Are dairy alternatives good for children?
During the first year of a child's life, they should drink breastmilk and/or formula. Recent research has shown that 1-2 year old children should drink 2-3 cups of cow's milk a day with water. This research has also shown that plant milks should be not be replaced for cow's milk. The only acceptable replacement is soy milk with added ingredients that are important for growth, known as nutrients (Wright & Smith 2020). When eating or drinking, the most important question to ask yourself is, "What am I getting out of this?" At the end of the day, food is fuel, and your body needs good fuel to work well. A research study compared the nutrients in cow's and plant milks (soy, almond, cashew, coconut, and rice milks). The researchers looked at two things: 1. Nutrients a dded to milk or plant milks: vitamin D, vitamin A, and calcium, and 2. N utrients that are low for Americans: potassium, phosphorus, and magnes...
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