In this post I am going to share with you the 8 varieties in which you can give milk for toddlers and kids.My daughter Anshika is not fussy about food in general. But she hates milk and demands the regular tea we drink. The moment we offer milk to her, she looks into the cup, make faces and says ‘No’.Strangely, she likes the flavored milk available in the market. I found out that she has a liking for chilled milk. I also understood that the milk is not the culprit but the bland flavor of boiled warm milk is.I thought of trying out all the flavored milk varieties at home and see how she responds to it. Voila! It was a great hit with Anshika.
Milk for toddlers need not be bland – Here’s why:Recently a reader asked me whether she can give pediasure and that her son is fussy about drinking it too. If your kid is less active, fussy and weak you can definitely try pediasure under your pediatrician’s guidance. Otherwise its better and always best to stick to home made flavored milk varieties (as given in this post).You know how these naturally flavored milk does the trick?The color of the milk was the first thing Anshika notices. When there is mixed flavor, there is change in the color too. When she tastes the milk, the bland taste is hidden by the other dominant flavors added here. Hence my daughter is ready to drink a variety of milk everyday #1. Badam milk or Almond milk:
Almond milk is one of the healthiest variety of milk for toddlers. It helps in digestion and adds to the muscle/bone strength.Soak 8-10 almonds in a cup of water overnight. The next morning, peel the skin off and blend it with boiled milk.You can sieve and serve it to your toddler with a pinch of sugar or powdered jaggery. Make sure there are no bits of almonds after blending to avoid choking.You can also make a almond or badam potli. Take 5 peeled almonds in a clean muslin cloth and tie into a potli or pouch. Crush the potli genltly so that the almonds are broken.Boil a cup of milk in a pan. When it boils, add the potli, close the pan and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes. The essence of badams will seep into the boiled milk.Add powdered jaggery, sugar and serve warm or chilled.If your toddler is lactose intolerant, you can replace milk with water. Blend water and almonds together. Sieve to get the pure almond milk.#2. Carrot milk 
I remember my neighbor making fresh batches of carrot milk everyday. They used to replace the morning tea with this carrot milk.Carrots being rich in vitamins and beta carotene are very good for eyes, hair and skin.Grate or cut ½ of a medium carrot and keep it aside. Boil 1 cup of milk and let it cool down. Now blend both carrot and milk together. Sieve to get the natural orange colored carrot milk.Since this is naturally sweet you can omit jaggery or sugar. You can also add peeled almonds while blending to increase the taste and nutritional value.Carrot milk can be served chilled too.Further reading:Carrots oats unniyappam recipe for toddlers and kidsCarrot beetroot soup for babies and kidsCarrot rava porridge for babiesCarrot dal mash for babies#3. Chocolate milk:
This is one of the easiest milk varieties for toddlers.Add 1/2 tablespoon of chocolate syrup to a glass of warm or chilled milk and mix well. Tasty yummy chocolate milk is ready. I use Hershey’s chocolate syrup for my daughter’s chilled chocolate milk.Note: Though this seems like an easy and tempting way, it could backfire too. My daughter for instance demanded the chocolate milk almost every day. So make sure it is given just once in 2 weeks or so.Chocolates or syrup on an everyday basis can result in tooth decay.Read: Homemade hot chocolate recipe for toddlers and kids#4. Dates milk
Soak 5 dates in warm water. De-seed it and blend it along with a cup of warm milk. Sieve to get the tasty, yummy sweet dates milk!You can use dates syrup too instead of whole dates. Just add ½ tablespoon of dates syrup to warm or chilled milk.#5. Dry fruits milk
Dry fruits milk works for me all the time.Make a fine powder of all dry fruits and store in an air tight container. You can read how to make home made dry fruit powder mix for toddlers.Blend it along with boiled milk or just add the fine powder when the milk is boiling. This is one of the ways to give dry fruits for your toddler You can use honey or dates syrup along with this dry fruits milk.Further reading:Home made cerelac with step by step picturesEverything about home made cerelac you need to knowHome made peanut butter for toddlersHealth alternatives to these 5 unhealthy foods ever#6. Turmeric milk
A milk variety that can boost immunity too.Turmeric milk or haldi doodh has been proven to be great against cold and cough in winter. Infused with turmeric’s anti bacterial and anti viral properties along with milk, its a wholesome drink.Boil a cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Serve warm. You can sweeten haldi doodh with jaggery or sugar.#7. Honey milk
Add a tablespoon of honey to the boiled milk and mix well.#8. Kesar milk or saffron milk
Kesar milk can be prepared by adding a few threads of saffron to the boiled milk. You can sweeten it with sugar or powdered jaggery.Well these were some of the ways in which you can give milk for toddlers and kids.Is your little one fussy about drinking milk? Which is the way you try to make him/ her drink milk everyday? Share with us in comments.Like and share this article in your Facebook and twitter. Remember sharing is sexy too 
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