How do I get dairy into 10 year old son?

Question

My oldest son will not eat any dairy products. No milk, cheeses, yogurt, nothing. He has been like this since he was about 15 months old. He quite often says that his ankle hurts, or his arms and his legs. Could this really be his bones because he does not get any calcium? I can get him to have the odd drink of milk if I put chocolate in it which at this stage I do just to get him to drink it.

How can I encourage him to eat more dairy if he truly does not like it? He is a very fussy eater at the best of times.

Thanks

Answer 1

Here are some other foods/drinks that contain calcium that you might want to try giving him

1. Orange juice

2. Jello pudding snacks - shockingly they do contain calcium

3. Tums - they can be used as calcium supplements

4. Ocean Spray cranberry juice

5. Red peppers

It could be that he is lactose intolerant. You might want to check with a doctor about this.  If so try getting him soy milk.

Answer 2

You should get his calcium levels tested, as well as other bloodwork with a physical exam. I would be so worried he was nutritionally deficient.

I've never heard of a boy who didn't like pizza, cheeseburgers or lasagne!

Let him drink as much chocolate milk as he wants! My son likes the YOP yogurt drinks, they taste like smoothies.

Answer 3

here's a list of food with calcium in it. the website below has portion size and how much of the portion has calcium.

orange juice w/added calcium, tofu (with calcium sulfate), waffles (made w/milk), macaronie and cheese, english muffin (whole wheat), pudding made w/milk, cheese pizza, frozen yogurt, broccoli, ice cream, cottage cheese, almonds, french toast (made w/milk), oatmeal w/added calcium

Answer 4

Calcium Gummy Vitamins. My daughter loves them. She takes the regular ones though.

http://www.gummybearvitamins.com/product...

They sell the big bottle at Costco for around $12.

Answer 5

The pain shouldn't be from not getting enough calcium, but he could have something else going on.  If it's persistent pain I would bring it up at his next doctor's visit.  This is how some patients describe the pain resulting from cancer--but don't let me scare you.  It's very rare.  More likely, at this age, through the teenage years, kids often will complain of pain in their legs resulting from growth spurts.

I love all of the responses about calcium-rich foods.  Another technique is to mix cheese or cream/milk in with other foods.  Does he like pasta?  Find recipes that have cream in their sauces.  www.foodnetwork.com has many great recipes.

And shoot, don't feel like a bad mother if by putting chocolate in his milk it's the only way you can get him to drink it.  It's pretty important that he get enough calcium in his diet.  

Does he like pizza?  You can make him pizza on a pita round with sauce, a little bit of frozen spinach, and whatever other toppings he'll eat.   Sometimes I will cut up broccoli into minuscule pieces then sprinkle just a few at first onto the pizza.  If my son doesn't notice or doesn't complain I put more on the next time I make it.

Another good resource is Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook, Deceptively Delicious.  She basically teaches you how to puree some healthy veggies, and how to incorporate them into really delicious dishes (they're all easy too!).  And take it from me, a super picky eater--they're actually really good!

Answer 6

Get him calcium pills.  They even make them for children now.  

Also, there are non-dairy foods that give you calcium.  These are:  Salmon

Tofu

Rhubarb

Sardines

Collard greens

Spinach

Turnip greens

Okra

White beans

Baked beans

Broccoli

Peas

Brussel sprouts

Sesame seeds

Bok choy

Almonds

Answer 7

IF HE LIKE ORANGE JUICE THERE ONE THAT HAS CALCIUM IN IT. THERE ARE MANY PRODUCTS OUT THERE JUST KEEP SEARCHING.

Answer 8

gummy bear vitamins are always good... give him soy milk (has lots of calcium)

Answer 9

Make him take calcium pills

Answer 10

ICE CREAM!!!

Answer 11

If you knew how many hormones and anti biotics were in the food you were trying to get down him you wouldnt want it in his body. Put him on a calcium suppliment if your that worried or give him a fruit smoothie with chia seeds in it. Chia has 15 times more calcium in it than milk or dairy. People need to look into other options.  Dont you ever wonder why men have man b***s now days and are going bald at younger ages.

Answer 12

If your concern is calcium, give him calcium supplement. You could also buy orange juice that is calcium fortified.

Answer 13

I'm not a doc, but is he getting vitamin D?  A deficiency in this mineral can cause muscle pain.

One way to get dairy into your son is to make him smoothies.  Add milk to fruit and ice...yum!  :D

Answer 14

You will need to find other sources of calcium even if that means getting him to chew the calcium supplements.  There are other ways out there.  Some people are allergic to milk but they still get their calcium in.

Answer 15

Calcium is also in... So leave him alone...

Leafy green vegetables

Broccoli, kale, spinach



Fruits

Oranges



Beans and peas

Tofu, peanuts, peas, black beans, baked beans



Fish

Salmon, sardines



Miscellaneous

Sesame seeds, blackstrap molasses, corn tortillas, almonds, brown sugar

Answer 16

You need to take this up with his pediatrician.  Children do need a source of calcium and they do make supplements.  He does needs 16 ounces of milk a day that is the standard calcium intake for children not like it was years ago when they use to say 5 glasses a milk a day.  If his bones are aching it can be because of his lack of calcium or something else perhaps he is lactose intolerant and you do not know it and that is why he choses not to drink or eat it.  Hope this helps.