DAIRY FRRE?

On the flipside, proponents of alternative milks for young kids aren’t in line with a panel including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has released recommendations stating children under age 5 should avoid plant-based milks. Unless a child has dietary restrictions, cow’s milk is recommended for children 12 months and older to supply protein, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients, according to Children’s Health.

It states cow’s milk has key nutrients that are not matched in plant-based alternatives, and when comparing nutrient content such as protein and calcium, ounce per ounce, dairy is the best milk choice for children.

One exception is for children with a dairy intolerance or allergy, or for families with a dietary preference such as eating vegan due to religious or lifestyle beliefs. For children who need an alternative to cow’s milk, soy milk is the best plant-based choice, according to Children’s Health.

While the benefits of cow’s milk haven’t changed over the years, the Tufts Medical Center states that about 2 percent of children are allergic to the protein in cow’s milk, according to an article on their website. When eating or drinking milk products, they may develop hives, diarrhea, wheezing or other allergic symptoms, and need to avoid cow’s milk products.

The medical center also states that lactose is the sugar found in milk, and that some children, as well as many adults, have a condition called lactose intolerance and have bloating and diarrhea when they eat or drink milk products. You can prevent these symptoms by adding lactase drops to the milk—an enzyme that helps people digest the sugar in milk, according to Tufts.

Milk alternatives such as soy beverage, oat beverage, and almond beverage may be seen as a replacement to provide the aesthetic of cow’s milk, but should not be considered a nutritional equivalent, Gregg said. “Though these alternative products have improved in the amount of fortified nutrients to be a more nutritious beverage,” she said, “parents choosing to use these beverages to replace milk for a child with cow’s milk protein allergies should make sure their child’s diet is well-rounded with other foods to achieve the same nutrient consumption profile as traditional cow’s milk.”

Real milk is a complete protein, whereas most plant-based proteins are incomplete, meaning they are missing some of the essential amino acids our bodies need.

The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit that represents dairy farmers across the Southeast (including Alabama) – and which promotes dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry in schools and with health professionals –echoes the cow’s milk benefits that Gregg notes. “A milk-free diet during critical growing years could have multiple effects on a child’s health, including not reaching their full height potential, an increase in stress fractures during adolescence and a greater chance of osteoporosis as an adult,” said Laura Marbury, senior manager of community wellness with The Dairy Alliance.

Real milk, she added, is a complete protein, whereas most plant-based proteins are incomplete, meaning they are missing some of the essential amino acids our bodies need. “The protein in milk keeps you feeling fuller longer, provides energy to fuel your day, and helps muscles recover, even while you sleep,” she said.