The Smart Ways…

8 Tricks to Sneak in calcium

1. Your child needn't drink just plain milk. Add some flavour such as cocoa, strawberry or vanilla to it. Serve milk as a milkshake or a smoothie.

2. Give your child a tall glass of calcium-fortified fruit juice for breakfast every day.

3. Encourage your children to snack on flavoured yoghurt. Send it as part of their tiffin.

4. Serve whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese as a treat.

5. Sprinkle cheese on top of  pastas, soups and pizzas.

6. Up their intake of vegetables and fruits - especially green veggies.

7. On grocery shopping excursions, look for calcium-fortified foods, including breads and cereals.

8. Think out of the box. Go for the new products in the market which have fortified calcium, equivalent to the amount contained in a glass of cow's milk.

How Much Do They Need?

Three daily servings of calcium will do the job for children aged 4 to 8 years; four daily servings will be sufficient for adolescents.

Choose Calcium

During childhood and adolescence, the body uses the mineral calcium to build strong bones. When children get enough calcium and physical activity during their childhood and teenage years, they build a calcium "bank" which ensures stronger bones in adulthood.

Along with calcium intake, ensure that your children get enough physical exercise, which is as important as calcium for stronger bones.

Also remember, your children will follow your footsteps. So be a role model. Make sure that you drink milk and eat enough calcium-rich foods to encourage your children to do the same. Instead of force-feeding, explain to them the health benefits of calcium.

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