Dairy for Everyone - Children

The UK National Diet and Nutrition survey, conducted in 2000, was a survey of the diets of young people aged 4-18 years. It showed, among other things, that children's diets contained higher than recommended amounts of non-milk extrinsic sugars (sugars that are potentially damaging to teeth), saturated fat and salt, and not enough fruit and vegetables. Some primary school children consumed diets that were low in vitamins and minerals and approximately one child in 12 has a diet deficient in vitamin A. Of the 7-10 year olds surveyed, one in 20 had a diet that was deficient in calcium and magnesium.

A soft drink and bag of crisps are popular break-time snacks. If a child consumed a carton of yogurt and piece of fruit instead, his or her dietary intake would come closer to the Department of Health recommendations. Non-milk extrinsic sugars, saturated fat and salt intakes would decline and intakes of vitamin A, zinc, calcium and magnesium would increase.

Concerns about weight are sometimes a barrier to providing snacks and of course, some so called ‘healthy’ snacks are simply not appealing to image-conscious children. However, a pot of fruit yogurt looks like a trendy dessert and is generally popular with children! Plain milk and yogurt do not cause tooth decay and for this reason dentists (and the British Dental Association) say that milk and yogurt are the best snacks for dental health.