Calcium for Baby and Toddler

Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in our bodies. It is essential for all living things, in particular for your growing baby/toddler. Your little one needs calcium to help grow healthy bones and teeth and for good general health. Suggested daily intake of calcium for the average toddler can range from 500 to 1,000 mg a day. This means that even though they drink almost a gallon of milk a week, we still need to find other ways to add calcium to their diets.

Dairy products are the most conspicuous high-calcium foods. Yogurt, milk, soft and hard cheeses are easy to add to any diet. Prepare a grilled cheese sandwich (on whole grain bread) for lunch. Throw a yogurt or cheese stick in your diaper bag to serve an an afternoon snack. Add cheese to a scrambled egg or mix cottage cheese with some peas and banans for lunch. Most of this is pretty intuitive for a mom.

The greater challenge is to find non-dairy alternatives that are high in calcium. Here are some foods that you may be surprised to learn contain calcium: blackstrap molasses, tahini (sesame seeds), broccoli, oranges, beans, figs, seewead, and sardines. Instead of a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch how about a hummus (made from chickpeas and tahini) and roasted red pepper sandwich. Cut up an orange for an afternoon snack or try one of Baby Flava's favorites; figs with (or without) parrano cheese. If you are brave, try sardines on toast. On the other end of the spectrum, molasses is an ingredient in many sweet treats like spice cookies, muffins, and banana bread. For a special occasion make your little one some ginger snaps. This short list of high-calcium foods offer the opportunity to get creative and of course add nice variety (another essential ingredient) to your child's diet.

One other important note, as many of you know Vitamin D is essential in aiding in the body's absorption of calcium. Taking your toddler out into the sun for fifteen to thirty minutes a day will allow them to soak up their Vitamin D from the sun and is a great way to get out some of their excess energy.

- Mama Flava -