The Best Sources Of Dairy For Toddlers

Most toddlers don't have much trouble meeting their dairy requirements every day

. If your child likes milk, it's easy enough to get all of the dairy he needs every day just from a cup. Not every child is a lover of milk, however, and in some cases you might need to look to other dairy foods to fill your toddler's needs.

A toddler needs about 3-4 servings of dairy products a day. Dairy is the best source of calcium for toddlers, and it also provides much needed fat for brain and eye development. When choosing dairy foods for your toddler, at least until age two, be sure to stick with full fat versions. After two, it's ok to try low-fat dairy products for your child.

Wonderful Yogurt

Yogurt is an excellent snack or breakfast food for toddlers that provides a full serving of dairy in about half a cup. As an added bonus, mixing fresh fruit into yogurt adds a serving of fruit too, so you can get one of the 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables your little one needs every day.

Yogurt is a great source of probiotic cultures, the good bacteria that help regulate digestion and keep your child healthy. It's one of the few natural food sources of these important bacteria. Best of all, most kids love yogurt! Buy it in large containers and add your own fruit for the healthiest and most economical option. Again, until your child turns two, stick with whole milk yogurt.

The Goodness of Cheese

Cheese is a great source of calcium and most toddlers love it, but beware; it doesn't take much cheese to provide a serving of dairy! It's very easy to go overboard on cheese and provide more calories than necessary. A three quarter ounce portion of cheese provides a serving of dairy for a toddler.

Cheese can be eaten alone, or with crackers for a tasty snack. It can also be added to all kinds of dishes. Pizza, lasagna and other cheesy pasta dishes easily contain enough to provide a serving. Be on the lookout for imposters though - real cheese only please! Cheese is also a very versatile food because there are so many possible options available with a wide variety of different tastes and textures. Change up your toddler's cheese on a regular basis to help her see the world beyond cheddar and mozzarella. Monterey jack, Colby, Swiss and Muenster are all cheeses your kids will love, and the list doesn't end there.

Another great thing about cheese is that it has a magical ability to make other foods taste better. A cheese sauce can convince the pickiest toddler to try her vegetables! Cauliflower baked with cheese is a great healthy replacement for macaroni and cheese.

Other Sources of Dairy

Of course, there are also other ways to get dairy into your toddler's diet. Try cottage cheese, or top foods with sour cream. Cream cheese on crackers or a bagel is another delicious source of dairy.

Luckily, most dairy foods are pretty appealing to toddlers, so it isn't usually much of a challenge to get the right number of servings every day. Even if you have a child who loves to drink milk, consider replacing one of those cups of milk each day with a different dairy option. Too much milk can be hard on a toddler's system, so mix up the dairy choices with these other delicious ideas.

by: EeLynn Lee

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