calcium strategies and side dish recipe

M is still choosing water over milk most meals, so the easy way of getting plenty of calcium is not happening right now. I continue to not pressure- though it is tempting!

Here are a few ways I'm 0ffering dairy/milk in yummy ways.

•She is eating more cereal with breakfast.

•We enjoy whole wheat crackers like Wheatables or TLC with whipped cream cheese and fruit for snack.

•Oatmeal with milk and a splash of evaporated milk.

•Muffin-tin easy gratins (above right) now easier and more calcium!

More calcium Potato Gratin minis (adapted from Melissa d'Arabian)

prep time 10-15 (with a preschool helper) cooking time 40

Ingredients

* Vegetable spray

* 2 large potatoes or 4-5 smaller ones, roughly peeled and thinly sliced

* 1/2 cup grated cheese (I've done Jarlsberg and cheddar- any mildish cheese should work...)

* 2 green onions, finely chopped (I use the softer parts of a small leek which I usually have in the fridge)

* Salt and freshly ground pepper

* evaporated milk (about half a can)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray 6 muffin tins with vegetable spray. Layer potato slices, cheese, and onions (leeks) into each muffin cup. (I do potato, leeks, cheese, potato, cheese on top...) Season with salt and pepper and pour enough evaporated milk to fill the muffin tin half way. Cover loosely with foil (I spray foil with veggie oil so the foil doesn't stick and pull off the cheese) and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Scoop them onto plate and serve. We ALL love these!!!

And today we had a "tea party" with her tea set. (It was given to her at age 2, but she wasn't ready for it so I put it away and she got it again this Christmas...)

We all had tea. M LOVED the ritual of pouring herself a little tea, then a lot of milk and stirring in some sugar. Yes, there is a little caffeine in the tea, but I figure British kids have been doing this for hundreds of years... My brother as a 3-year-old used to have "Kafe" with my mom. A tiny bit of coffee, lots of milk and some sugar. M felt really grown up and enjoyed having tea with us. She drank several milky cups! (Then had fun washing the cups in the sink.)