Dairy at your early childhood service

• Regular full cream milk is an important source of energy and nutrients and should be the only milk used for children under the age of two years.
• For children over the age of two years provide reduced fat or skim milk varieties.

• Cream, sour cream and butter are not appropriate substitutes for milk, yoghurt and cheese. These foods offer few health benefits and are high in saturated fat and/or added sugar.
• Cream, sour cream and butter are not appropriate substitutes for milk, yoghurt and cheese. These foods offer few health benefits and are high in saturated fat and/or added sugar.

• Ensure that alternatives to cow’s milk products for children with allergies/intolerances are fortified with calcium. Alternatives such as soy/rice/oat products must be fortified with at least 100mg of added calcium per 100ml.

• Include a glass of milk at morning tea and/or afternoon tea. A serve (according to the Menu Planning Guidelines for long day care) of milk is only 100ml which is less than half a cup!
• Serve yoghurt for morning or afternoon tea.
• Make fruit smoothies. This is a good way to use up leftover fruit and milk at the end of the week and is a great activity to do with children.
• Offer cheese and wholemeal or grainy crackers at morning tea or afternoon tea.
• Use grated cheese in main meals such lasagne and other pasta dishes.
• Include yoghurt and/or milk in main meals (e.g. natural yoghurt in a curry).

For more information and ideas on including milk in your menu: Menu ideas and tips for milk and alternatives