Pellau Magazine

Given the reality of busy parents, those well-rounded, home-cooked meals aren't always possible. That's why doctors may recommend a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement for:
• Children who aren't eating regular, well-balanced meals made from fresh, whole foods
• Picky eaters who simply aren't eating enough
• Children with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or digestive problems, especially if they're taking any medicines (make sure you talk to your child's doctor first before starting a supplement if your child is on medication)
• Particularly active children who play physically demanding sports
• Children eating a lot of fast-food meals, convenience foods, and processed foods
• Children on a vegetarian diet (they may need an iron supplement), a dairy-free diet (they may need a calcium supplement), or other restricted diet
• Children who drink a lot of fizzy drinks, which can leach vitamins and minerals from their bodies
 
Top six vitamins and minerals (and benefits) for children. In the alphabet soup of vitamins and minerals, a few stand out as critical for growing children.
 
•Vitamin A promotes normal growth and development; tissue and bone repair; and healthy skin, eyes, and immune responses. Good sources include milk, cheese, eggs, and yellow-to-orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and squash.
• Vitamin Bs. The family of B vitamins, B2, B3, B6, and B12, aid metabolism, energy production, and healthy circulatory and nervous systems. Good sources include meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, beans, and soya beans.
• Vitamin C promotes healthy muscles, connective tissue, and skin. Good sources include citrus fruit, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, and green vegetables like broccoli.
• Vitamin D promotes bone and tooth formation and helps the body absorb calcium. Good sources include milk, cheese, and yoghurt (especially fortified dairy products), egg yolks, and fish oil.
 
Information courtesy WebMD.com