Contribution of Dairy to Nutrient Intake in the Western Diet

Milk and dairy products play an important role in providing nutrients in both Western and developing countries. Most research in this area focuses on the intake of individual nutrients from food products, like dairy products. However, nutrients are not consumed, and do not function, in isolation. Looking at nutrient intake from the perspective of whole food products, or even whole dietary patterns, may be a more suitable way to quantify the contribution of dairy to the intake of nutrients. A mathematical approach, the nutrient-rich food score, is explained and discussed in this chapter. Such models could in the future even be extended beyond nutrition (e.g., including sustainability or cost parameters) to even better guide healthy eating habits for consumers.