Expert Q&A
My 8-year old daughter doesn’t like to drink milk. What else can I feed her to increase the amount of calcium she is getting?
The recommended daily allowance of calcium for children 4 to 8 years old is 800 mg, and there are plenty of foods that your daughter can eat to achieve this intake without drinking milk.
Yogurt or cheese are alternative calcium sources, and some non-dairy foods contain calcium, including many green vegetables (e.g., spinach and broccoli) and a variety of beans (e.g., green, white and navy beans). Soy milk, calcium-fortified orange juice and many breakfast cereals have plenty of calcium too.
Look for other calcium-enriched or calcium-fortified products by looking at the statements on the fronts of packages at the store. And be sure to check the nutrition facts panel to see how much of the daily value of calcium a product provides.
Chavanne Hanson is a registered dietitian and a nutrition consultant at Nestle U.S.A.
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