Solutions for the Reluctant Milk Drinker

“Why don’t you have a nice cup of milk?”

“No! I don’t like milk!”

Does this conversation sound familiar?

Eva and I had it regularly. I wanted her to get all the amazing protein, vitamins, enzymes, etc. found in our milk and she wasn’t even interested in drinking it.

I feel a little silly saying it, but I was a embarrassed that I, a dairy farmer, couldn’t even get my kids to drink our raw milk!

Doing something about it became my next priority.

Here a few tips (and recipes!) I have learned along the way.

1.) Lead by example!

I realized that I didn’t have a habit of regularly consuming milk. Why did I expect Eva to form the habit if I wasn’t modeling it? I began to make a conscious effort to reach for milk first before other drinks.

2.) Offer milk first.

I decided to make milk the most accessible option on our “drink roster”. Every morning for breakfast, I offer milk as the first option. Sometimes she takes it and sometimes she wants water. Either is fine, but she is always given the option.

3.) Play dress up :)

I get it! Raw milk does taste different than pasteurized milk. Some take to it right away, others take some time :)

I have found that a super easy way to get more milk in Eva is to “dress it up” a little.

Here are some of our family favorite ways to drink more milk:

Chocolate Milk/Hot Cocoa

• 1 1/2 TBS Cocoa Powder

• 1 1/2 TBS Sugar

• 1 pinch salt

• 1 dash vanilla

• 2 cups milk

Mix cocoa powder, sugar, and salt together. Add a small amount of the milk and mix together until the cocoa powder is hydrated. Add vanilla and the remainder of the milk. Mix well. Enjoy right then or heat until warm and drink Hot Cocoa!

Granola or Cereal

Eva loves granola and she will drink the milk right out of her bowl when the granola is gone :) She is so busy fishing the tasty bits of breakfast out of her bowl that she doesn’t realize that she is getting a great serving of milk along with it :)

Smoothies/Shakes

Everyone in my family gets excited when I make smoothies. I think they are the ultimate mom invention. I can “hid” so many healthy things in a smoothie and Tim and Eva still drink it (as long as I don’t go too wild…)

I don’t have a specific recipe, but here are some of our favorite things to add:

• Frozen or fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries, mixed fruit, peaches, cherries, etc.)

• Yogurt

• Raw milk to make sure it can move freely in my blender

• Raw farm fresh/free range egg (definitely optional)

• Peanut Butter

• Vanilla

• Whatever you want to hide :)

I put a good cup or two of milk in the bottom of my blender, add a nice serving of yogurt, put the fruit and egg (if using one) on top and blend it all up. Add more milk if it becomes too stiff for your blender. Add vanilla, peanut butter, or whatever else you want to it. Taste test and see if you want to add anything else to the mix. Serve immediately. Leftovers can be frozen to make homemade popsicles.

Maple or Caramel Flavored Milk

Add maple syrup or caramel syrup to spruce up a normal glass of milk :)

I hope that these ideas have sparked some creativity in your normal routine and make it so much easier to get real amazing milk into your kids too :)

Heidi

P.S. Getting your own gallon of milk is easy too :)

1. Call or text me 540-480-0860 to order your gallon or half gallon

2. We’ll set up a pick up time

3. Come get your fresh milk right on our porch in Gypsum! (20 minutes SE Salina)

4. We accept cash, check, or Venmo so pay however is convenient for you.