How to make sure dairy free toddler gets enough calcium. She only drinks 200ml enriched chocolate coconut a day

[Florencemay0000]

And a small amount of soya yogurt. I'm really worried about her calcium intake. Does anyone have any calcium rich meal or snack ideas?

Green veg - things like broccoli are high in calcium.
Fish with bones in - like sardines
Nuts and seeds

Vitamin D is also important for absorbing calcium

I used to give my dd ready Brek as it is fortified with calcium. Be aware the box says 'not suitable for milk allergy sufferers', I understand this is because it is processed in the same area as the chocolate ready Brek. So not suitable if its allergy rather than intolerance.

Just remembered my dd would eat almond butter on toast or oatcakes, it has calcium in it.

Do you see a dietician? My DS2 had a prescribed liquid calcium supplement in a similar situation.
good luck with getting a toddler to eat a bucketful of broccoli

No dietician, I have been told to give her a pint of milk substitute a day and signed off

I will get some ready brek, maybe she would eat that mixed with soya milk, thank you

Also does anyone know how to get a toddler to eat tinned fish with bones?

I keep reading about fortified tropicana but cannot seem to find it in any supermarkets??

Maybe I'm lucky but both my kids love broccoli, they even eat cabbage.
We eat tinned sardines on toast, or the ones in tomato sauce mixed with pasta for a quick tea. We all love fresh grilled sardines too - a real holiday treat.

You can buy calcium and vitamin d enriched fresh orange juice, I think tropicana make it.

Use fortified milk to make a milk pudding for supper, porridge for breakfast.

Sardines I think are a good source, you could mash them with crime fraiche and ketchup and make sandwiches.

Steamed or raw brocolli and almond dip.

I've run out of suggestions, vitalite might be enriched too, eggs maybe although probably not.

I would see a GP if your worried and you can buy a multivitamin for kids with calcium and vit d by halibo-orange.

Requirement for toddlers is 700 mg a day, calcium enriched non dairy milk provides 240mg per 200ml serving. Would she drink calcium supplemented orange juice?

Sorry, cross posted with lots of others about the juice.

Tesco are selling the tropicana £2.48 bygof.

If your looking for the tropicana in supermarkets online search for calcium it brings up the fortified food first.

When you do the sardines on toast, do you toast the sardines? Sorry if that is a silly question!

I did try and buy it online (the juice) but it got substituted for the ordinary tropicana. I have been into tesco and sainsbury and they don't seem to stock it

If I could find it that would be brilliant as she loves fresh orange juice....

I used to make my DD custard/rice pudding etc every evening with the milk substitute. I mixed it with some fruit puree from a pot and she wolfed it down. Also Ready Brek as suggested for breakfast, or Weetabix, which soaks up a lot of milk.

Ready brek is excellent

Also the you can get calcium and vitamin d softies (like sweets basically)

Only just saw your question about the sardines. No I don't toast the fish. Just make toast then mash the sardines straight on.

Hope she likes them!

Tinned salmon has calcium but make sure you don't get boneless. Also, baked beans, fish fingers and cheerios have some calcium. So do Farley's rusks but make sure you get the reduced sugar ones otherwise she will be on a sugar rush!

Oh that's great I will save this thread there are some good ideas!

Just a couple of extra ideas - my DD was low on calcium (not allergic, just didn't like dairy type products) and was advised by the dietitian to have that orange juice others have recommended and also there is a bread called "best of both" I think which has extra calcium in itso great for toast, sandwiches etc. I think quite a few breakfast cereals also have calcium. We were also advised to give things with vitamin D in them (or give vitamin supplements) as vitamin D helps the body to absorb the calcium.

Our dietician recommended baked beans, one small can has 80mg. We make sure we have the 50/50 Best of Both types of bread, one slice gives 191mg.

She also has a calcium and vit D supplement, each chewy tablet has 250mg www.haliborange.com/products/haliborange-kids-vitamin-d-calcium-softies.

We have lots of broccoli and green beans and she has almond milk rather than coconut milk for a higher in protein and calcium.

At 6 she needs approx 450mg a day but I think we manage that fairly well, it will get harder as they get older and their daily requirement goes up.

These are useful leaflets:

www.nnuh.nhs.uk/viewdoc.asp?ID=752&t=Leaflet

www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/National/British%20Dietetic%20Association/assets/Calcium-Areyougettingenough.pdf

Have you checked how much you need to be aiming for her each day? Its good to know what you are working towards each day. The requirements below are according to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Daily Requirements
The amount of calcium you need varies at different stages of life.
Infants under 1 year = 525mg
Children 1 – 3 years = 350mg
4 – 6 years = 450mg
7 – 10 years = 550mg
Adolescents 11 – 18 years girls = 800mg
11 – 18 years boys =1000mg
Adults 19 years and over = 700mg
Breastfeeding =1250mg

Mash sardines in tomato sauce with potato and make fish cakes - child friendly