About a month ago one of my 4 year-old niece’s classmates called her small. Her response: I am not small! I have a big head, I have big feet, and I have a big butt! Mind you, nothing on that child is big except for her words if you make her mad. She didn’t get the height gene (if there is one in our family) and food doesn’t interest her, unless of course it is slathered with butter or frosting, making it a challenge to make sure she gets every nutrient she needs to fuel her growing body and mind.
Like many children, she also doesn’t eat a wide variety of foods to ensure she is getting a wide variety of nutrients. One nutrient of concern is vitamin D. Like many children, she doesn’t drink two 8-oz glasses of milk everyday, enough to meet the current vitamin D recommendations. And, during this time of year her sunlight exposure is minimal.
Why is vitamin D so crucial for kids?
During childhood through our teenage years, bones are growing and getting stronger. To prevent fractures and ensure bone tissue is healthy, adequate vitamin D intake is an absolute must. While I don’t recommend trying to force feed your kid milk (it never seems to work, even if you bribe them!), vitamin D supplements are easy. Especially if those supplements are liquid as opposed to hard-to-swallow tablets. Today it’s much easier than when I was a kid when our choices were limited to a sour tasting chewable multivitamin or cod liver oil - yuck! Now there are options for children, which is great for parents who want to ensure their children are meeting their nutrient needs. It’s a good thing for aunts too who want to make sure their nieces and nephews are healthy and can run circles around those bullies on the playground.
Look for a great tasting liquid vitamin D supplement that the whole family can take.
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