The importance of dairy consumption during childhood has been in the press for years. Ongoing research is revealing that the need begins before birth at conception. While in the womb, a mother’s nutritional state and lifestyle habits help shape the child’s future health. 

Nutrients support the baby’s metabolism, immune function, and organ development. Within six months of pregnancy, if nutritionally supported, the infant’s brain can already have 10 billion brain cells, setting the stage for higher cognitive performance, memory, and advanced motor skills. 

In fact, during the first 1,000 days from conception to beyond two years of age, the brain grows more quickly than any other time in a person’s life. Because milk provides seven of 14 nutrients required for brain development (iodine, choline, zinc, selenium, protein, and vitamins A and B12), consuming the recommended three servings per day of milk, yogurt or cheese is critical during pregnancy. 

After birth, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting until the baby’s first birthday before introducing whole milk as a beverage. However, babies can begin eating dairy products such as yogurt and soft cheeses like cottage cheese and mascarpone or whole milk mixed with foods like oatmeal around 6 months of age. 

Dairy consumption is essential as kids grow up to ensure they receive the recommended amount of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, which lay the foundation for strong teeth and bones. Dairy foods are also a source of high-quality protein to help build muscle during periods of growth, and milk can serve as a source of fluids and electrolytes to rehydrate the body after sports or physical activity.

Several factors impact eating habits during childhood. A paper in Pediatrics (“Is Frequency of Shared Family Meals Related to the Nutritional Health of Children and Adolescents?”) outlined that the frequency of shared family meals is significantly related to nutritional health. Children and adolescents who shared family meals three or more times per week were more likely to be in a normal weight range and have healthier eating patterns than those who shared fewer than three family meals together. 

Some children may also be picky eaters or struggle to accept new foods. Introducing babies to cheese and yogurt as a complementary food can help familiarize them to new tastes and textures. At age 1 and beyond, serving milk at meals is an easy way to provide a safety net of nutrition to children who struggle to consume other nutrient-dense foods. 

“Early childhood eating habits can set the stage for a lifetime of health and wellness,” says Dr. Kristin Ricklefs-Johnson, director of Nutrition Research at the Rosemont, Ill.-based National Dairy Council, specializing in childhood health. “Unfortunately, research indicates that dairy milk consumption decreases from age 1 to 5, while sugar-sweetened beverage consumption increases. The good news is that small, positive changes can significantly improve a child’s diet quality. Research shows that simply adding dairy milk to young children’s diets or replacing sugary drinks like soda with dairy milk can significantly boost the intake of several key vitamins and minerals.”

The AAP also recommends including two or three nutritious snacks in addition to mealtimes to ensure this age group is consuming the appropriate amounts of different food groups. For example, providing yogurt for toddlers to dip vegetables or fruit slices may make consuming both food groups more fun. Modeling good eating behaviors like taking time to pause, enjoy and talk between bites also helps establish positive meal habits. 

 As children grow up to be tweens and teens, it is important for them to continue to consume dairy each day. At age 9 and older, three cups of milk or dairy equivalents per day are recommended. Modeling healthful eating behaviors, establishing meal routines, teaching children about the benefits of dairy foods and providing tasty snack and meal options that incorporate dairy products is very important for these age groups. 

Convenient and delicious product innovations have come into the marketplace to help fill this need. Shelf-stable yogurt pouches with added fruit, shelf-stable milk, dehydrated crunchy cheese snacks, cheese sticks, smaller-sized cottage cheese and Greek yogurt dips, refrigerated Greek yogurt bars and a newly launched refrigerated YoBark, combining the creamy goodness of yogurt with the crunchiness of granola, have all entered the marketplace to attract tweens and teens. 

Easy-to-make recipes featuring dairy products as a main ingredient can also involve youth in the creation and enjoyment of meals and snacks. It’s never too late to lay a good foundation.