Q: After trying for 6 months, my 2-year old daughter refuses to drink milk or eat yogurt.  I’m worried that she’s missing out on nutrients by not drinking milk.  Can you please let me know what the impact of her not drinking milk is and provide some suggestions as to what I should be providing her via vitamins and/or food to make up for any deficiencies? 

A: The most important nutrients in milk are calcium and vitamin D.  Milk also has potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A and B vitamins but those are not difficult to find in other foods.  At age 2 your daughter only needs 500mg of calcium daily.  Because 1.5 oz of cheese contains 300mg, 2 ounces of cheese would almost get her there.  See this list for nondairy sources of calcium.

You can also try fortified orange juice and smoothies with yogurt/milk.  But because your daughter is only a toddler, I would continue to offer her milk with meals and with her cereal.  When she gets older her calcium needs will go up and dairy is a great way to help her meet her needs.

Even kids who drink milk may not get enough vitamin D so talk to her pediatrician about supplementing with vitamin D ( 400IU).  I like the Carlson D drops because you can just put it in food or drink and it has no taste.

I plan to talk more about the calcium needs of kids and adults in my upcoming “Nutrients Even Healthy Kids Miss” series.

The information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not take the place of medical advice. Please verify with your healthcare provider.

What’s new on RaiseHealthyEaters.com?
I just added new Toddler Nutrition pages to the resources section. Here you’ll find basic nutrition information including the “what” and “how” of toddler feeding:

–Feeding Toddlers from 12 to 24 Months
–Feeding Toddlers from 2 to 3 Years Old
–Toddlers’ Daily Meal Guide
–6 Strategies to Get Your Toddler Eating

In the News!
Vitamin D deficiency common in moms and their newborns. According to a new study, one third of new moms and over half of their newborns were found to have low levels of vitamin D. Scientists now link inadequate vitamin D to increased risk of cancer, autoimmune disorders, diabetes (type 1 in children) and heart disease. Ask your doctor and pediatrician about supplementation.

Reminder! The AAP has increased its recommendation for breastfed infants from 200 IU the first few months of life to 400 IU the first few days of life. They also recommend 400 IU of vitamin D for older children drinking less than 4 cups of milk per day

How to choose a chicken. This LA Times article reveals the tastiest chickens from organic to conventional.

Taking folic acid one year before conception reduces the risk of preterm birth.This study is another reason to pop folic acid if you are capable of becoming pregnant (remember half of pregnancies are unplanned!).

The how-to Farmers’ Market guide. This Chicago Tribune article provides key strategies for getting the most out of your local farmers’ market.

Why we cook dinner.Many of us grew up minimizing the importance of preparing meals, that is, until we realized someone had to feed our children! The writer, Michelle Singletary, explains how she began to fully appreciate – and enjoy—cooking for her family.

When teens go vegetarian is it a sign of an eating disorder? A recent study shows that while vegetarian teens may eat healthier, they are also at higher risk for developing unhealthy eatings behaviors.

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