Not necessarily. Children should get their Vitamins from a balanced, healthy diet that includes milk & dairy products like cheese and yoghurt, plenty of fruit and vegetables, Protein like chicken, fish, meat and eggs, whole grains and brown rice.
So which children need vitamins?
• Children who don’t eat regular, balanced meals
• Fussy eaters who don’t eat enough
• Children with chronic conditions like Asthma or digestive problems and those who are on medications
• Active children who play physically demanding sports
• Children on a vegetarian diet
• Children who drink a lot of fizzy drinks, which can leach vitamins and minerals
What do vitamins do for children?
Vitamin A – Promotes normal growth and development, tissue and bone repair, healthy skin and eyes, and immune responses. (milk, cheese, eggs, yellow to orange vegetables like carrots, squash.)
Vitamin B – Aids metabolism, energy production and healthy circulatory and nervous systems. (meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, milk cheese, beans, soybeans.)
Vitamin C – Promotes healthy muscles, connective tissue and skin. (citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, green veggies)
Vitamin D – Promotes bone and tooth formation and help their bodies absorb calcium. (milk & other dairy products and fish oil ) Getting children out in the sun is the best source of Vitamin D!
Calcium – Helps build strong bones as your child grows. ( milk, cheese, yoghurt)
Iron – Builds muscles and is essential to healthy blood cells. (red meats, turkey, pork, spinach, beans, prunes)
Large doses of vitamins – aren’t a good idea for children. The fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) and iron can be toxic if kids overdose on excessive amounts. Your children can get too much of a good thing.
Courtesy of Broadway Pharmacy