One of the most common questions I am asked is about the dairy needs of toddlers. Technically, they don’t need cow’s milk or dairy products. They do however need the nutrients that milk provides, but you can get it into them in other ways besides cow’s milk.
Children between the ages of 1-3 need 500mg/day of calcium. You will get this from 1 cup yoghurt and 1 piece of cheese, or from 400ml milk, or from 1 tin of sardines (with the bones crushed up) +1/2 cup bokchoy. You can safely give them 5 times that.. so don’t worry if you are giving bubs more..
We don’t drink cow’s milk at our house, but I am entirely confident that my little one meets her calcium needs from other foods she eats. Like Goats cheese, fortified rice milk, almond milk, fish like salmon and sardines, green vegies,nuts, tofu, and chia seeds..
I’ve been making chia pudding and it contain around 6 times more calcium than milk by weight.
As for the other vitamins and minerals that milk provides, if your child is eating a varied diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and lean meats, as well as getting a bit of sunlight, then they’ll be getting everything they need!!
Chia pudding, or PUD as Bailey calls it, is such a simple dish to make, and soooooo versatile!!
Pop into a jar 1/4 cup chia seeds mixed 1/2 cup almond milk and a splash of vanilla extract. Shake the jar well and let it sit to plump up for about 1/2hr. Layer it in a parfait with granola, yoghurt and fruit, and it is super yummy!
xxxC