Like most anything that is healthy for my kids, it can be a struggle to have them eat or drink enough of a good thing. Milk is loaded with protein and vitamin D, and I want all that good stuff in the kiddos! To encourage my daughters to drink more milk, I have a few fun ways that always work for them.
Crazy Straws
I have a collection of crazy straws in assorted colors. They pretty much make any drink more fun. The more colorful and wackier the better!
Fun Ice Cube Shapes
have a variety of fun ice cube molds for the kids. They help pour the milk in, put it in the freezer, and pop the milk cubes into their milk. Whenever they are involved in the actual process of making their food, they are much more inclined to want to drink/eat their creation.
Add Fruit
My girls think slicing up little clementines makes it look like their milk has an umbrella in it. Whatever works, right? You can add any fruit to a straw or skewer—another favorite of my girls is strawberries.
Edible Glitter
Yes, there is glitter that is edible, and my girls LOVE it! It will add some sparkle and color to the milk, but does not really have a taste—it is just for looks. However, my oldest absolutely insists the pink glitter tastes better than the other colors.
image: Getty/Dejan Ristovski
Milk Mustache Contest
This one is my personal favorite because it elicits a ton of happy giggles: See who can get the biggest milk mustache. This one also can get a little messy as they try to stick their fingers in it to add more milk, but it is a lot of fun!
If all else fails, you can let them know that on average, just one Washington cow can make enough milk to make 233 GALLONS of ice cream! Anytime I say ice cream—well, that is a HUGE deal. I myself am not a sweets fan and do not like ice cream, but I had no idea that cows also help create wine. I am a huge fan of wine—no crazy straws needed. Pinots, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon…some of Washington’s prize wines are made possible by the rich nutrients found in dairy cow compost. Sounds like the Washington dairy cows just made my summer complete.
This post was sponsored by The Washington Dairy Products Commission
