1 - 2 Years

Click to download a handy quick reference sheet for the beverage guidelines. (pdf)

Recommended

• For children aged 1-2 years; whole milk
• For children ages 24+ months; 1% or fat-free milk
• Water with no added sweeteners

Limit

• 100% fruit and vegetable juices (with no added sweeteners) to no more than 1/2 cup (4 oz.) per day.

Not Recommended

• Soft drinks
• Sports/energy drinks
• Sugary beverages including fruit based drinks with added sweeteners that contain less than 100% real fruit juice, sweetened iced teas, punch, etc.
• Artificially sweetened beverages including diet soft drinks, teas, lemonade, etc.
• Caffeinated beverages

Portion Size

Item	Meals	Snacks
Water	Exempt from portion limit
100% Fruit & Vegetable Juices with no added sweeteners	No more than 1/2 cup (4 oz.) per day
Milk	Whole milk for children 12 to 24 months 1% or fat-free for childen 24+ months 1/2 cup (4 oz.) during meals for children 1-2 years old	1/2 cup (4 oz.)

Rationale

Why milk?

• Low calcium intake is one of the more significant nutrient deficiencies identified in Healthy People 2010. Milk and milk products are high in nutritional value and provide calcium,protein, and Vitamin D for bone growth and development.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the daily consumption of milk, cheese, yogurt, and other calcium-rich foods to help build strong bone mass in all growing children and adolescents.

Why whole milk for children younger than 2 years old?

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends serving whole milk to children under 2 years of age.
• Whole milk provides some fats that are necessary for early growth and brain and spinal cord development.

Why 1% or fat-free milk for children aged 2 years and older?

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends serving 1% or fat-free milk to children aged yearsand older.
• 1% and fat-free milk contain as much calcium and Vitamin D as 2% and whole milk without the extra calories and saturated fat.

Why limit juice?

• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting juice to one 4-ounce serving a day in younger children.
• Excessive juice consumption may be linked to overweight or obesity.
• Excessive juice consumption is associated with tooth decay and diarrhea in children.
• Whole fruits and vegetables are preferred to juice because they provide nutrients and fiber that may be lost in the processing of juice.

Why are sugary beverages not recommended?

• Sports and soft drinks are generally high in calories and low in nutrients.
• Consumption of sugary beverages is associated with:
  • Calcium deficiency because sugary beverages displace milk.
  • Overweight or obesity.
  • Tooth decay.

Why no diet beverages or artificial sweeteners?

• Children have little tummies and while diet and artificially sweetened beverages have few calories,they may displace the intake of more nutritious drinks such as or fat-free milk that children need in order to grow.

Why no other food or drink in the bottle?

• By age 1, all children should be drinking exclusively from a cup.
• Tooth decay is linked to using a bottle after 12 months of age.