American children are drinking too little milk and consuming dairy products that are too fatty, according to a Penn State study.
The study, reported in the Journal of Pediatrics, found that only 2 to 3-year-olds meet the average dairy intake recommendations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dairy recommendations and Adequate Intake of calcium for various ages from 2 through 18.
They also found that approximately half the dairy consumed by younger children was from whole-fat sources with only 5 to 11 percent from non-fat dairy. Older children consumed about 35 to 36 percent from whole-fat dairy and 11 to 13 percent from non-fat dairy sources.
These additional calories can add to the current problems of childhood obesity, the researchers said.
“While children are not meeting the diary or calcium requirements, it is not a good idea to try to meet them by eating premium ice creams or other high fat products," says Sibylle Kranz, assistant professor of nutritional sciences. Frozen yogurts or sherbets or low or non-fat yogurt, cheese and toppings are better alternatives, she said.
