How to get fat, calories and calcium for DS who is off dairy???

[Marnica]

My 21 month old DS has a diary intolerance. I have tried giving him goat milk, but he is not a big fan and only will drink a few sips before throwing his sippy cup across the room and making a face.

He is down to only BF a tiny bit in the AM and PM. He is very small for his age (in the 5th percentile for weight). I am concerned that he is not getting the fat, calories and calcium that comes with drinking whole milk. I was thinking of trying raw milk (as that is usually tolerated in kids who have a diry sensitivity) but the only source around here is 20 min out of my way and it is very $$.Any mamas out there whose kids can't do dairy? What do you give them as a substitute?? Do I need to be giving him a calcium supplement??

[Sayward]

Dairy is actually not a great source of calcium because the proteins interfere with absorption. Phosphorous can interfere with absorption as well. (an example - http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/51/4/656)

There are tons of non-dairy sources of calcium including Blackstrap molasses, collards, soy beans/tempeh/tofu, navy beans, kale, bok choi, spinach, black beans, almonds, chickpeas, and sesame seeds/tahini. (the sesame seeds need to be crushed/blended to maximize absorption)

Have you considered green smoothies? You can get a lot of greens into a kid by blending them with fruit, hiding their flavor. If you present it right the greenness can be a big selling point to a little boy! =D

As far as fats/calories, you can get these without milk as well. Kids love avocados which are chock full of great fats. Coconut milk/coconut oil is also a great source of good fats. Cook liberally with olive oil instead of butter or other dairy. Slip flax oil into his oatmeal/porridge/etc. Nuts and nut butters are awesome delicious sources of excellent fats, and kids usually love them.

Avocados and coconut oil can also be hidden in green smoothies without changing the flavor. Nut butters are great in green smoothies but obviously, you have to make sure the flavors compliment the rest of the ingredients.

Good luck! I know it seems daunting but don't worry, a little practice and you'll have no trouble ensuring a high calcium, calorie rich diet for a non-dairy kid. =)

Luck!

[snowbunny]

A good homemade chicken or beef stock is extremely mineral-rich and easy to digest. Canned salmon is also a good source of calcium. For calories and fat, you could try coconut oil.

I'd caution you against soy and greens as a reliable source of minerals as they contain antinutrients, namely phytic and oxalic acids, which bind up minerals prevent their full absorption. That said, lightly cooking the greens and consuming only naturally fermented soy (if you eat it at all) will help to mitigate those effects.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Sayward

Dairy is actually not a great source of calcium because the proteins interfere with absorption. Phosphorous can interfere with absorption as well. (an example - http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/51/4/656)

There are tons of non-dairy sources of calcium including Blackstrap molasses, collards, soy beans/tempeh/tofu, navy beans, kale, bok choi, spinach, black beans, almonds, chickpeas, and sesame seeds/tahini. (the sesame seeds need to be crushed/blended to maximize absorption)

Have you considered green smoothies? You can get a lot of greens into a kid by blending them with fruit, hiding their flavor. If you present it right the greenness can be a big selling point to a little boy! =D

As far as fats/calories, you can get these without milk as well. Kids love avocados which are chock full of great fats. Coconut milk/coconut oil is also a great source of good fats. Cook liberally with olive oil instead of butter or other dairy. Slip flax oil into his oatmeal/porridge/etc. Nuts and nut butters are awesome delicious sources of excellent fats, and kids usually love them.

Avocados and coconut oil can also be hidden in green smoothies without changing the flavor. Nut butters are great in green smoothies but obviously, you have to make sure the flavors compliment the rest of the ingredients.

Good luck! I know it seems daunting but don't worry, a little practice and you'll have no trouble ensuring a high calcium, calorie rich diet for a non-dairy kid. =)

Luck!

I don't eat dairy and I do these things.

Coconut milk is a decent substitute for dairy, you can find coconut in the refrigerator section of NFS by the soy milks and such.

http://www.soydelicious.com/products..._beverage.html

I have been using that stuff a bit.

My ds is younger than yours and he loves beans, smoothies and hummus. You can also find coconut milk yogurt if you don't make yogurt.

[mama1803]

We do coconut milk, avocados, blackstrap molasses, olive oil, and hemp milk.

[kjbrown92]

If it's lactose intolerance, then raw milk usually works. If it's a milk intolerance, then raw milk will usually have the same effect as pasteurized. And many kids who can't have cow dairy, can't have goat dairy either. We do broccoli, spinach, salmon, and a lot of bone broth [you have to simmer the chicken bones for about 24 hours to get the minerals out of the bones and into the water] for calcium. And lots of good fats (avocado, coconut milk, coconut milk yogurt, etc.).

breakfast ideas:
millet porridge cooked in coconut milk
smoothie (fruit, coconut milk)
muffins made with coconut milk and fruit
bacon, sausage
pancakes or waffles (use alternative milk)
eggs fried in coconut oil
hard boiled eggs

[Marnica]

Thanks for the great ideas...I had not thought of coconut milk. I will look into that.

DS has a soy allergy so no soy!
He already eats alot of hummus, I cook with evoo and he eats spinach and avacados alot.

He doesnt eat alot of fish (including salmon. Most of the fish is contaminated with mercury and PCB's, although I just discovered that canned salmon is safer...wonder why that is??