Can I raise my kids without milk?

Question

I want to eliminate milk from my diet. I am now semi-vegetarian, I never eat beef, I eat chicken or fish a couple of times a week. my husband is not supportive of an all veg diet, so that's why I havent gone all the way. we have 2 kids aged 2.5 years and 11 months. Im still breastfeeding the baby, but not the toddler. can my children get enough calcium for their growing bodies without consuming dairy products? I know leafy greens have calcium in them, but is it realistically possible to feed my kids enough vegetables to replace the calcium they would be getting from milk?

AND as a side question, what do you think is the best tasting and most environmentally friendly milk substitute?

Answer 1

Kids don't need cow's milk.  They need a source of calcium and vitamin D.  If you are meeting their calcium and vitamin D needs with other foods (and, in the case of vitamin D, with sun exposure) then you don't need to worry about cutting out cow's milk.  Parents of children with milk allergies do it all the time.  Parents in parts of Asia do it all the time (and, counter to what most people would guess, the Asian countries with the lowest dairy consumption also have the lowest osteoporosis rates... guess which countries have the highest... yup, the ones like the US who have the highest dairy consumption.)

I assume your comment about tofu was directed at the individual who mentioned tofu in his answer.  You should know, however, that calcium-set tofu is an excellent source of calcium.  Quinoa is also; a cup of cooked quinoa has as much calcium as a quart of milk.

Personally, I like almond milk better than soy milk.  Those are pretty much the only varieties I've tried.  Never was a milk person, so I pretty much just cook and bake with plant milks.

Answer 2

Yes, of course you can.  It's unnatural for humans to drink the milk of another species.  Asians do just fine without milk for their children.

Answer 3

yes you can raise your kids without milk...  think about milk is the breast milk a cow makes for her baby cows to grow them into huge adult cows.  not necessary for humans.

why are you letting your husbands lack of knowledge on the subject adn stubborness dictate your diet?  it's your body, your life.... is he an expert?  you should teach him about the health benefits and ethics and why it's important to you.  he should support YOU.  even if he doesnt' want to change his diet, which is fine, you have the right to support your own diet.

as for the kids, this will have to be the compromise between you, but kids can be very healthy, in fact healthier on a veg diet.  just do the research on it first.  as for dairy, i actually like soy milk a lot better than milk.  i like the silk plain soy milk.

Answer 4

make sure you are in touch with a qualified nutritionist if you are to bring your children up on such an extreme diet--just to make sure that they are growing and developing as they should.your kids wont get enough calcium unless you are using soya milk at least--be careful--remember this is you choosing for them...not their choice............................

Answer 5

There are fantastic alternatives to milk that are extremely healthier then milk. The original alternative would be soy milk, but as a 13 year old, I've found Rice Milk to taste more sweeter, and more like milk then soy milk. Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, there is a staggering amount of milk alternatives. Your kids will be healthy if fed a nutritious amount of these alternatives, but yes, you can raise your kids without milk. Why do you think vegan kids are so healthy? :) I think it's amazing that you're semi-vegetarian, and I encourage you to go 100% vegetarian in the future. I know your husband loves you, but it's YOUR body. Let him know that YOU'RE the one going vegetarian, not him. :) Best of luck, doll.

Answer 6

This may not pertain much to your question since many people have answered it and I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to being semi/full/partial/w-e vegetarian... but I'm assuming you can't drink milk if you want to be a full vegetarian since it involves animals.  Well although I think being a vegetarian is absolutely stupid (however I won't rant, its your decision...), I'm also assuming you eat tofu, which I've heard to be a vegetarian food.

Now assuming this is true, and you wanting to eliminate milk... you would have to eliminate tofu from your diet as well because tofu is curdled milk.  So in a way you wouldn't be eliminating milk... you would just be having it in a different, not as healthy way.  This also goes with several other foods.  While it may not be exactly milk, it may still be some form of milk... you just don't exactly recognize it.

Also, another thing in my opinion:  Let your children choose to become vegetarian.  Some people enjoy meat (and there is no problem with it), so let your children decide what they want to do.  Don't eliminate something they could potentially love (especially when it is an easy way to get calcium and its something a lot of people enjoy), but let them grow up with it, and also offer them the alternatives to living a vegetarian lifestyle.  When they are old enough to make decisions let them choose what path they would choose.  Vegetarian or Meat/Everything style.... its there lives and they shouldn't be forced to do something that they have no real say on.

