Eat Right: How much milk should your child drink?

As much fuss as children might make about drinking milk, it is essential during their growing-up years, says Dr Shiva Khurana, a child specialist at Max Hospital, Saket.

The health benefits of milk are known to all. The nutrient content in milk helps maintain healthy bones, regulate blood pressure, and maintain a healthy weight. And so, milk is a must for kids.

Drinking excess milk, however, can be harmful. “It is not recommended that a child fills his or her tummy so much with milk that they eat less. Too much calcium and casein, a milk protein, can block appropriate absorption of iron from other foods, causing iron deficiency and thereby anaemia,” cautions Dr Khurana, whose child is a student at Apeejay Rhythms Kinderworld, Greater Kailash.

Also Read: Eat Right: White sauce pasta to chilla, give these foods a healthy twist with millets

How much milk should you give your child?

Here’s how much milk your child should drink per day, as suggested by the doctor:

*Toddlers (12 to 23 months) should be given 1 2/3 to two cups of milk a day.

*Children between the ages of two and three can drink two to two-and-a-half cups of milk a day. Those between the ages of four and eight can drink two-and-a-half cups of milk daily.

*Girls and boys between the ages of 9-13 and 14-18 should ideally drink three cups of milk daily.

Apart from milk, children can also be given dairy foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese which help maintain brain health and build bodies and bones, the doctor says.

What if your child cannot bear the taste of milk? “The alternative foods to milk are yogurt, custard, buttermilk, soyabean, cheese, sweet lassi, and eggs,” Dr Khurana recommends.