FACTS

• Children need to get three to four servings from the Milk and Dairy food group daily to meet calcium requirements.  (Source: The National Academy fo Sciences 1997)
• Two out of three children do not consume the recommended amount of calcium.  (Source:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• The more calcium you deposit in your early and teenage years, the more bone mass you are likely to have later - offering a natural defense to osteoporosis.  (Source:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• Chocolate milk has just as much calcium as plain milk - a fact that 84 percent of parents do not know.  (Source:  The National Dairy Council)
• Eight out of ten children like the taste of chocolate milk.  (Source:  The National Dairy Council)

Calcium Requirements

Children ages 1-3 years old need 500 mg/day.  This equals about two 8 fluid ounce glasses of milk.

Children ages 4-8 years old need 800 mg/day.  This equals about three 8 fluid ounce glasses of milk.

Children ages 9-18 years old need 1,300 mg/day.  This equals about four 8 fluid ounce glasses of milk.

(Source:  The National Academy of Sciences 1997)