Key stage 1
Nutrients in school milk
As well as calcium, a carton of mid–morning milk provides lots of other essential nutrients including protein, potassium, iodine, phosphorus and B–vitamins. It’s a powerful boost to meeting children’s nutrient needs; a carton of school milk will provide more than half of a five–year–old child’s calcium, phosphorus, iodine and vitamin B2 requirements and a third of their protein needs.
Protein
Needed for
- Maintenance of normal bone
- Muscle growth
- Muscle maintenance
- Normal bone growth and development in children
Calcium
- Normal growth and development of bones
- Maintenance of normal bone
- Maintenance of normal teeth
- Normal blood clotting
- Normal energy–yielding metabolism
- Normal muscle function
- Process of cell division
- Normal neurotransmission
Iodine
- Normal growth of children
- Maintenance of normal skin
- Normal energy–yielding metabolism
- Normal cognitive function
- Normal production and function of thyroid hormones
- Normal functioning of the nervous system
Vitamin B2
- Maintenance of normal skin
- Normal energy–yielding metabolism
- Maintenance of normal red blood cells
- Maintenance of normal vision
- Normal iron metabolism
- Reduction in tiredness and fatigue
Vitamin B12
- Normal energy–yielding metabolism
- Maintenance of normal red blood cells
- Reduction in tiredness and fatigue
- Normal psychological function
- Process of cell division
- Normal immune function
Percentage (%) of a primary school child’s nutrient needs* provided by a carton (189ml) of semi–skimmed milk:
| Nutrient | 4–6 years* | 7–10 years* |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B2 | 59 | 47 |
| Vitamin B12 | 100+ | 100+ |
| Calcium | 52 | 43 |
| Phosphorus | 52 | 41 |
| Iodine | 28 | 15 |
| Protein | 34 | 24 |
*Percentage nutrient needs met
All the milk provided in primary schools is semi–skimmed. Semi–skimmed milk has fewer calories and less fat than whole milk, and less vitamin A. But levels of other nutrients including protein, calcium, and vitamins such as vitamin B2 and B12 aren’t reduced. Breaktime milk is also a good source of fluid to help beat thirst and keep children well hydrated. If children are dehydrated they can feel groggy and irritable and their memory and concentration suffer.