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![]() Vitamins can help your kids get all of the nutrients they need. Photo © Naama y.m. Children's Dietary SupplementsTop Fun Vitamins for KidsThe Issue of 'Complete' VitaminsDoes My Child Need to Take Vitamins? Should Children Take Vitamins?About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Children, Diets and Taking VitaminsThe best way to assure your children get plenty of vitamins and minerals is to emphasize the importance of eating a variety of healthy foods. Offer foods from the different food groups to your kids each day and prepare meals with nutrients that complement each other. That means eating fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, whole grains, nuts, legumes, milk, and cheese. A healthy diet like that sounds great to many kids, but not to all. Children don't always eat the way we would like them to eat, and a picky eater might not get all the vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients he or she needs. Some kids don't eat healthy diets all the time, and a few children rarely eat anything healthy at all. Processed foods and junk foods may not contain much nutritional value, just unhealthy fats, sugar and calories. A healthy diet is just as important for for children as it is for adults. When a child doesn't eat enough healthy foods, his or her ability to learn may suffer. Imagine sitting in school all day when your brain and body is starving for good nutrition. Kids who don't get all the nutrition they need from their diets can take children's vitamins as a good way to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals. Remember that taking vitamins isn't a cure-all for an unhealthy diet, so be sure to continue offering healthy food choices to your kids. Even picky eaters will eat some healthy foods. Which Dietary Supplements Should Kids Take?
Make sure you purchase high quality children's dietary supplements for children from a nutrition store or a health food store. Children's dietary supplements can be in the form of capsules, tablets, liquids, or chewable vitamins. There are even brands that taste like gummy bears or lollipops. Sources: Mahoney CR, Taylor HA, Kanarek RB, Samuel P. "Effect of breakfast composition on cognitive processes in elementary school children." Physiol Behav. 2005 Aug 7;85(5):635-45. Vatanparast H, Whiting SJ. "Calcium supplementation trials and bone mass development in children, adolescents, and young adults." Nutr Rev. 2006 Apr;64(4):204-9. More About Nutrition Updated: April 9, 2007 Children's Dietary SupplementsTop Fun Vitamins for KidsThe Issue of 'Complete' VitaminsDoes My Child Need to Take Vitamins? |
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