Answer 7

1.  There is no such thing as semi-vegetarian.  Vegetarians never eat animal flesh so there obviously cannot be a "semi" in there.  If you do not eat beef..you are just a non red meat eater...still an omnivore.  

2.  Milk is for baby cows.  Calcium can be found in many foods.  It's even in fortified orange juice and apple juice and lots of decent cereals.

I was just reading a post above.  Kids need milk???  Humans kids need to drink breastmilk from a cow?  That's ridiculous!

Answer 8

Absolutely!  There is added calcium is soy milk and added calcium in many more foods, like cereals and tons in child nutritional drink supliments like pediasure or nutri pals, which is milk and gluten free.  Dark leafy greens have a lot of calcium (not spinach):

Excellent sources of calcium include turnip greens, mustard greens, and collard greens.

Good sources of calcium include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, asparagus, and oranges

Whole Food Sources Serving Calcium (mg)

Sardines 3 ounces 372

Chinese cabbage, cooked 1/2 cup 239

Spinach, cooked 1/2 cup 230

Rhubarb, cooked 1/2 cup 174

Wild salmon, canned with bones 3 ounces 167

Kale, cooked 1 cup 122

White beans, cooked 1/2 cup 113

Bok choy, cooked 1/2 cup 79  

Broccoli, cooked 1 cup 70  

Pinto beans,

cooked 1/2 cup 45

Red beans, cooked 1/2 cup 41

Hope these help!

By the way, the only "kids" that should drink milk are goat kids.

Answer 9

Kids need lots of calcium.  You know that.   There's absolutely NOTHING WRONG WITH MILK!!!

Your kids NEED MILK!!!!   just because you can get calcium from other sources, THEY CAN"T!!!!!!

Don't deprive your children just because you're trying out a new diet!!!

Answer 10

There are a million substitues out there but I challenge you to ask yourself,

"I have just ranted about milk being too processed, so am I doing more harm or good by switching to 'milk' made from a bean?"

Talk about processed.  I also think you are misinformed about milk and if you are that concerned, buy organic.  Also, do some homework about soy milks and phytoestrogens before switching.  You may not be getting away from those "evil" hormones as much as you thought.

Answer 11

yah if u want them to die with arthritis ,u know how much cheese they would have to eat to equal to calcium in milk .. alot . let them be kids and drink milk?

Answer 12

Yes, of course, milk is not a magic substance that is the exclusive source of anything.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/bone...

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

ALMOND BREEZE is the best tasting over anything else.

Other almond milks are gross.

Leafy greens are not the only plant sources. If the kids won't eat anything else, they can get all of the calcium that they need from non-dairy milks.

If you get desperate, you could try giving them Silk Very Vanilla. It is really sweet almost like a vanilla shake but doesn't have many more clories than plain whole milk.

Answer 13

While the kids are not yet teenagers, I would avoid a milk free diet (for them, do what you want for you). Kids need milk, and while they are young, whole milk is better then skim too. Soy and rice milk is good for adults (some studies say that regular milk is not meant for adults anyway, only for young), but doesn't provide the same benefits for children.

Answer 14

milk isn't any better or worse than any other product from a cow/goat/sheep

the falacy that people say that animals don't drink other animals milk doesn't go into play here

its a known fact, that most hunting animals: wolfs, lions, even bears will specifically eat the udders of their prey and relish in it.  so I can't stand hearing about people saying its unnatural drinking milk.

Answer 15

soya milk is very good to replace it

Answer 16

Hi Mom - i am a Mom who raised 4 sons & 2 daughters.  i also read all the answers then decided to throw my 2 cents in since NO one mentioned................

CARROT JUICE!  OMG!  fresh carrot juice has a very high calcium comtent, anfd although i would not only give carrot juice for calcium it is really yummy and my kids got to where they would have carrot juice even in ceral ( little tough for me personally) but the kids loved it - i like my carrot juice mixed with wheat grass juice - which does tend to taste  a bit like your front lawn but is a great source of magnesium &  when combined with calcium carrot juice is super vitamin hit.  another source for minerals is sea veggies - extremly high in iron calcium, iodine.  education is the key here.  all my kids are grown and still veggies - the boys were lettermen in multiple sports & one daughter was a cheerleader & the other was a letter person in Track.  as far as the milk sub, i and the kids all agree "Silk" soya is very tastey - i really love the choc milk haha!  well hope this helps & thanks for trying to teach your kids to eat plant-based deit.  it is the healthyist for your body & the environment.