Kids and Calcium: Is Your Child at Risk for Osteoporosis?

Learning good sources of calcium is the first step. Getting your kids to eat them is the next. Try these suggestions to boost your child's calcium intake:

• Add flavorings to milk or serve hot chocolate made with low-fat milk
• Serve yogurt, pudding made with milk, string cheese, or a bowl of cereal at snack time
• Drizzle melted cheese on vegetables and baked potatoes
• Serve smoothies made with fresh fruit and yogurt for a cold treat
• Blend a milkshake made with low-fat milk and fruit or milk flavoring
• Sprinkle shredded cheese in scrambled eggs
• Top whole wheat or multi-grain crackers with cheese
• Set out yogurt as dip for fresh fruit
• Slice apple wedges and serve with cheese
• Serve salads including greens with sprinkled cheese on top
• Add dark green leafy vegetables to salads and casseroles such as lasagna or baked ziti
• Roll a slice of cheese and low-fat lunch meat in a tortilla—add greens or yogurt dressing and vegetables
• Heat quesadillas made with cheese and add vegetables or grilled chicken as desired
• Blend low-fat frozen yogurt, calcium-fortified orange juice, and a few ice cubes to make an orange smoothie
• Freeze yogurt or pudding made with milk in popsicle containers
• Use yogurt in place of mayonnaise or sour cream in some recipes
• Add powdered milk to baked products
• Use milk instead of water when making pancakes, hot cereals, and soups