How much milk should a child have?
Milk is not a dietary essential. It is a convenient source of protein, calcium and Vitamin D; however it has no iron. Three to four dairy servings a day of milk, cheese and yogurt will cover the calcium needs of growing children. A child filling up on dairy products (more than 24 oz/day) may not have a good appetite for the other food groups and may be at risk for iron deficiency anemia. Children who will not take milk should get their calcium from other sources including the calcium-fortified juices, greens, broccoli, dried beans and supplements. How much juice should a child have? Juice is not a dietary essential. It has relatively little nutritional value and plenty of calories. Its sweet taste is notorious for destroying appetite for anything other than sweets. I think of juice as a snack and prefer it be limited to 8 oz per day. Your pediatrician may recommend greater quantities of juice if your child has constipation. What about children who won’t drink water? Most children will
