teeth and growth. Children need an adequate calcium intake, both for the proper development of growing bones and teeth, and for the correct functioning of muscles and blood clotting. There is a useful amount in bread, flour and other cereals, but children need a more concentrated source than this. The obvious and by far the best source is milk. Two thirds of a pint of milk a day or, equivalent such as, yogurt, cheese or milk pudding provides adequate calcium between the ages of one and five.

Strong bones that contain plenty of calcium are less likely to become weak and break in old age, therefore, help guard against osteoporosis. An adequate intake of calcium and Vitamin D is particularly important during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood when bones are developing. So, both in the short, and long-term, clearly there are many benefits to including essential dairy products in your child's diet.