"No Thanks on the Milk, Mom"...
When kids don't like milk
by contributors: Ed Main, Editorial Staff
Are
your kids or 'tweens' saying "no thanks" when
it comes to milk? Obviously, you know the importance
of calcium in their diets during this pivotal time in
their lives. But, how can you get the message through
to someone who "already knows everything"?
Spending time with them discussing health matters is
not only educational, but allows you some quality time
together. It also shows kids you care for them, which
will always be in the back of their minds as they go
through the next decade of massive body and emotional
changes. So, what do you say and how?
First of all, it is important to know the facts yourself.
According to reports, most of us, including your children,
may not be getting enough calcium. Building bone mass
during adolescence is essential for healthy bone density
in later life, as low bone density can lead to problems
such as osteoporosis, a debilitating disease affecting
millions of Americans.
Powerful
Girls
Because of the complexity of the female
body, bone health issues tend to be more prevalent in
women. By age 20, the average woman has attained
most of her skeletal mass and by age 30 bone density
has peaked. Girls who consume sufficient calcium and
regularly participate in vigorous physical activity
are more likely to develop stronger, more dense bones.
Yet many girls may well be on the "no milk"
kick, preferring soft drinks or water.
Luckily,
there is help
The National Bone Health
Campaign, or NBHC, is a multi-year crusade to promote
optimal bone health in girls 9-12 years old. By educating
young girls (as well as their parents, teachers, coaches,
youth ministers and medical professionals) at an early
stage, the NBHC can help reduce their risk of health
issues, including osteoporosis later in life.
The NBHC helps educate on areas such as:
- The risks of bone health related diseases
- The adequate amount of calcium in their
diet
- The relationship between healthy eating
habits and health issues
- The proper amount of bone-building physical
activities
The NBHC features the use of innovative games and
nutrition quizzes that appeal to girls 9-12 years
old, as well as a plethora of information for parents
and others on the 'Powerful
Bones. Powerful Girls.' web site.
Help Carla solve the Crazy Calcium Caper and print
a Powerful Girl Calendar for FREE! (the new game "Super
Sleuth" kept me busy for a quite a few minutes! -
how good are you?)
Boys
will be Boys
Of course, boys have bones too and are certainly
at risk for many of the same health issues. Reports
show that 7 out of 10 boys fail to get enough calcium
in their diets. We found some more games and puzzles
boys may like, featuring Bo Vine, the cow
at the NICHD Web site
(sponsored by the National Institutes
of Health and the National Institute of Child Health
& Human Development)
Did you know? Purdue University held a special six-week
Camp Calcium for boys aged 13-15 in 2001 to educate
them that they need calcium as much as girls. Read
More about it here
Purdue
Release
------------------------------------------------------
Good Calcium Snacks
Here are some fun ways to help make
sure your kids get their needed calcium:
-Smoothies: Give them a tropical
treat made with fat-free yogurt and frozen pineapple
chunks or sneak some low-fat milk in there without
them knowing! Add ice cubes and blend, then serve
with crazy straws!
-Grab N Go: Mix
a blend of dried fruit, yogurt-covered nuts and whole
grain cereal in a plastic cup and hand it to your
kids on the way out the door. String cheese is
one of the best nutritious but fun products to hit
the shelves in the last decade. Wrap one inside a
whole grain tortilla for an added variation. How about
a homemade pudding pop?
-Go-Gurts, Ice Cream and Pizza (oh my!):
You gotta love those Go-Gurts for a squeeze of goodness.
Ice cream is a must during the summer and even pizza
adds calcium. For a more nutritious pizza, try adding
pineapple or veggies on top and use a low-fat cheese.
-Fruity
Ka-Bobs: Create fruit kabobs using wooden
skewers and dip into chilled flavored yogurt and melted
chocolate. Yum! Add cheese to the ka-bob for a double
dose of calcium
-Fruit Juices: A quick trip to the
local supermarket will show you that there are plenty
of calcium-fortified juices out there on the shelves.
Brands we noticed in particular include Mott's
PLUS For Kids' Health, Apple & Eve, Minute Maid, Hansen's
Junior Juice (featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog!)
and of course, the quintessential Yoo-Hoo drink.
-Treats!: There are several options
for chocolate and candy related treats chock-full
of calcium including: Adora
Calcium Chocolates. More kid-related
vitamins are listed at the Nutrition.About.com
site
For More Information-
The NBHC is sponsored by The Center's for Disease
Control and Prevention, National Osteoporosis Foundation,
and the Department of Health and Human Service's Office
on Women's Health and can be found online at http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/partners/index.html
More on Osteoporosis-
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects
10 million Americans, most of whom are women. An additional
18 million Americans already have low bone mass, osteopenia,
which places them at increased risk. Osteoporosis
can cause crippling fractures and a resultant loss
of independence. Early intervention is vital because
adolescence is a critical period for bone growth.
For more on Osteoporosis check out: http://www.nof.org/
All names and trademarks are copyright of their perspective
companies and are used only for informational purposes.
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