To learn about the national child care funding in Canada, please click here.
Kids & Company Blog
Calcium
Milk and other calcium-rich foods are a must-have in kids' diets. After all, calcium is a key building block for strong, healthy bones. Most kids don't get their recommended 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, but that’s not a problem at Kids & Company! We make sure your kiddies are served milk twice a day along with different blended smoothies every week, loaded with calcium, that your kiddies go crazy for!

During childhood and adolescence, the body uses the mineral calcium to build strong bones. Bone calcium begins to decrease in young adulthood when your diet does not provide the nutrients to build bones to their maximum potential. You are then at a greater risk of fractures from weakened bones, and sometimes even more serious problems can develop!
The most obvious place you can get your kids daily calcium intake is through dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, dips and other cultured dairy foods. You can also receive your calcium through other food sources such as veggies: broccoli, dark green, leafy vegetables (especially collard), turnip greens, kale, and bok choy. Soy foods are also known to be calcium-fortified, like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, soy yogurt, and cooked soybeans, edamame. Other calcium-fortified food sources are orange juice, breads and cereal. Some food items that might be surprising that are packed with calcium are beans, almonds and fished canned with their bones.
During Nutrition month, our kiddies are going to be learning all about the importance of calcium rich dairy products and they are going to be participating in this quick and easy activity for hand strengthening that’s sure to get a couple of laughs too!
1) Wash and rinse a rubber glove several times, fill the glove with water.
2) Tie the open end of the glove so that it holds the liquid without spilling. Take a needle and prick the end of one finger of the rubber glove. Depending on the thickness of your gloves, you may need to stretch the hole with the needle in a circular motion to widen the hole.
3) Allow the child to grasp and squeeze the finger downward to simulate milking a cow. You can attempt to fill a small glass with the “milk.”

If you’re having a hard time getting your kiddies to get their daily intake of calcium, try a Kidco Kitchen favourite, our Berry Blend Smoothie!
Kidco Kitchen Berry Blend Smoothie
*Makes 6 portions
What you need:
- ¼ Cup Blueberries
- ¼ Cup Strawberries
- ¼ Cup Raspberries
- ¼ Cup Blackberries
- 2 Cup Milk
- 1 Cup Yogurt
What to do:
1. Make sure to wash your hands before you begin.
2. Add berries, milk and yogurt to blender.
3. Blend until smooth.

