Do your children really drink 16 oz milk a day (or equivalent)?
Ever since we weaned our 18-mo-old form the bottle, it's been a struggle getting his 16 ounces of milk (or equivalent). He just doesn't want to see milk at every single meal (which is understandable), and recently he hasn't been a huge fan of cheese. We pack yogurt for him every day at daycare, but I think he's getting sick of it.
Our pediatrician says he's still too young for calcium supplements, so I'm struggling to get him his calcium every day. Haven't tried orange juice plus calcium yet (we have kept him away from juices for the most part and sticking with fruit). And are trying veggies with more calcium.
For those with kids around the same age, are your kids getting the recommended amount of calcium?
4 Answers
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When my son was this age, he was getting most of his milk in sippy cups in the morning when he woke up and with story time before bed (6-8oz in each cup). Not so much with meals since we didn't want it to hurt his appetite. But we would still offer milk throughout the day.
I remember reading once about the amount of calcium in grean leafy vegetables, if he's willing to eat broccoli or have spinach mixed into things. Supposedly leafy greens have tons of calcium that can be absorbed by the body even better than milk.
Also get calcium from tofu and quinoa.
Good luck! And it really helped me to assess my kids eating not on a day to day basis, but rather in 3-4 day intervals. Because there are some days when it felt like all he would want is to drink milk and nothing else.
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If your concern is calcium, focus on calcium, not milk.
You can get it with any kind of dark, leafy greens (a little sauteed kale cut up small and mixed in with his food will do it). Or grind up some canned anchovies (including the bones) and add to spaghetti sauce. You'll get more ABSORBABLE calcium from either of these than from milk - other proteins in milk prevent the calcium in it from being fully absorbed, and keep in mind that the emphasis on milk as a source of calcium comes from the dairy council, and their lobbying.
As the wife and mother of lactose-intolerant people, trust me, you don't need to cram them full of milk. And remember that it takes around 10 times of introducing new foods for the average toddler to try them. So kust be persistent.
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I know this isn't too helpful, but I just offer this as a data point and as a literal answer to the question of "Do your children really drink 16 ounces of milk a day?" Yes. Both my children love milk, and drink two 8oz sippy cups a day on average. They ask for juice but unless they're sick they usually get milk or water.
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I'm sure this makes me look like a bad almost-parent, but if the kid dislikes leafy greens, is sick of yogurt, really needs the calcium and you'd like them to get it from milk, what about frozen yogurt or mix-in's with milk like ovaltine or a bit of chocolate?
I think I'd try chocolate or vanilla milk first.
- Stephen M., Oct 28, 2010
Wow, in the morning and before bed, the best I can get out of him is 3-4 oz (on a good day). We recently just started him on a children's sized cup, and he seems to be interested in learning how to use it, so he's drinking some with breakfast and dinner. But I know that's only temporary.
And leafy greens? Sigh. He used to eat broccoli - now he won't touch anything green.
Thank you!
- Evelyn, Sep 21, 2010