We all know that the best way to ensure your child has all the vitamins he or she needs is to make sure they eat a healthy well-balanced diet.  That means offering a wide variety of different foods including fruit and vegetables, lean meats and fish, whole grains, pulses and dairy products.

However this is the real world and although some children may like the sound of a healthy diet, most children won’t eat the foods we would like them to and there is a worry that the more picky eaters might not get the full variety of vitamins and nutrients they need to grow and develop into healthy adults.  In today’s fast food society it can be a challenge to guide your child away from sugary treats, processed meals and junk foods with poor nutritional value.

If you have a child that refuses to follow a healthy diet it may be worth considering supplementing their diet with a good multi-vitamin.  Here are some key guidelines to some of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are important for your child’s development:

•    Of huge importance to the development of an optimally functioning nervous system and brain is the omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs).  The best sources are from seed oils such as flax, hemp and pumpkin and from fish oils.
•    Vitamin C is essential for your child’s immune system and if your child refuses to eat fruits and vegetables they may be lacking in this vitamin.
•    It is believed by some experts that the quality of our soil has led to a depletion of essential minerals in our food.  The following are some minerals that are important to include in the diet:

• Calcium and magnesium ensure the development of healthy teeth, bones and muscles
• Zinc is now known to be essential to promoting a healthy immune system
• Chromium is important for carbohydrate metabolism which is particularly important if your child insists on eating a lot of refined sugary foods