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free tools for patients, expert nutrition advice and information on updated
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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
a great
tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Healthy Snacking For Healthy Kids
Nutritional and Health Benefits of Dairy Foods as Snacks
Improving the Nutritional Quality of Children's Diets. Snacks can make a substantial contribution to children's nutrient intake depending on the type and amount of foods and beverages consumed. A concern is that an increase in total energy intake due to the high energy density of some snack foods and supersized portions may predispose children to weight gain (3).
Milk and other dairy products are nutrient dense foods providing abundant amounts of nutrients necessary for children's growth and development (48). For example, milk, including low fat versions, is an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, and phosphorus and a good source of protein, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and niacin. Because of dairy products' nutrient density, increasing their intake can help improve the overall nutritional quality of children's diets (36,37,49).
Not only are foods from the Milk Group nutrient dense, but also their intake need not contribute to excess body weight or body fat (50,51). Flavored milk is a well-liked beverage which has been shown to increase children's calcium intake without increasing their proportion of daily calories from total fat or added sugars compared to children who do not consume flavored milk (52). A wide variety of calcium-rich dairy products - milk, cheese, and yogurt - of varied calorie and fat content (whole fat, reduced fat, low fat, nonfat) are available as healthy snacks for children (47,53). Emerging research suggests that increased calcium/dairy food intake is associated with decreased body weight or body fat (54,55). In a five-year study of preschool children, higher intakes of calcium and dairy foods were associated with lower body fat (54).
Improving Bone Health. Consuming at least three servings a day of milk, cheese, or yogurt, including low fat versions, during childhood may protect against bone fractures in childhood (56) and osteoporosis in later adult years (53,57,58), as well as lead to adoption of a lifestyle that supports bone health (59). Milk and other dairy foods are an important source of nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D (if fortified), protein, magnesium, and vitamin A needed for bone health (60). Calcium is the most important nutrient to maximize peak bone mass, which may help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later adult years (53,57). Unfortunately, a large majority of children and adolescents have usual calcium intakes well below recommended dietary intakes (16,61).
Low intake of milk and other dairy foods contributes to children's calcium shortage (11,37,53). In a policy statement urging pediatricians to recommend milk, cheese, yogurt, and other calcium-rich foods for children's daily diets, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children meet their calcium needs from food first because eating patterns developed during childhood tend to be followed throughout life (53).
Consuming calcium-rich dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt as snacks can help improve the nutritional quality of children's diets, improve their bone health, and may protect against dental caries.
Protecting Against Dental Caries. Frequently consuming sugar- or other fermentable carbohydrate-containing foods and beverages such as candy, cookies, snack chips, and carbonated soft drinks between meals may promote dental caries (42,62). In contrast, consuming milk and especially several varieties of cheese as snacks may help protect against dental caries (63-67).
Several cheeses, including aged Cheddar, Swiss, blue, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Muenster, mozzarella and process American cheese, have been demonstrated under experimental conditions to help prevent dental caries by reducing acid demineralization of tooth enamel and enhancing remineralization of caries lesions (63-66). Cheese's texture, which stimulates salivary flow, and its protein, calcium, and phosphate content contribute to this food's protective effect against tooth decay (63-66).
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that children be served snacks no more than three or four times a day and that these snacks contribute to children's overall nutrition and health (67). Cheese, vegetables, yogurt, and chocolate milk are identified by the AAPD as nutritious snacks for children (67). To reduce risk of dental caries, children should also limit their intake of sugar-containing foods to mealtime and practice good daily oral hygiene (e.g., brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste after eating snacks) (27).
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