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Helping Kids Get The Vitamins And Minerals They Need
It's the age-old dilemma for parents: how do I get my kids to eat right so that they'll be healthy? Getting the vitamins and minerals they need through proper nutrition is the ideal way for kids to stay healthy and strong, but in today's busy world it is not always realistic. Parents are stretched to the limits on a daily basis and are more likely as not to rely too much on fast food and processed products to feed their families. However, indulging in too much unhealthiness for the sake of convenience is a parental cop-out: yes, it takes effort to help kids get their vitamins and minerals, but it's well worth it. Here are some guidelines on what a child's nutritional needs are and easy ways to help them get what they need.
Vitamin A for healthy eyesight, bones and immunity: 1 large raw carrot stick after school is usually enough to satisfy a child's daily needs! It really takes very little in terms of amount, thank goodness. Although raw carrots have lots of A, cooking them actually increases the vitamin content; so if your child prefers them cooked, so much the better.
Vitamin C for increased immunity and overall health: 1 orange a day provides twice the daily recommended amount of this important vitamin for your child! If she has problems with the acidity levels of citrus fruit, how about making her a smoothie instead? Just make sure to leave in the pulp.
Vitamin D and calcium for bone strength: When combined with calcium, Vitamin D helps kids grow strong and healthy. Two 8-ounce glasses of milk should do the drink. If your child is lactose intolerant, try soy milk that has been fortified. Just 10 minutes of play out in the sun (without sunscreen) will also help her skin to absorb Vitamin D a different way. But don't overdo it! Calcium is essential to healthy teeth.
Iron for rich blood: Children who are iron-deficient have a harder time concentrating and learning in school and they are lethargic. That is because iron helps blood to deliver oxygen efficiently all over the body. Red meat is an excellent source of iron, but if your child dislikes meat or you don't eat it on a regular basis, one bowl of iron-fortified hot cereal will do the trick.
Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, and Zinc for overall health: These minerals are sometimes the hardest to get kids to eat in their foods, but they are absolutely essential to good health. Here are some "magic" kid-friendly foods that will help them get much of their daily needs. For folate and zinc: two cups of fortified cereal; for magnesium: peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread; for potassium: just one banana.
Despite a parent's best intentions, children will still struggle to get the proper requirements for these vitamins and minerals. Daily vitamin supplements are a great way to bridge that nutritional gap and help fill in the holes where they are needed: chewable tablets are still the old standby, but now there are also liquid vitamins which may be sneaked into orange juice or other beverages. By making the effort to provide better foods along with daily supplements, you will be helping your children grow up stronger and healthier.
About the Author Since 1975, Vitamin Power (http://www.vitaminpower.com) has been committed to health & wellness by supplying the highest-quality natural online vitamins and supplements to meet the individual needs of health-minded consumers worldwide. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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