The question, if the Kids need
vitamins worries a lot of parents and it is important to note that there is no
simple answer. The nutrition and health experts agree that the children should
take a balanced diet and get their required vitamins and minerals from the food. The foods that are important
for maintaining vitamins and minerals levels in children are
•
Milk and dairy products e.g. cheese and yoghurt
•
Fresh fruits and leafy, green vegetables
•
Protein from chicken, fish, meat, and eggs
•
Whole grains, for example, steel-cut oats and brown rice
When do Kids Need Vitamin Supplements?
There is no doubt that a balanced
diet is irreplaceable yet the packed schedules of time-crunched parents have
not let the home-cooked food available for every child every day. That is the
reason paediatricians at times recommend a daily vitamin or mineral supplement
for certain children. Greeniche has
the best multivitamin for toddlers in
Canada.
Kids who remain unable to eat
regular, balanced meals made from fresh, whole foods
•
Picky eaters who simply do not eat much
•
Kids with continuing medical conditions for example asthma and/or
digestive problems (discuss with the doctor before starting supplements)
•
Kids consuming a lot of fast, processed, and convenience food
•
Kids following a vegetarian, vegan or dairy-free diet plan
•
Kids who consume a lot of carbonated sodas, which can leach vitamins and
minerals from their bodies.
Top Vitamins and Minerals for Kids
In the wide range of vitamin and mineral supplements for kids
available, a few are known to be critical for growing kids.
•
Vitamin A supports normal growth and development; repairs tissue and
bone; maintains and healthy skin and eyes, and is important for immune
responses.
•
Vitamin Bs. The group of B vitamins -- B2, B3, B6, and B12 – supports
metabolism, produces energy, makes healthy circulatory and nervous systems
possible.
•
Helps develop healthy muscles, connective tissue, and skin.
•
supports bone and tooth formation and plays a role in the absorption of
calcium.
•
Calcium plays a role in building strong bones as children grow
•
Iron builds muscle and is vital for healthy red blood cells. Risk of
iron deficiency increase in adolescence for girls as they begin to menstruate.
Best Vitamins are in healthy foods
For a healthy kids parents efforts
start from what you put in your grocery basket.
The starting point for good
nutrition is serving a variety of whole and fresh foods as much as possible.
Thinking that taking fast and/or convenience food in abundance and nullifying
the damages or filling the gaps with vitamins supplements is not advisable.
Most vitamins and minerals are found in foods that are high in carbohydrates
and proteins. The foods that contain the most high-vitamin content are fresh
fruits and vegetables.
It is important to focus more on a
variety of foods than on the amount to meet the vitamin needs of the children.
The kid-sized portion of a wide variety of foods can keep children healthy
along with saving them from obesity, a widespread problem for the growing
children. One quarter to one-third of an adult portion is adequate to meet
children’s needs.
Spreading the variety of foods into
a number of small meals and snacks across the day is the most appropriate way
to keep them energized active and healthy. If your child is adamant at not
eating a specific food e.g. vegetables for a few days it should be reintroduced
again a couple of days later. Preparing this food in a different way can
perhaps help in these cases.
Five Tips for Vitamin Use
If you use vitamins for kids, follow
these tips:
1.
Keep vitamins out of the reach of your children, to save them from
over-consumption, as they can use them like candies.
2.
It is better to give fat-soluble vitamins after food as they can be
absorbed with food. You can use them to “bribe” your children for cleaning
their plates.
3. If the child is taking any prescribed
medication, make it a point to ask the doctor about any drug interactions with
the vitamins or minerals the kid is taking. It is important to know if the
interaction is going to boost or lower the specific dose of the medicine.
4.
If the child avoids taking a pill or liquid supplement use chewable
vitamin supplements.
5.
Prefer not to give any supplements until the child reaches 4 unless the
intake has been advised by the doctor.
It is important to note that no
supplement can replace a balanced diet and it is important to use the
supplement in case of a deficiency or as per doctor’s advice.