Most Young Children Shouldn ’ t Drink Plant-Based Milk, New Health Guidelines Say

(CNN) — Most children under the age of 5 should avoid plant-based milk, according to new health guidelines about what young children should drink. Plant-based milk made from rice, coconut, oats or other blends — with the exception of fortified soy milk — lack key nutrition for early development, according to guidelines released on Wednesday by leading health organizations. They should also avoid diet drinks, flavored milks and sugary beverages and limit how much juice they drink, the guidelines said. Plant-based milk is made from rice, coconut, oats or other blends that lack key nutrition for early development, according to the Healthy Eating Research guidelines. The recommendations come from a panel of experts with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. Family Focus: What Our Kids Are Drinking Limiting plant-based milk was a key change based on drinking trends. “In the last five to 10 years there has been an explosion of interest in plant-based milk. More and more parents are turning to them for a variety of reasons and there’s a misconception that they are equal somehow to cow or dairy milk, but that’s just not the case,” said Megan Lott, who helped develop the recommendations as the deputy director of the Healthy Eating Research. She said most plant-based milk doesn’t deliver enough of the key nutrition, like v...
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