Dairy
Move to low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt (or lactose-free dairy or fortified soy versions).
What foods are included in the Dairy Group?
The Dairy Group includes milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free milk and fortified soy milk and yogurt. It does not include foods made from milk that have little calcium and a high fat content, such as cream cheese, sour cream, cream, and butter.
More About the Dairy Group
Note: Click on the top row to expand the table. If you are on a mobile device, you may need to turn your phone to see the full table.
*These are general recommendations by age. Find the right amount for you by getting your MyPlate Plan.
| Daily Recommendation* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | 12 to 23 months | 1⅔ to 2 cups |
| Children | 2-3 yrs | 2 to 2½ cups |
| 4-8 yrs | 2½ cups | |
| Girls | 9-13 yrs | 3 cups |
| 14-18 yrs | 3 cups | |
| Boys | 9-13 yrs | 3 cups |
| 14-18 yrs | 3 cups | |
| Women | 19-30 yrs | 3 cups |
| 31-59 yrs | 3 cups | |
| 60+ yrs | 3 cups | |
| Men | 19-30 yrs | 3 cups |
| 31-59 yrs | 3 cups | |
| 60+ yrs | 3 cups | |
| Amount That Counts as 1 Cup in the Dairy Group | |
|---|---|
| Milk |
1 cup milk 1 half-pint container milk ½ cup evaporated milk 1 cup calcium-fortified soy milk 1 half-pint container calcium-fortified soy milk |
| Yogurt | 1 cup yogurt (dairy or fortified soy) |
| Cheese |
1 ½ ounces hard cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Parmesan) ⅓ cup shredded cheese 1 ounce processed cheese (American) ½ cup ricotta cheese 1 ¼ cup cottage cheese 2 ounces Queso fresco 2 slices Queso blanco |
Why is it important to eat/drink dairy?
Consuming dairy products provides health benefits — especially building and maintaining strong bones. Foods in the Dairy Group provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Health Benefits
Calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients at any age. Intake of dairy products that contain these nutrients help to:
- Improve bone health especially in children and adolescents, when bone mass is being built.
- Promote bone health and prevent the onset of osteoporosis in adults, most of whom do not get enough of these nutrients.
For those who choose not to consume dairy products
For individuals who choose dairy alternatives, fortified soy milk and yogurt - which have calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D added - are included as part of the Dairy Group because their nutrition content is similar to dairy milk and yogurt.
Other products sold as “milks” but made from plants (e.g., almond, rice, coconut, oat, and hemp “milks”) may contain calcium, but they are not included as part of the Dairy Group because their nutrition content is not similar to dairy milk and fortified soy milk.
There are calcium choices for those who do not consume dairy products, though they are not part of the Dairy Group. The amount of calcium that can be absorbed from these foods varies.
- Calcium-fortified juices and calcium-fortified plant-based milk alternatives such as rice milk or almond milk
- Canned fish (sardines, salmon with bones)
- Tofu made with calcium sulfate
- Tahini (sesame butter or paste)
- Some leafy greens (collard and turnip greens, spinach, kale, bok choy)
For more information, see the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025: Food Sources of Calcium.
Food Group Gallery
Curious about the foods in the Dairy Group? What does a cup of dairy looks like? Check out the Food Group Gallery! This is also a great resource if you're trying to move to fat-free or low-fat dairy or you want to bump up the variety with something new.
Soy milk, lactose-free milks, queso blanco... they're all waiting for you in the Food Group Gallery!
