Milk % And Childhood Obesity

[just_peachy]

I agree as well! I guess now is the time that I come out of my conspiracy theory closet...

Full fat everything has nothing to do with obesity. Processed foods do. BUT processed food companies make a ton of money which they essentially buy off the government with, so a new 'scape goat is needed.

When I was on WIC, I was heartbroken about the allowed foods. We used the beans, tuna, and eggs (which even made me uncomfortable,) but the rest of the GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED food was garbage! Frosted Mini Wheats? Really?

[Evansmom]

Totally agree! I'm so glad to see the government catching on to this. Last year we stopped eating all processed foods, switched to full fat everything and I lost 30 lbs without exercise. Fat does not make us fat, carbs and especially crappy processed carbs do.

[earlystart]

The State of California does not allow us to give kids anything besides 1%. I have pretty much given up on giving the kids milk. They will eat it with their cereal but will not drink a glass of it. I went from 6 gals of 2% to 3 gals of 1% a week. Most of that is drank by my sil in his coffee.

My kids grew up on the dreaded Kool-Aid and whole milk. Both were scrawny kids until PCOS hit when they were teens. Both have documented endocrine issues.

I'm in CA too and apparently you can still give whole milk to those under 2, though they still recommend 1% for them (which my food program lady always points out ). But I choose to use whole until they're 2.

[Starburst]

I love whole milk especially straight from the cow. I didn't want to switch my two and ups down to the lower fatted but I had to bcuz of the food program. If I weren't on the food program I would do whole till age 5.

Then you will love this (espesually the bottom).

http://pinterest.com/pin/390828073882873927/

I had 1 high school teacher (family and marriage [or 'human relations']/ pscyhology) who was a real health nut; in fact his second job was selling vitamines/ suppliments. He said he never drinks milk unless it is straight from the cow because of somethign to do with pasturization. But than again I had another psychology teacher who was also a health nut and said he hasn't drank milk at all in over 20 years and he said that exept when they were nursing him and his wife never allowed their daughter to drink milk they are 7th day adventists and vegans (both have very strict diets)

[Starburst]

The State of California does not allow us to give kids anything besides 1%. I have pretty much given up on giving the kids milk. They will eat it with their cereal but will not drink a glass of it. I went from 6 gals of 2% to 3 gals of 1% a week. Most of that is drank by my sil in his coffee.

My kids grew up on the dreaded Kool-Aid and whole milk. Both were scrawny kids until PCOS hit when they were teens. Both have documented endocrine issues.

Are you on food program? One of my child development teachers (health/safety/nutrition for kids class) is also the director of the college's state preschool program (in CA) and said that according to food program you need to offer milk at least once with every meal (such a waste if they don't drink it and it goes bad) and that its non-negotable unless the child has a food allergy and needs soy milk instead. I think she also said that if they cannot have milk or a milk substitute that you cannot count them on your food program (which I think is rediculus if they will eat everything else). One of my other teachers said that the reason has to do with years of milk lobbiest trying to make it mandetory in ECE schools/programs because of the calcium. Thats all fine and dandy but whose lobbying for the kids that cannot digest milk or soy (allergies/lactose intalorance)? And what about the parents who don't want their kids to have dairy either for religious or personal reasons but cannot bring their own food and the provider can only afford to feed them if they are on food program?

[sharlan]

Are you on food program? One of my child development teachers (health/safety/nutrition for kids class) is also the director of the college's state preschool program (in CA) and said that according to food program you need to offer milk at least once with every meal (such a waste if they don't drink it and it goes bad) and that its non-negotable unless the child has a food allergy and needs soy milk instead. I think she also said that if they cannot have milk or a milk substitute that you cannot count them on your food program (which I think is rediculus if they will eat everything else). One of my other teachers said that the reason has to do with years of milk lobbiest trying to make it mandetory in ECE schools/programs because of the calcium. Thats all fine and dandy but whose lobbying for the kids that cannot digest milk or soy (allergies/lactose intalorance)? And what about the parents who don't want their kids to have dairy either for religious or personal reasons but cannot bring their own food and the provider can only afford to feed them if they are on food program?

No I am not on any food program. The ONLY reason I switched to 1% is when I had my inspection last summer, my analyst asked about my milk and reminded me that I could only serve 1%. I'm not about to buy two different milks, so my family was forced to switch. Since I had a class A citation, I expect another inspection this year.

[mom2many]

I too am in CA & had a visit from licensing last July for my tri annual visit. We discussed the 1% milk for children 2 & over, but I was told that it was up to the provider's discretion if we chose to continue using the whole milk for those "under 2 yo of age."

