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whole milk for toddlers?
Started
by Kathryn Molino
on November 1, 2009
I wrote a post before about what to give my 13 month old instead of whole milk, the answer was soymilk; so I thouht. After doing some reasearch on that I found that there are a ton of estrogen in soymilk, and that's really bad. What should I do? She hasn't had any milk since I read the book which is about 2 weeks now. I need an answer or I will have no choice but to give her whole milk, and I really don't want to.
I don't have any kids but why are you giving her milk? I'd be concerned since there is a link between Diabetes Type 1 and dairy intake in children. Soy milk does contain phytoestrogens. I think in moderation things like soy milk are good but it'd really depend on the reasons you are giving her milk Commercial dairy milk is also full of hormones so I'm not sure that is any better in terms of hormones.
If not soy, there is rice, almond & oat milk. Hemp milk (Hemp Bliss) is excellent for Omega 3/6/Essential Fatty Acids, low in sugar, free of allergens (gluten, soy & nut-free, etc).
I also have a toddler and have been trying to gather information about the role of whole milk. Whole milk is an easy way to ensure that toddlers get the fat, calcium and protein they need for healthy brain and physical development. I also feel it comes with many negatives. Instead of whole milk, I am trying to include healthy fats (avocado, olive oil) in my child's diet, as well as experimenting with milk substitutes to ensure calcium and vitamin D (he has not developed my love for greens yet!). In a few months, I will introduce seeds and nut butters.
My toddler drinks coconut milk mixed with a food supplement she needs for health reasons. She is thriving on the coconut milk-favorite meal is coconut milk, baked sweet potatoe and avocado w.olive oil. She uses rice milk for her cereal and takes non-dairy vitamin D and veggie greens "vitamins" as well. I was convinced milke was a super food-and then found out my son was allergic to it. Still convinced, four years later I stopped nursing at 12 months and switched her over to whole milk-she was allergic as well.
My toddler drinks coconut milk mixed with a food supplement she needs for health reasons. She is thriving on the coconut milk-favorite meal is coconut milk, baked sweet potatoe and avocado w.olive oil. She uses rice milk for her cereal and takes non-dairy vitamin D and veggie greens "vitamins" as well. I was convinced milke was a super food-and then found out my son was allergic to it. Still convinced, four years later I stopped nursing at 12 months and switched her over to whole milk-she was allergic as well.
I don't have kids but I was a kid like 15 years ago and an extremely picky eater. One of the very few healthy things I liked was gerbers creamed spinach. Maybe try making something like that with no lumps at all with almond milk or something. That will pack some greens and stuff in there. If that works try with more greens. Also kids are naturally opposed to bitter things for evolutionary reasons (alton brown said so)because they can be poison and sweet means energy and growing, so try to make veggies sweeter by roasting and pick mild not bitter ones. Or add nut milks to bitter greens like spinach.
I have 2 children. My daughter is almost 3. She's been drinking rice milk since she was a year old. I get the original rice dream, fortified with calcium and vitamins. Not the vanilla because it has added sugar. My son, who is 11months old has been drinking some rice milk for 2 months now. I purposely chose ricemilk because my children eat alot of tofu and soybeans. My daughter drinks hemp milk on occasion as well. They are the picture of health! It's perfectly fine to give them rice milk. Hope that helps.
Either coconut milk or avocados. Both are pretty comparable to whole milk nutritionally. If you just need a beverage at the dinner table rice, hemp, or almond milk is fine. We also supplement with under the tongue vitamin D drops.
Soy does not work for some people, they may be sensitive, dairy is always a bad idea to give to any child.
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