Sweet, fruit-flavored milk drinks with attractive packaging are becoming a popular beverage for many young children. However, parents should be cautious about giving them to children regularly because many products contain relatively high amounts of sugar, low protein content, and are especially unsuitable as a replacement for regular milk or main meals.
According to recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), plain water and milk remain the more suitable choices for young children, while sugary or fruit-flavored drinks should be limited.
High sugar content can easily lead children to develop a preference for sweets.
According to Healthy Children , the AAP states that many fruit-flavored milks or milk-and-fruit juice blends contain added sugar to make them sweeter and more palatable for young children.
Consuming too many sugary drinks can increase the risk of tooth decay, overweight, obesity, and cause children to develop a preference for sweets from an early age. Some children may also skip meals or dislike eating natural foods because they are accustomed to the strong sweetness of canned drinks.
The AAP recommends that children 2 years and older limit their added sugar intake to under 25g per day. Meanwhile, many fruit-flavored drinks can contain a fairly high amount of sugar in just a small carton.
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Fruit-flavored milk drinks may trick children's taste buds, but they are high in sugar and low in nutrients. (Illustration: Freepik) |
Protein content is usually lower than regular milk.
Many parents believe that fruit-flavored milk, being made with both milk and fruit, is more nutritious. However, in reality, many products have a very low milk content, with the main ingredients being water, sugar, flavorings, or concentrated fruit juice.
This means that the protein, calcium, and other important nutrient content may not be equivalent to that of fresh milk or infant formula. According to the Chinese Nutrition Society, young children need to ensure they get enough high-quality protein from milk, eggs, meat, fish, and a balanced diet to support their physical development.
Prone to nutrient deficiencies
Many parents see their children drinking 2-3 cartons of fruit-flavored milk or nutritional drinks every day and think their children are getting enough nutrients. However, becoming dependent on these drinks can lead to the following problems for children:
- Reduces appetite
- Eat less vegetables, meat, fish, and fresh fruit.
- Lack of fiber and high-quality protein.
- Nutritional imbalance.
Some children develop the habit of drinking instead of eating, especially during periods of poor appetite. This can affect their height, weight, and long-term development.
It should be considered a snack, not a replacement for a main meal.
According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), fruit-flavored milk isn't bad, but it should only be used as a snack or occasionally as a change of pace for children.
Parents should not use this type of beverage to replace breakfast, main meals, or completely replace their child's daily milk. This is because children are in a developmental stage and need to be provided with sufficient protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals from a diverse diet.
In addition, drinking sugary drinks before meals can make children feel full quickly, reduce their appetite, and affect the amount of food they consume at main meals.
Children should not be given too much to drink each day.
Experts recommend that parents control the amount of fruit-flavored milk their children consume each day, especially for children under 2 years old.
Instead of giving children drinks regularly, parents should prioritize:
- Low-sugar or sugar-free milk
- Water
- Fresh fruit
- A balanced diet with a variety of foods.
In addition, parents should also help children become familiar with the natural taste of food instead of relying on overly sweet drinks.
Source: https://znews.vn/can-nhac-khi-cho-tre-uong-sua-trai-cay-post1653073.html
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