Milk, yoghurt and cheese
These foods provide calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Offering milk as a drink with meals is an easy way to give your child one of the three daily servings they need.
During the first year of life milk is the most important part of a child’s diet. It will continue to be a key element of diet for 1-4 year olds as the continue to increase the amounts of the other types of foods they eat.
How much should kids eat?
- Children need 3 servings a day
- Breastmilk counts towards these servings. Breastfeeding mothers can add cow’s milk to their child’s cereal or offer cow’s milk as a drink. It is important to include yogurt and cheese also to help meet your child’s nutritional needs
What is a portion?
- 200ml or 2x 100ml plain milk or milk with added vitamins
- 200ml or 2x 100ml unsweetened soya drink fortified with calcium
- 1 pot (125) plain yogurt
- 2 small pots (47g) plain or natural fromage frais
- 25g cheese or 2 adult thumbs of cheese
- Homemade custard or rice pudding made with 200ml of milk
Healthy eating tips
- Offer full-fat milk to children aged 1 to 2 years.
- You can offer low-fat milk to children aged 3 to 4 years.
- Small pots (47g) of plain or natural fromage frais can be offered with meals or between meals
Check out the dairy shelf fact sheet
