Parents play a key role in ensuring their children meet the daily requirements of calcium intake, according to a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The report also states that most children and adolescents are at risk for bone fractures and osteoporosis later in life due to low calcium consumption when they’re young. Three servings of low-fat milk, cheese or yogurt, or up to 1,300 milligrams of calcium depending on age, are recommended each day to build strong bones.
“Parents and caregivers often know the importance of calcium, but aren’t sure how to incorporate it into their child’s diet,” said Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian at Dairy Council of California. “Since dairy foods provide 70 percent of calcium in the Western diet, finding ways to include more dairy can make a difference in a child’s long-term wellness and bone health.”
Garen’s suggestions include:
• Find ways to work more dairy into the diet: Offer a child yogurt or cereal with low-fat milk for breakfast, and string cheese and flavored milk as a snack.
• Serve as a child’s role...