Got Milk - Connecting with Kids

Got Milk

Milk. For babies it’s the food of choice. Parents push it by the bottle but in the teen years, kids are taking a pass on the glass preferring another taste. “I usually drink diet coke, sometimes water,” says 15-year- old Ashley. Fashion conscious girls have rejected the milk mustache for a more stylish look. “How fashionable is it to be seen with a carton of milk as opposed to a coke can,” says 16- year-old Susie.

It’s the worst possible preference for teenage girls. Dr. Bill Dietz with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says sodas, particularly those with caffeine, are pulling calcium out of bones at a crucial time of development.

Studies show that girls build their biggest store of calcium between the ages of 12 and 18. When they reject milk, broccoli, cheese, orange juice and other calcium rich products in the teen years, they increase their chance of developing osteoporosis in old age. Dietz says when it comes to osteoporosis, water’s a better choice than soda, because the phosphors in soda tend to pull calcium out of the bones.

Only 18 percent of adolescent girls get the recommended amount of calcium in their diet, an amount equivalent to four glasses of milk a day.

What Parents Should Know

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average calcium intake of adolescent girls is about 800 milligrams a day. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adolescent girls is 12,000 milligrams a day. Calcium is an important nutrient in the adolescent years, but kids need a balanced diet that delivers a broad range of nutrients in the years before and during adolescence. The USDA has established the following guidelines for kids under the age of 12.

Bread, pasta, rice and cereal: six servings per day.
Vegetables: three or more servings a day.
Fruit: two or more servings a day.
Protein: two to three servings a day.
Milk and cheese: two servings a day for one to three year olds, three servings per day for four to eight year olds, four servings a day for nine to 12 year olds.

Portion size always varies depending on the age of the child. Parents should also be sure to include fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A.

“How fashionable is it to be seen with a carton of milk as opposed to a coke can.”

Susie, age 16

Healthy Habits

Healthy habits in childhood may lead to life-long health as an adult. New research shows that by the time children enter elementary school many have bad health and eating habits that predispose them to illness as an adult.

The research suggests it is never to soon to teach kids good eating habits, the importance of a well-balanced diet and the importance of exercise.

Kids and Calcium

Calcium is crucial for proper formation of bones and teeth. Studies show that most of the bone mass or formation of the bones occurs in human beings by about age 20. Still, adults can continue to build bone density until between the ages of 30 to 35.

High bone density or high peak bone mass is thought to protect against fractures in later life and Osteoporosis. Studies show that girls, particularly adolescents and young women should increase sources of calcium. Dairy products including milk, yogurt, hard and soft cheeses are good sources of calcium. Canned fish, kale broccoli, beans and peas and calcium enriched grain products are also good sources.

Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.org	For more information on parenting issues contact us: Connecting with Kids