Is it really necessary to give my children a multi-vitamin? I provide them with a well-balanced diet, but they also have their share of “junk” food.
For good nutriton it is said a person should eat a rainbow every day. What they mean by this is that one should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts of various colors to provide the wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants as part of a healthy lifestyle.
During winter days, parents are often concerned about whether or not they are providing enough nutrition to their families with foods being tranported on average 1000 miles from farm to table. Fresh vegetables start to losee their nutritional value the moment they are removed from the plant. How much varies greatly by plant and the vitamin of concern; however, as long as the vegetable looks to be in good condition, they typically have adequate nutrition. To get optimal nutrition from a vegetable when you cannot pick it directly, choose fresh seasonal vegetables, those listed as quick frozen, or canned vegetables. The latter two are picked and processed typically within 24 hours maintaining maximum nutrition.
So as long as your child will eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, there is usually no need for most vitamins. If your cild is picky and refuses to eat some aspect of these vegetable derived foods, then a vitamin may be warranted. As long as you live in North America, the new recommendations are for supplementing Vitamin D with a dosage dependent on a child’s age and size, so this would be worth discussing with your child’s doctor.
Lastly, if we want to maximize overall general nutrition, including vitamin D as well as developing a healthy lifestyle, start a garden. This is an activity that allows children to see where their food comes from. They also learn about the work necessary to grow and harvest their foods, they develop a sense of stewardship of the land and environment, they get some exercise, Â and they develop great memories while they learn how to grow and harvest food.
Good luck,
DR TOM
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