5 Foods That Kids Need

At some point, every parent has likely heard the importance of kids eating a balanced diet. But what does this mean exactly? In today’s blog, we at Natures Energy are going to help answer a part of this question and look at a few of the food items that children are not getting enough of.

Here at Natures Energy, we are committed to being at the forefront of nutraceutical manufacturing. We take pride in producing the highest quality vitamins and mineral supplements in the most bioavailable form. Learn more about Natures Energy, and shop our all-natural supplements here.

Calcium

Studies estimate that nearly one-third of children between the ages of four and eight are not getting the amount of calcium that they need. This is partly because more and more parents seem to opt for juice over milk. When children are deficient in calcium, this can interfere with growth and it can even put kids at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Ensuring that kids get the calcium they need will not only reduce these risks, but it can also help strengthen bones and help prevent diseases like type 1 diabetes. Foods like cheese, yogurt, milk, soy milk, and other calcium-fortified foods can help kids get the calcium they need.

Iron

Studies report that 20% of kids ages one to three who are in the rapid growth stage are not getting the proper amount of iron. This deficiency is most common among overweight kids and toddlers who adhere to a high-calorie, low-nutrient diet. Chronic deficiencies are serious and have even been linked to learning developments and behavioral problems. What makes iron so vital is that it helps with brain development, and it helps improve the performance of red blood cells. Foods that are high in iron include shrimp, beans, beef, chicken, raisins, and fortified cereals—experts recommend that to maximize the iron absorption include fresh fruits with cereal.

Want to make sure your child is receiving the right amount of iron? Make our children’s multivitamin with iron a part of his or her daily routine.

Potassium

Alarmingly, children are reported to get 60% less potassium than they need. This is in part because of the childhood obesity epidemic, which affects roughly 17% of children, and the fact that children are not getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diets. Potassium is essential to maintaining blood pressure, muscle health, and fluid balance. The best sources of potassium include bananas, cantaloupe, milk, oranges, yogurt, and more.

Fiber

Though fiber is not digested, it is vital to the health of children. This is because it fills them up and helps to regulate bowel movements. It also has shown potential to reduce the chances of heart disease and cancer later in life. High-fiber foods include things like whole-grain cereals, chickpeas, seeds, nuts, and lentils. When determining the appropriate amount of fiber, most recommend that you should take the age of your child, add five to it, and then that’s the number of grams of fiber he or she should receive daily.

Vitamin E

According to some studies, upwards of 80% of children under the age of eight are not getting the amount of vitamin E that they need. Studies suggest that the reason this deficiency is so high is because of fat-free foods that don’t contain any healthy oils and vitamin E. Most of the health benefits of vitamin E come from its antioxidant properties. These antioxidants are capable of aiding the removal of free radicals, protecting cells from danger. In addition to fortified cereals, sources of vitamin E include nuts, avocado, peanut butter, plant oils, and tomato sauce.

Naturally, the nutritional needs of your toddler are the highest priority. However, with the vast amount of information out there—some of which may offer conflicting views—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. Keep this information in mind when preparing your child’s meals and be sure to check out our children’s vitamins. With just one ounce, once a day, our all-in-one children’s vitamins and minerals your child can receive 100% of their RDA for twelve essential vitamins and 74 trace minerals.

In addition to having some of the best multivitamins for kids, we also have a range of other vitamin and mineral supplements like natural prenatal vitamins, all-in-one multivitamins, liquid oxygen, pure colloidal silver, and more. Shop our all-natural vitamins and supplements today!