Dairys Role In The Diet

  • 3 min read February 26, 2020

Dairy

Dairy has a positive impact on the U.S. diet. Dairy products can help consumers of all ages — children, adolescents and adults — meet the recommended daily intakes of nutrients.


Consumption data supports dairy’s nutrient value

This collection of charts, key points and data tables, not available elsewhere, provides support to marketing messages on dairy's important place in the diets of Americans.

Mother and daughter drinking milk

Daily servings

Average daily servings of dairy foods and food mixtures made with dairy by age group
Tables of daily servings are shown for total dairy, milk and cheese and food mixtures made with milk (e.g., puddings, sauces) or cheese (e.g., pizza, macaroni and cheese) for ages 2 years and older, 2 to 18 years, 2 to 8 years, 9 to 18 years, 19 years and older, 19 to 50 years and 51 years and older.
Mother and daughter grocery shopping for dairy

Key points: nutrient intakes from dairy foods

These messages compare daily nutrient intakes with the recommended amounts and highlight the contribution of key nutrients from dairy foods. Age group-specific messaging is available for:


2 to 8 years 
Messages about daily nutrient intakes compared with the recommended amounts and the contribution of key nutrients from dairy foods in the diets of children ages 2 to 8 years old.

9 to 18 years
Messages about daily nutrient intakes compared with the recommended amounts and the contribution of key nutrients from dairy foods in the diets of children ages 9 to 18 years old.

19 to 50 years
Messages about daily nutrient intakes compared with the recommended amounts and the contribution of key nutrients from dairy foods in the diets of adults ages 19 to 50 years old.

51 years and older
Messages about daily nutrient intakes compared with the recommended amounts and the contribution of key nutrients from dairy foods in the diets of adults over 50 years old.

Key points: consequences of removing dairy foods

These messages highlight the impact on nutrient intakes if dairy foods were removed from the diet. Age group specific-messaging is available for:


2 to 8 years
Messages about the impact on nutrient intakes if dairy foods were removed from the diets of children ages 2 to 8 years old.

9 to 18 years
Messages about the impact on nutrient intakes if dairy foods were removed from the diets of children ages 9 to 18 years old.

19 to 50 years
Messages about the impact on nutrient intakes if dairy foods were removed from the diets of adults ages 19 to 50 years old.

51 years and older
Messages about the impact on nutrient intakes if dairy foods were removed from the diets of adults over 50 years old.