Because my own family prefers whole milk and I personally believe it is very beneficial to younger children, I will continue to buy both kinds of milk. It's a pain having to have both kinds and having it take up room in the fridge, but I'm trying to make it work!

[renodeb]

Our food program has us switching to skim after one year. I hate that we have to switch, I think its rediculous!

[Play Care]

Our food program has us switching to skim after one year. I hate that we have to switch, I think its rediculous!

They could have changed it, but I thought the AAP recommended whole milk for children under 2 because they need that fat for brain development? I don't think the food program should be allowed to make that type of directive.

[safechner]

I HATE whole milk! I refused to drink whole of my life but I only drank the whole milk once and it tastes yuck like it is too much fat in there. I only drink 1% or 2% with chocolate milk when I grew up and I turned out fine.

I finally love to drink skim milk after my second daughter was born and it tastes much better than whole milk. don't drink that much but I only drink a lot of water and tea. I gave my daughters to drink the whole milk until they were two years old. They don't drink milk very much now because they like to drink a lot of water, orange juice, apple/vegetables juice, and 2% milk with/without chocolate (rarely). They are not crazy to drink any soda at all, which is good. They are healthy kids!

[Unregistered]

I HATE whole milk! I refused to drink whole of my life but I only drank the whole milk once and it tastes yuck like it is too much fat in there. I only drink 1% or 2% with chocolate milk when I grew up and I turned out fine.

I finally love to drink skim milk after my second daughter was born and it tastes much better than whole milk. don't drink that much but I only drink a lot of water and tea. I gave my daughters to drink the whole milk until they were two years old. They don't drink milk very much now because they like to drink a lot of water, orange juice, apple/vegetables juice, and 2% milk with/without chocolate (rarely). They are not crazy to drink any soda at all, which is good. They are healthy kids!

My sister is like that, she says drinking whole milk is like trying to guzzle yogurt through a straw I personally do not believe we need nearly as much milk as they would have us believe and no one should be drinking that much dairy after 2 anyway. There are other, better ways to get calcium.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

My sister is like that, she says drinking whole milk is like trying to guzzle yogurt through a straw I personally do not believe we need nearly as much milk as they would have us believe and no one should be drinking that much dairy after 2 anyway. There are other, better ways to get calcium.

I completely agree.

[Meeko]

Drives me batty having to buy 3 kinds of milk at the store!!! The food program says whole milk until age 2 and then 1%.

My family loathes 1% as it tastes like watered down milk. So I end up buying 1%, 2% AND whole.

I always thought it was stupid to insist on 1% for the kids. They go from here to McDonalds anyway.....

[clep]

My sister is like that, she says drinking whole milk is like trying to guzzle yogurt through a straw I personally do not believe we need nearly as much milk as they would have us believe and no one should be drinking that much dairy after 2 anyway. There are other, better ways to get calcium.

I don't believe we need any milk period, or that it is at all healthy for our bodies. We are the only species that breastfeeds past the weaning period and we do it from another species via commercial breast pumps. Strange to me how many people do not question that at all.

I don't provide dairy products at all in my dayhome. We get calcium other ways. I also would not join a food program that required me to provide dairy. I know too much about the detrimental effects dairy has on the body.

[Blackcat31]

Are you on food program? One of my child development teachers (health/safety/nutrition for kids class) is also the director of the college's state preschool program (in CA) and said that according to food program you need to offer milk at least once with every meal (such a waste if they don't drink it and it goes bad) and that its non-negotable unless the child has a food allergy and needs soy milk instead. I think she also said that if they cannot have milk or a milk substitute that you cannot count them on your food program (which I think is rediculus if they will eat everything else). One of my other teachers said that the reason has to do with years of milk lobbiest trying to make it mandetory in ECE schools/programs because of the calcium. Thats all fine and dandy but whose lobbying for the kids that cannot digest milk or soy (allergies/lactose intalorance)? And what about the parents who don't want their kids to have dairy either for religious or personal reasons but cannot bring their own food and the provider can only afford to feed them if they are on food program?

According to my food program coordinator "offering" means asking if the child would like milk. If the child declines, then I don't pour it and there is no waste. If the child is too young to answer, then I would not fill the cup completely and only offer a small amount. If they drink it, I would add more.

Also soy milk IS a credible, accepted and ok substitute for those children who can't have milk. We are not required to have a special diet statement in order to serve soy milk.

For families who have religious and/or personal reasons for restricting specific foods, they are always free to bring their own foods if a provider is unable to afford to meet their dietary needs.

But, if there are special dietary needs based on personal or religious reasons and the family has a special diet statement filled out by their Doctor, the food program will reimburse the provider.