It is often a challenge for parents to make their children eat, especially to eat healthy and right food. Sometimes, just to have their complete meal in a day, we often feed them with food that they usually like to eat which are not really fit for their need.
There are certain nutrients and different types of vitamins that are very important for a child when it comes to their development. This is actually true for the health of all people and not just that of children’s. The truth is however, a lot of people are not aware of how important these nutrients are or exactly what types of nutrients they should be looking for in their food when making meals for their children.
Most children who are lacking in nutrients are usually lacking from the same minerals and vitamins and other forms of nutrients like the following:
Calcium
Many children do not have enough calcium in their diet. The problem with this is the fact that calcium contributed to children developing strong bones. One way that you can get your child to start consuming more calcium would be to have them eat a bowl of fortified cereal with breakfast. Do not use whole milk for the cereal. Also, you may want to consider sending them to school with yogurt for a snack.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is absorbed through the skin and it provided by sunlight. The thing is that kids seem to be spending less and less time playing outside and more and more time sitting on the couch watching TV. Limit the amount of time that your child can play video games or watch TV each day and this will surely contribute to them getting out in the sun much more often.
Potassium
It is a little known fact but a lack of potassium in a diet can result in high blood pressure and other undesired medical issues. Potassium can be found in many different types of food. A few examples would include beans, spinach, potatoes and tomatoes. Tasty fruits such as bananas also contain high amounts of potassium.
Fiber
Consuming the proper amounts of fiber on a daily basis is a great way of preventing certain issues such as heart disease and type II diabetes. Fiber is an indigestible part of plants that we eat in our food. It helps digestion and other parts of your health. You can give your child a lot of fruit or vegetables to help them get the right amount of fiber or you can try feeding them nuts or cooked dry beans.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A contributes to healthy eyesight and a healthy immune system and is also involved with tissue growth. I am sure that you do not want your child to have to wear coke bottle think lenses on their glasses by the time they are in their teens so make sure they are getting enough vitamin A. You can get your child to consume more vitamin A by feeding them food such as sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce, as well as dark and bright colored vegetables.
Vitamin deficiencies are problems that children should never have and it is our duty as parents to oversee how we can make them take healthy food. It is sure nice that we know what essential nutrients that they are lacking and how we can prevent them to have that.