Believe it or not, girls really do think mother knows best. According to the results of a recent national survey, 92 percent of girls ages 7 to 17 say their mom is their primary role model, particularly when it comes to eating healthy and consuming milk and dairy products.

"Moms may think their girls aren't listening, but they are, and more importantly, they are watching their moms closely for cues on how they should take care of their bodies," says Debra Waterhouse, M.PH., R.D. and author of "Like Mother, Like Daughter."

Current government figures clearly illustrate that daughters are falling far short of the amount of calcium they need to help build strong bones. About 30 percent of kids ages 1 to 5 don't get enough calcium, and 90 percent don’t get enough calcium by the time they are teenagers.

The National Academy of Sciences recommends that women consume a balanced diet that includes 1,000 mg of calcium each day, the equivalent of about three 8-ounce servings of milk or milk-group foods (milk, cheese and yogurt). Girls ages 6 to 8 need at least three 8-ounce servings of milk per day, and those ages 9 to 18 need even more -- at least four 8-ounce servings -- for optimal bone development.

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