In children's daily diet, milk is an essential source of nutrition. However, the question "should I let my child drink milk before or after breakfast?" still makes many parents wonder.
Should not drink milk instead of breakfast
According to Dr. Joanna McMillan, a nutritionist in Australia, giving your baby milk before breakfast can make them feel fake full and reduce their food intake afterwards.
Milk is rich in protein and fat. When children drink a glass of saturated milk before meals, they often eat less, leading to a deficiency in essential nutrients from a variety of foods, says Ms. McMillan.
Some parents have the habit of giving their children milk to cover their stomach or even replace breakfast with milk, which is recommended by nutritionists.
Milk cannot completely replace a balanced meal. Children need to eat enough starch, fiber, vitamins and minerals from natural foods, Ms. McMillan emphasized.
Drink milk after breakfast: Optimizes absorption and development
Ms. McMillan said that drinking milk after breakfast for about 30 minutes to 1 hour is the ideal time. When the digestive system has started, milk will be absorbed better, without causing a feeling of fullness or nausea. In addition, drinking milk after meals also helps prevent mild hypoglycemia in children in the mid-morning.
Some notes when giving your baby milk in the morning:
- Do not mix milk with water that is too hot, avoid losing nutrients.
- Children should not drink milk on an empty stomach, especially children under 3 years old.
- For children with lactose intolerance, they can replace it with non-lactose milk or plant milk (such as almond milk, oat milk, etc.).
Note
Milk is an important supplement but should not be used as a complete substitute for breakfast. To help children develop comprehensively, parents should give their children a full breakfast, then for about 30 minutes, add a glass of milk, both to help them absorb well and to maintain energy for learning and playing activities.
