milk & dairy

What counts?
This food group includes milk, cheese, yogurt and fromage frais. Calcium fortified Soya alternatives to milk can also be included. This group does not include butter, eggs and cream as these fall into other food groups.

 

How much should you eat?

 

EAT MODERATE AMOUNTS
Try to eat 2-3 servings a day. A serving of milk is a 200ml glass, a serving of yogurt is a small pot (150g), a serving of cheese is 30g (matchbox size). Choose lower fat versions whenever you can, such as semi-skimmed milk, low fat yogurt and reduced fat cheese.

Why eat these foods?

These foods provide:

• Calcium: needed for development and maintenance of healthy bones
• Zinc: required for tissue growth and repair
• Protein: needed for growth and repair, and also a source of energy
• Vitamin B12: required for blood cells and nerve function
• Vitamin B2: needed for the release of energy from carbohydrates and protein
• Vitamin A: (in whole milk products) for growth, development and eyesight 

Healthy eating tips

• Choose low fat milk i.e. semi-skimmed or skimmed milk
• Choose low fat yogurts and reduced fat cheeses

 © British Nutrition Foundation