(HealthCastle.com) A mother of an 18-month old toddler wrote to us after reading our recent yogurt comparison article. She is aware that her toddler needs whole milk dairy products. However when she went out to shop for yogurt, she found numerous products labeled "low fat" or "fat-free" but could not find any that labeled "whole milk".
Check % MF (percent Milk Fat) on labels
Milk
% MF
Fat (g)
per cup
Whole
> 3.25 %
8 g
2% (Reduced-fat)
2 %
5 g
1% (Low-fat)
1 %
2.5 g
Skim (Non-fat)
< 0.5 %
< 0.5g
Bottom Line: You will often find % MF information on the label of dairy products. Percent Milk Fat (% MF) indicates the percentage of fat in grams (weight), not calories. If you are unable to find out which type of milk is used in making a yogurt product, check the % MF. As shown in the above chart, a yogurt product containing at least 3.25% MF indicates that it is made from whole milk.
Dairy for Toddlers: Other than whole cow's milk, goat's milk is an excellent alternative. Goat's milk contains more fat (10 g per serving), more calcium, less lactose and has an easier-to-digest protein profile. Regardless of goat or cow's milk, always choose pasteurized products.