**Growing Bones... Which Milk?**

***Goal:*** The partners consider the importance of milk in their
child's diet and identify the best type of milk for their specific
child.

***Objectives:*** The partners will:

-   Consider milk as a necessary part of their child's healthy
    development.

-   Understand the differences between types of milk.

-   Select the best type of milk for their child.

***Handouts:***

-   Worksheet: **Reading Milk Labels**

-   Worksheet: **The Right Milk for Your Child**

-   Worksheet: **So, Which Milk is Right for Your Child?**

-   Worksheet: **Other Source of Calcium**

-   Handout: **Why Milk?**

-   Handout: **Milk, Soda, Orange Juice and Fruit Drinks**

-   Handout: **Lactose Intolerance and Milk Allergies**

***Background Information:***

Calcium is critical to our health because it helps to build strong bones
and teeth. And calcium is most important during the childhood and teen
years when it can have the most impact on growing bones. Even though
calcium is very important, studies show that most children and teens are
not getting enough of it in their diets. Low-fat or fat-free milk are
among the best sources of calcium.

***Lesson Plan:***

1.  Being a parent requires knowing what is best for your child even
    when they do not.

2.  Use the **Why Milk?** handout to explain the importance of milk to
    your partners.

3.  Use the **Milk, Soda, Orange Juice and Fruit Drinks** handout to
    explore the differences between milk and other drinks.

4.  Using the Reading **Milk Labels** worksheet, explain to your
    partners what they are looking for and which items are good for
    healthy children.

5.  Use the **Lactose Intolerance and**

> **Milk Allergies** handout to facilitate
>
> your partners understanding of
>
> children who get sick from milk.

*Does your child drink milk often?*

> *Do you think your child should drink milk?*
>
> *Do you know what milk does for your child?*
>
> *Is milk important for children?*
>
> *Do other drinks offer the same benefits as milk?*
>
> *Are sodas and fruit drinks healthy for your child?*
>
> *Did you know that there are different kinds of milk?*
>
> *Do you know the differences between types of milk?*
>
> *Does your child ever get sick after drinking milk?*
>
> *Do you think your child is lactose intolerant?*

6.  Use the **Right Milk for Your Child** worksheet to allow your
    partners to learn more about milk for their specific child.

7.  Use the **So, Which Milk is Right for Your Child** to have you
    partners select a milk for their own child.

8.  For parents whose children may be at risk of not getting enough
    calcium, use the **Other Sources of Calcium** worksheet to allow
    your partners to select other sources of calcium for their children.

> *Did you know different children should drink different kinds of
> milk?*
>
> *Do you know what type of milk you child should drink?*
>
> *Can you select a milk to serve at your home?*
>
> *Which type of milk will you serve?*
>
> *Did you know there are other sources of calcium besides milk?*
>
> *Would you be willing to serve some of these foods in your home?*
>
> *Which foods would you consider serving?*

**Why Milk?**

![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.875in" height="0.7305555555555555in"}Milk
has many important vitamins for healthy children. Milk helps children's
bones grow strong and avoid breaking.

Calcium

-   Calcium is a mineral in your body that makes up your bones and keeps
    them strong. 99% of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones
    and teeth.

-   1% of Calcium is in your blood and muscles. Without this tiny 1% of
    calcium, your muscles wouldn't work and your blood wouldn't clot.

Vitamin D

-   Vitamin D helps the body get calcium. Without vitamin D, bones can
    become thin, weak, soft, or deformed.

-   Vitamin D prevents skeletal diseases in adults and children that
    result in defects that weaken bones.

Vitamin A

-   Vitamin A is important for vision, bone growth, and reproduction. It
    helps our eyes, lungs, digestive track work.

-   Vitamin A also helps the skin and body parts which act as a barrier
    to bacteria and viruses.

![](media/image2.wmf){width="0.96875in" height="1.0833333333333333in"}

-   Vitamin A helps regulate the immune system, which keeps us from
    getting sick.

Milk has Calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A.

**Milk, Soda, Orange Juice, and Fruit Drinks**

It is important to consider how healthy you drink is. Different kinds of
drinks offer different amounts of vitamins and nutrients.

The chart below looks at milk, 1% chocolate milk, soda, diet soda, fruit
punch juice drink, and 100% orange juice. Protein, Vitamins A, C, and D,
and Calcium are the good stuff.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.25in" height="4.063194444444444in"}

**www.whymilk.com**

  --------------- --------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ----------
                  Fat Free  Chocolate   Soda      Diet Soda Fruit     Orange
                  Milk      Milk                            Punch     Juice

  Serving Size    8 Ounces  8 Ounces    12 Ounces 12 Ounces 8 ½       8 Ounces
                                                            Ounces    

  Calories        80        160         150       0         130       110

  Fat             0%        4%          0%        0%        0%        0%

  Carbohydrates   4%        10%         14%       0%        11%       8%

  **Protein**     **16%**   **17%**     **0%**    **0%**    **0%**    **0%**

  **Vitamin A**   **10%**   **10%**     **0%**    **0%**    **0%**    **2%**

  **Vitamin C**   **4%**    **4%**      **0%**    **0%**    **0%**    **150%**

  **Vitamin D**   **25%**   **25%**     **0%**    **0%**    **0%**    **0%**

  **Calcium**     **30%**   **30%**     **0%**    **0%**    **0%**    **2%**
  --------------- --------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ----------

**Reading Milk Labels**

It is important to know the difference between various types of milk.
Depending on the age of your child one kind of milk may be better than
another.

First, we will look at how to read a milk label. Important parts of the
label are highlighted.

