Is your child swapping milk for soft drinks?   by Eveline Gan     IF she was given a choice, 10-year-old Chloe Tan would rather have a can of carbonated drink than a wholesome glass of milk with her meals.   "Soft drinks taste nicer than milk. Milk is boring, unless it's in ice-cream," quipped the Primary 4 student.   Chloe's preferred choice of beverage isn't unusual among Singapore kids.   A new study on Singapore children's beverage consumption habits and attitudes has revealed that more than half of children aged seven to 10 years old are not drinking enough milk to meet their daily 500ml milk intake recommended by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).   For preschoolers aged three to six years old, 32 per cent are drinking less milk than recommended by the HPB.   Published in the Journal Of Pediatrics And Child, the study was led by Associate Professor Daniel Goh from the University Children's Medical Institute of the National University Hospital and supported by an educational grant from Abbott Nutrition.   Assoc Prof Goh, the key investigator of the study, told TODAY that worldwide trends indicate kids are swapping more nutritious beverages such as milk and juices in favour of soft drinks.   Findings from the local study mirror this trend. Compared to preschoolers, older children drank less milk and more syrup, gassy and non-gassy drinks.   "This could be related to the increasing choices that older children are exposed to as well as advertisements for some of these beverages. The study also found that in older children, factors such as freedom of choice and taste have an impact on beverage choice," explained Assoc Prof Goh.   He added that food preferences are usually shaped during childhood, and that eating habits acquired after adolescence are tougher to change.   Assoc Prof Goh also stressed that parents, in particular mothers, have an important role to play to cultivate the right eating habits in their children.   The study found that mothers wield the most influence over their children's beverage choice. However, while most of the mothers in the survey encouraged their children to drink milk, one-third underestimated the amount of milk their children drink daily.       More than just bone-building   Calcium does more than just build strong bones and teeth. It is also required for one's overall health, as well as the functioning of nerves and muscle tissue. Other than milk, calcium-rich food choices include tofu, green leafy vegetables, cheese and yoghurt.   Besides osteoporosis (brittle bone disease), some studies have suggested that people who do not get enough calcium may have a higher risk of developing hypertension, and that taking more calcium may even slightly lower blood pressure, said Assoc Prof Goh.     Childhood and the teenage years are a critical period for bone development because this is when the most bone mass accumulates.   "Calcium is essential to this process. Replacing calcium and nutrient-dense beverages like milk with less nutritious choices may reduce the child's opportunity to consume vital nutrients in his growing up years," said Assoc Prof Goh.   It's fun to drink milk According to nutritionist Anna Jacob, calcium is best taken through natural dietary sources whenever possible. The senior manager of Nutrition Science and Communications at Abbott Nutrition International is the study's co-author. She offers some tips on how to creatively sneak calcium into your child's diet:   · Shake it up. Blend milk with fruit or cocoa powder.   · Freeze it. Make your own milk-based ice cream or lollies.   · Add it into savoury soups or sauces.       Growie's Fruity Lollies - Serves 4   · Milk powder 6 scoops   · Low fat yogurt ½ cup   · Ripe sweet mango, cubed, ½ cup   · Ripe sweet strawberries, cubed, ½ cup   · Ripe sweet papaya, cubed, ½ cup   · Ripe banana, cubed, ½ cup       Method   · Put milk powder and yoghurt in blender at top speed until well mixed.   · Divide into four portions. Blend each portion of the milk-yogurt mixture with a fruit and pour into a Popsicle stick.   · Chill in the freezer until well frozen. Unmould and serve.             This article was featured in Today October 11, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC111011-0000123/Make-the-white-choice