The recommended dairy intake varies depending on your age and gender, however, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend children and adults consume around three serves of dairy or alternatives each day, including milk, yoghurt and cheese, or calcium enriched alternatives such as soy, rice or oat milk. The recommended serves per day of milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives ranges, from 1½-2 serves a day for children up to 8 years old to 2½-3½ serves a day for older children and adolescents; 2½ serves a day for younger adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and from 3½-4 serves a day for older adults, particularly women².

A serve of dairy provides the goodness of calcium, protein and energy, dairy’s nutrients are particularly important for older adults, yet research suggests this group currently consumes just one in four recommended daily serves³.

¹ National Health and Medical Research Council. Eat for health: Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra: Australian Government; 2013
² ABS; 2016. Australian Health Survey: Consumption of Food Groups from the Australian Dietary Guidelines, 2011-12. Cat 4364.0.55.012. Available: www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.012main+features12011-12