{"id":3327,"date":"2011-06-27T16:19:53","date_gmt":"2011-06-27T08:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mytwogirls.net\/?p=3327"},"modified":"2011-06-27T16:19:53","modified_gmt":"2011-06-27T08:19:53","slug":"growing-up-milk-do-you-really-need-the-extra-sugar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mytwogirls.net\/?p=3327","title":{"rendered":"Growing Up Milk – Do You Really Need The Extra Sugar?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After realizing the sugar content in the girls\u2019 growing up milk<\/a>, I was really looking into switching the girls\u2019 milk.<\/p>\n

I started doing research on the web.<\/p>\n

There is a lot of information on the web about sugars in children\u2019s growing up milk from various milk companies. Most have stated their reasons on why sugars are added. I.e.
\n1) Children need carbo because carbo generates energy which is required for their rapid growth
\n2) Sugar is added for taste and what\u2019s added by milk companies is compliance with Malaysia’s Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation
\n3) Added sugars are from natural plant sugars
\n4) High lactose is not well tolerated by Malaysian children, therefore natural sugar is added instead of lactose <\/p>\n

However, these are my thoughts :
\n1) Sugars are sugars<\/strong>, natural plant sugar, natural sugar, they are basically the same. If I want the girls to have natural plant sugar, I would give them watermelon (a fruit which has the highest natural sugar) for example, and not what is added to their milk for whatever reasons. And to be honest, I won\u2019t give them watermelon every day, because of its sugar content, so why would I want to feed my children milk added with sugar every day, three times a day?<\/p>\n

2) I don\u2019t want the girls to develop a sweet tooth<\/strong>. I\u2019d tried a few brands of growing up milk, IT IS very sweet, overly sweet for my liking. <\/p>\n

3) I read on the net and also was told by a dietician, and got this – Under Malaysian food labelling regulations, the \u2018carbohydrate per serve\u2019 number in the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) on growing up milk is only made up of two things:
\na. Lactose<\/strong> which is sugar naturally present in the milk. The natural lactose level in a glass of standard milk is approximately 9g-13g per serve (200ml).
\nb. Sugars<\/strong> that are added to the milk powder. Anything higher than 9g-13g for \u2018carbohydrate per serve\u2019 in growing up milk is equal to added sugars<\/p>\n

So as parents, we have to make informed decision<\/strong> about getting what growing up milk for the kids.
\n1) Check your child\u2019s growing up milk powder pack\/tin \u2013 look only at 2 things.
\na. The ingredient list<\/strong> \u2013 corn syrup solids, sucrose, glucose syrup solids, these are all added sugars.
\nb. The carbohydrate per serve in the NPI <\/strong>\u2013 remember, anything above 11g-12g per serve (the lactose present in milk) is added sugars <\/p>\n

2) Taste the milk<\/strong>. I do that often when I want to introduce a new brand to my girls. If I find it too sweet or too artificial tasting (some milk tastes like plastic!), I won\u2019t consider.<\/p>\n

3) Talk to people<\/strong> (other parents, your paed etc), do your own research and find out more. <\/p>\n

For now, while still hunting for the right milk, Zara, being almost 7, has stopped drinking growing up milk but is on fresh milk now; as for Zaria, because she\u2019s still not 5, she\u2019s still taking her growing up milk. As fresh milk lacks the added nutrient, we are supplementing Zara with multivits. <\/p>\n

Once we\u2019d found the right growing up milk, both girls will be switched to that.<\/p>\n

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