Milk

**little_O** · April 17th, 2014, 08:24 PM

So I have always been of the opinion that full cream milk is the way to go.

I get organic non homogenised full cream milk for us all.

I know that dieticians say that after age two that a child should have low fat milk, but I figured the more natural state the better....

But, dd1 seems to take after dh's family who tend to battle with the weight. Dh has to be pretty strict to keep it off, which he does. She has the same figure as my mil. I'm worried she is going to have weight issues the same as them. Should I be swapping to low fat milk when she turns 2 or will it really make no difference?

I am trying to balance the natural state of eating vs weight issues.......

**Teeki** · April 17th, 2014, 08:34 PM

I think at her age, you're really not going to know what hey body shape will be as she grows up. And full fat vs low fat milk will make up just a tiny part of it.

If it does start to become an issue in future I'd focus more on modelling healthy eating habits overall, rather than switching milk.

**Jaycee** · April 17th, 2014, 09:00 PM

I think she's a little young to be worrying about body shape!

From what I've learnt, full fat milk is better for everyone, as low fat milk may be low in fat but is actually high in sugar.

**little_O** · April 17th, 2014, 10:19 PM

Thanks I'll keep going how we're going. The reason I was concerned was one the child youth nurses mention about low fat being better if she has a genetic disposition to weight gain.

She loves eating raw veggies and fruit and eats what we eat for dinner so I know she isn't getting a junk intake.

Guess I'm not used to worrying about diets but I hear it all from DH's side and then I worry.

**Teeki** · April 17th, 2014, 10:28 PM

The hearing it from hubby's side thing would worry me the most to be honest. No child needs to grow up worrying about weight and body shape, so I'd be asking that none of them discuss it around hey and try to instill positive self-worth and body image instead.

I get the genetic thing. My Nana has always been overweight, from babyhood to now. So has my Dad, but my Uncle wasn't. But I do believe lifestyle can overcome it, and something small like a change from full-fat to low-fat milk wouldn't have made a big difference

**meow** · April 18th, 2014, 01:05 AM

I would never cut down to low fat milk. The milk you buy sounds perfect.

I would look at reducing/eliminating refined and processed carbs.

**onthefly** · April 18th, 2014, 09:36 AM

All milk from the supermarket is reformulated, none of it is any more natural than the rest, it's just a question of how much fat they put back in when they stick the bits together again.
Weight-wise I highly doubt that it's going to make much difference. the overall balance of diet and lifestyle - ie, active or sedentary - will have a much bigger impact, surely, than whether or not the milk you have has x or y % of fat in it (It's not like it's a big component in overall diet).

**~clover~** · April 18th, 2014, 01:43 PM

Of my 4 children, dd2 is a little different. Her body shape is more like my sister, MIL & grandmother. I do worry she'll grow up like my sister - the only child/person in the family who naturally & easily puts on weight, while the rest of the family is naturally slim. I'm worried more about her mental health than her physical looks. She already struggles so much :/
But my sister is happy & quite healthy. Still not 'skinny' (I hate that word) even though she's seriously dairy intolerant & has none in her diet at all.

Dd also craves carbs & it is a struggle to get her to eat fruit & veggies. But we all play lots of sports, keep active & focus on being HEALTHY. Being active & eating well is being healthy, it has nothing to do with weight.