Milk sales are falling. Unfortunately, this may well mean that some children are being given squash and other sweetened, low-nutrient drinks instead. But milk is perhaps the most comprehensively nutritious food of all, so nurseries need to provide plenty.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Milk has a huge range of nutrients, notably calcium, potassium, zinc, folic acid, protein and all the B vitamins. It's also one of our few good sources of iodine. The cream in whole and semi-skimmed milk supplies the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Milk is low in iron, however.
Children need half to one pint of milk a day, depending on the quality of their diet. It is recommended that under-twos need whole milk, but after that children who are good eaters and have a varied diet should gradually change to semi-skimmed. Skimmed milk is not suitable for under-fives. Children who don't have milk may be short of riboflavin (vitamin B2) as, in an average diet, 40 per cent of our riboflavin comes from milk and cheese.
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