From my kitchen to yours enjoy! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @kidcochildcare and on Instagram @cheflisaruscica!
Cheers,
Chef Lisa Ruscica
Chief Food Ambassador
Posted on: Wednesday March 29th, 2017
Posted by: Lisa Ruscica
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
Cochrane
Red Deer
Calgary
Calgary
Okotoks
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Sylvan Lake
Edmonton
Sherwood Park
Edmonton
Kamloops
Langley
Langley
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Richmond
Vancouver
Victoria
Victoria
Port Moody
Surrey
Surrey
Surrey
North Vancouver
Nanaimo
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Schaumburg
Chicago
Winnipeg
Abington
Canton
Quincy
West Quincy
Braintree
Braintree
Walpole
Walpole
Brighton
Brookline
Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain
Cambridge
Needham
Newton Highlands
Newton
Cambridge
Boston
St. Peters
Lake St. Louis
Troy
Bedford
Dartmouth
Halifax
Bedford
Hammonds Plains
Lower Sackville
Eastern Passage
Aurora
Burlington
Burlington
Etobicoke
Etobicoke
Hamilton
London
Milton
Mississauga
Niagara Falls
Oakville
Ottawa
Richmond Hill - Corporate office (No child care services)
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Waterloo
Kanata
Oakville
Oakville
Toronto
Whitby
Toronto
Mississauga
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Brampton
Stoney Creek
Toronto
Nepean
Burlington
Burlington
Oakville
Waterdown
Oakville
Pittston
Wilkes-Barre
Exeter
Old Forge
Wilkes-Barre
Dover
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Hummelstown
Palmyra
York
York
Abington
Aurora
Bedford (Dellridge Lane)
Larry Uteck (Southgate Dr)
Pine Village South End, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Braintree 1
Braintree 2
Brampton
Pine Village Brighton, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Brookline, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Burlington Children’s Centre
Burloak
Appleby
Beacon Hill
Bow Trail
Eau Claire
Livingston
Midlake
Millrise
Royal Oak
Smart Tech
Britannia Crossing
Marda Loop
Evanston
Beltline
Aviation Crossing
Gulf Canada Square
Pine Village Kendall Square, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Porter Square, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Canton
Jackson
Lincoln Park
Harrison
West Loop
South Loop
Fulton
Cochrane
Dartmouth
Dover
Eastern Passage
Ellerslie (103A St. SW)
Edmonton Ice District (104 Ave)
Baturyn
Diamond
Friendly Frog
Meadowlark Park
St. Charles
St. Dominic
Sunshine Factory
Tender Heart
Tamarack
Jagare Ridge
Horse Hill
Fraser
Islington
Etobicoke (Bloor & Islington)
ABC Kiddie Kampus Exeter, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Halifax
Hamilton
Hammonds Plains
Route 39
Schaffner
Swatara
Hummelstown
Pine Village JP Revere, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village JP South Street, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Kamloops
Eagleson (South Kanata)
Tyke Town Lake St. Louis, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Kids World
Langley (200th St.)
London Richmond
Sackville
Milton
Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga Gateway Centre
Nanaimo
Pine Village Needham, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Ottawa Barrhaven
New Westminster
Pine Village West Newton, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Newton Highlands, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Niagara Queen
North Vancouver
North Van Esplanade
Oakville Ford
Oakville Cornwall
Oakville Dundas
Joshua Creek
Oakville West (3471 Wyecroft Rd)
Okotoks
ABC Kiddie Kampus Old Forge, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Ottawa Albert
Ottawa Westboro
Palmyra
ABC Kiddie Kampus Pittston, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Port Moody
Marina Bay
Red Deer
Richmond
Head Office
Schaumburg
Sherwood Park
St. Albert North
St. Albert Grandin
Tyke Town St. Peters, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Stoney Creek
Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
King George
Sylvan Lake
Bloor Christie
Bloor (Bloor St. East)
Consumers
Finch
Front
Wellington
Scotia Plaza
Stock Yards
St. Andrew’s Church
Liberty Village
Rosedale
Queen West
Tyke Town Troy, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Vancouver West
Langford
Victoria
Sunshine South, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Sunshine Country Day, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Waterdown
Tech Town
West Quincy
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, Part of the Kids & Company Family
ABC Kiddie Kampus King’s College, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Winnipeg
West York
Queen Street
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
Cochrane
Red Deer
Calgary
Calgary
Okotoks
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Calgary
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
St. Albert
Edmonton
Edmonton
Sylvan Lake
Edmonton
Sherwood Park
Edmonton
Kamloops
Langley
Langley
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Richmond
Vancouver
Victoria
Victoria
Port Moody
Surrey
Surrey
Surrey
North Vancouver
Nanaimo
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Chicago
Schaumburg
Chicago
Winnipeg
Abington
Canton
Quincy
West Quincy
Braintree
Braintree
Walpole
Walpole
Brighton
Brookline
Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain
Cambridge
Needham
Newton Highlands
Newton
Cambridge
Boston
St. Peters
Lake St. Louis
Troy
Bedford
Dartmouth
Halifax
Bedford
Hammonds Plains
Lower Sackville
Eastern Passage
Aurora
Burlington
Burlington
Etobicoke
Etobicoke
Hamilton
London
Milton
Mississauga
Niagara Falls
Oakville
Ottawa
Richmond Hill - Corporate office (No child care services)
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Waterloo
Kanata
Oakville
Oakville
Toronto
Whitby
Toronto
Mississauga
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto
Brampton
Stoney Creek
Toronto
Nepean
Burlington
Burlington
Oakville
Waterdown
Oakville
Pittston
Wilkes-Barre
Exeter
Old Forge
Wilkes-Barre
Dover
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Hummelstown
Palmyra
York
York
Abington
Aurora
Bedford (Dellridge Lane)
Larry Uteck (Southgate Dr)
Pine Village South End, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Braintree 1
Braintree 2
Brampton
Pine Village Brighton, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Brookline, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Burlington Children’s Centre
Burloak
Appleby
Beacon Hill
Bow Trail
Eau Claire
Livingston
Midlake
Millrise
Royal Oak
Smart Tech
Britannia Crossing
Marda Loop
Evanston
Beltline
Aviation Crossing
Gulf Canada Square
Pine Village Kendall Square, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Porter Square, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Canton
Jackson
Lincoln Park
Harrison
West Loop
South Loop
Fulton
Cochrane
Dartmouth
Dover
Eastern Passage
Ellerslie (103A St. SW)
Edmonton Ice District (104 Ave)
Baturyn
Diamond
Friendly Frog
Meadowlark Park
St. Charles
St. Dominic
Sunshine Factory
Tender Heart
Tamarack
Jagare Ridge
Horse Hill
Fraser
Islington
Etobicoke (Bloor & Islington)
ABC Kiddie Kampus Exeter, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Halifax
Hamilton
Hammonds Plains
Route 39
Schaffner
Swatara
Hummelstown
Pine Village JP Revere, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village JP South Street, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Kamloops
Eagleson (South Kanata)
Tyke Town Lake St. Louis, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Kids World
Langley (200th St.)
London Richmond
Sackville
Milton
Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga Gateway Centre
Nanaimo
Pine Village Needham, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Ottawa Barrhaven
New Westminster
Pine Village West Newton, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Pine Village Newton Highlands, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Niagara Queen
North Vancouver
North Van Esplanade
Oakville Ford
Oakville Cornwall
Oakville Dundas
Joshua Creek
Oakville West (3471 Wyecroft Rd)
Okotoks
ABC Kiddie Kampus Old Forge, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Ottawa Albert
Ottawa Westboro
Palmyra
ABC Kiddie Kampus Pittston, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Port Moody
Marina Bay
Red Deer
Richmond
Head Office
Schaumburg
Sherwood Park
St. Albert North
St. Albert Grandin
Tyke Town St. Peters, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Stoney Creek
Morgan Crossing
Surrey Professional Centre
King George
Sylvan Lake
Bloor Christie
Bloor (Bloor St. East)
Consumers
Finch
Front
Wellington
Scotia Plaza
Stock Yards
St. Andrew’s Church
Liberty Village
Rosedale
Queen West
Tyke Town Troy, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Vancouver West
Langford
Victoria
Sunshine South, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Sunshine Country Day, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Waterdown
Tech Town
West Quincy
Whitby
ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, Part of the Kids & Company Family
ABC Kiddie Kampus King’s College, Part of the Kids & Company Family
Winnipeg
West York
Queen Street