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SACRAMENTO—March 9, 2006 – Parents play a key role in ensuring their children meet the daily requirements of calcium, according to a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The report states most children and adolescents are at risk for bone fractures and osteoporosis later in life due to low calcium intake. Three servings of low-fat milk, flavored milk, cheese or yogurt, or up to 1300 milligrams of calcium depending on age, are recommended each day to achieve strong bone health.

"Parents and caregivers need help getting enough calcium into their children?s diets," said Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian at Dairy Council of California. "Since dairy foods provide 70 percent of calcium in the Western diet, finding ways to include more dairy can make a difference in a child's long-term wellness and bone health."

• Find ways to work more dairy into the diet: During breakfast, offer a child flavored milk, or encourage yogurt and cereal with low-fat milk. At lunch or dinner add milk instead of water when making soup, or serve pudding made with milk for dessert. Milk is a source of vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption. If a child is believed to be sensitive to lactose, try lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk. Yogurt or hard cheeses are naturally low in lactose, and cheese is an excellent snack during the day.
• Serve as a child?s role model: Children establish healthy eating habits early in life. If parents drink soda during dinner, a child will soon follow their parents' lead. If healthy eating is not important to a parent, then it will not be important to the child either.
• Insist on family meals: Eating meals together at home as a family on a regular basis will encourage consumption of higher amounts of important nutrients such as calcium since parents have more control over what their children eat.

Building good calcium consumption habits in adolescents is especially important, considering a recent 10-year study released in the February issue of The Journal of Pediatrics revealed soda consumption among adolescent girls almost triples as they become older, while milk consumption decreases by more than 25 percent. The research suggests that the fall-off in milk consumption may reflect the decrease in eating breakfast or increase in meals eaten away from home.

"This is a major concern because girls are drinking less milk, therefore getting less calcium, at a time when calcium intake is critical to build peak bone mass," said Garen.

Garen added that Dairy Council of California's meal planning Web site (www.mealsmatter.org) contains hundreds of free and easy, calcium-rich recipe ideas, including Chicken Crunchers (recipe attached). Parents can try this and other good-tasting recipes to help their children meet their daily calcium requirements.

There is also a "Calcium Quiz" interactive tool found on the site that will help parents determine what their family's daily calcium intake is, and provide tips on how to increase intake.

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Dairy Council of California develops nutrition education programs that are designed to be personally relevant to each user. This customization allows consumers to make decisions considering their unique needs, resulting in healthy food choices and contributing to optimal health. Healthy Eating Made Easier.

Editor's Note: A High resolution image of the attached prepared recipe is available by contacting Jessica Northrup at 619/296-0605, ext. 222.

Chicken Crunchers Ingredients 1 cup All-purpose flour       Salt       Pepper   4   Egg whites   1/2 cup   Milk   1 1/2 cups   Cornflakes   1 cup(4 oz.)   Reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese   6   Chicken breast filets; cut into strips       Non-stick cooking spray Preparation Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Set up three bowls with the following: 1) flour mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper; 2) an egg-wash; made by beating the eggs and milk together; 3) cornflakes mixed with cheese. Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Dip chicken pieces in flour, then into the egg-wash, then roll in the cheesy-flakes mixture, coating the entire piece of chicken and place on the baking pan. Discard any unused corn flake mixture after coating chicken. Bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even browning. Serve with ketchup, BBQ sauce or plain yogurt for dipping if desired. Total Preparation Time: 15 to 30 minutes Actual Cooking Time: 15 to 30 minutes Number of Servings: 6 Origin: American Special Features: Kids Love It Nutrition Content: Good Source of Calcium Source: www.3aday.org Nutrient Information 320   Calories   8 g   Total Fat   4 g   Saturated Fat   24 g   Carbohydrates   37 g   Protein   200 mg   Calcium   320 mg   Sodium   1 g   Fiber