***Whole Milk*** ***Skim Milk***

![](media/image4.png){width="6.375in" height="3.53125in"}

**What is the Serving Size? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ What is the
Serving Size? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**How many Calories are in a serving size? How many Calories are in a
serving size?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**How many Calories come from Fat? How many Calories come from Fat?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**How much Total Fat is in a serving size? How much Total Fat is in a
serving size?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g**

**How much is Saturated Fat?­­­­­­­­­­­­­\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g How much is Saturated
Fat?­­­­­­­­­­­­­\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g**

**How much Cholesterol is in a serving size? How much Cholesterol is in
a serving size? size?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g**

**How many Total Carbohydrates are in a How many Total Carbohydrates are
in a**

**serving size?\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g serving size?\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g**

**How much Sugar is in a serving size? How much Sugar is in a serving
size?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_g**

**How much Vitamin A is in a serving size? How much Vitamin A is in a
serving size?**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_% \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_%**

**Lactose Intolerance and Milk Allergies**

Some children get an upset stomach went they drink milk or eat anything
made from cow's milk. They may be considered lactose intolerant. This
just means they have a hard time digesting milk or dairy products. A
fewer number of children are allergic to milk. The symptoms of each
problem are listed below.

**Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance**

![](media/image5.wmf){width="1.125in" height="1.445138888888889in"}

1.  **Gas**

2.  Diarrhea

3.  Bloating

4.  Nausea

5.  ![](media/image6.wmf){width="1.1756944444444444in"
    height="1.25in"}Cramps

A child may have 1 or more of these symptoms about 30 minutes to 2 hours
after having dairy products.

**Symptoms of a Milk Allergy**

**Skin Symptoms:**

-   Itchy red rash

-   Hives

-   Eczema

-   Swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat

-   Allergic \"Shiners\" (black eyes)

**Stomach Symptoms:**

-   Abdominal pain and bloating

-   Diarrhea

-   Vomiting

-   Gas

-   Cramps

> **Other Symptoms:**

-   Runny Nose

-   Sneezing

-   Watery and/or Itchy eyes

-   Coughing

-   Wheezing

-   Shortness of Breath

**What to Do?**

Lactose intolerant children can usually drink small amounts of milk. Try
serving milk in cereal. Also, Lactaid milk is a good source of calcium
and does not make lactose intolerant kids sick.

Children with milk allergies should not drink milk at all. These
children must get their calcium from other sources.

**[The Right Milk for Your Child]{.underline}**

Answer the questions below to help you decide what type of milk is best
for you own child or children.

![](media/image7.wmf){width="1.125in" height="0.8319444444444445in"}

1.  How old is your child or children?

> \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Children under 2 years old should probably be drinking whole milk.
> These children need the extra fat in whole milk to grow.

Children over 2 years old can begin to drink lower fat milks like 1% or
skim milk.

![](media/image8.wmf){width="0.8541666666666666in" height="0.90625in"}

2.  Does your child fuss when he or she is asked to drink milk?

> YES NO
>
> Yes: Some children seem to just dislike milk. These children may be
> willing to drink chocolate milk. Low-fat chocolate milk only has about
> 60 more calories than white whole milk, so active children can burn
> the extra calories.
>
> Overweight children should stick with low-fat or skim white milk, but
> they still need the calcium in milk.

3.  Do you think your child may be lactose intolerant?

> YES NO
>
> ![](media/image9.wmf){width="0.7916666666666666in"
> height="1.1354166666666667in"}Yes: Lactose intolerant children can
> often drink milk in small amounts. Try serving milk in cereal. If your
> child cannot drink milk at all you may try lactaid milk, which has all
> the calcium and vitamins found in regular milk, but does not make
> lactose intolerant children sick. Try different dairy products in
> different amounts so that your child will still get calcium.

4.  Do you think your child may have a milk allergy?

> YES NO
>
> Yes: Children who are allergic to milk should not drink milk at all.
> However, calcium can be found in other foods. Many leafy vegetables
> can provide the calcium your child needs.
>
> Put an X in the box next to the milk you would like to give your
> child.
>
> ![](media/image10.png){width="1.0590277777777777in"
> height="1.625in"}**Skim Milk**
>
> **Good Source of Calcium**
>
> **without the Fat in**
>
> **whole milk.**
>
> ![](media/image11.png){width="1.4166666666666667in"
> height="1.7083333333333333in"}**1% Milk**
>
> **More Calories and Fat**
>
> **than skim milk, but**
>
> **still a healthy source**
>
> **of calcium.**
>
> ![](media/image12.jpeg){width="1.28125in" height="1.375in"}**Whole
> Milk**
>
> **Good source of**
>
> **calcium for children**
>
> **up to 2 years old.**
>
> ![](media/image13.jpeg){width="1.03125in"
> height="1.5520833333333333in"}**Lactaid Milk**
>
> Calcium substitute for
>
> children who are lactose
>
> intolerant.
>
> **Other Sources of Calcium**
>
> Some children do not get enough calcium through milk alone. Children
> who do not drink enough milk or cannot because of lactose intolerance
> or a milk allergy need to get calcium from other sources.
>
> The foods in the picture below are good sources of calcium. Circle
> foods which you would feed your child to make sure they get the right
> amount of calcium.
>
> ![](media/image14.wmf){width="1.1666666666666667in"
> height="1.2708333333333333in"}Leafy Vegetables
>
> Dried Fruit

![](media/image23.wmf){width="1.375in" height="1.0083333333333333in"}

![](media/image24.wmf){width="1.0in" height="0.8020833333333334in"}