Dairy consumption is an ever present theme in the consultations on infant feeding. Surely you too at some point you’ve made any of the following questions: “My son does not drink milk, what? “” It’s like taking yogurt? “,” How much cheese can you eat? “. Here are the answers to these and other questions. When we talk about milk as a food group, we are including milk and only two of its derivatives: yogurt and cheese. These three products provide good quality protein and are the main source of one of the most popular nutrient: calcium. This mineral is essential to ensure the formation of bones and teeth.
Hence its importance in feeding the children. Children, like adults, should eat a sufficient amount of milk to meet their calcium requirements. But how much calcium they need each day? The RDA for this mineral vary by age: 1-3 years: 500 mg. of calcium in the day. Two servings of milk are sufficient to achieve this amount. Some options are: o Two cups of milk. o A cup of milk + one cup of yogurt.
yogurt or a glass of milk + dessert (rice pudding, flan). o A small piece of cheese (30 g) + a glass of yogurt. From 4-6 years: 600 mg. of calcium daily. In the above tips you can add some cheese or milk preparation: white sauce or cream sauce, ricotta, some fully or partially prepared cereal with milk. In 7-10 years: 700 mg. of calcium per day. At this stage, three servings of dairy is recommended. You can choose the combination of foods you like. Here are some examples: Two cups of yogurt or dessert + Two cups of milk or milk + one cup of yogurt or a cup of milk + one cup of yogurt + a piece of cheese The variety of dairy products and their presentation, is growing: flavored milk, desserts, yogurt smoothies, drinkable, fruity, various cheeses. Among the many options provided is possible to meet calcium requirements of children while respecting their preferences. The key is to satisfy your appetite with pleasant food while nutritious.