Nutrition + Children – When, What, and Why?

Children are our future.  How to best provide the nutrients they need to grow into a successful capable version of that future.  It’s not as daunting as it may seem.

There seems to be a lot of debate about the need for supplementation in a child’s diet.  Very simply, we would say that no supplementation is needed, if we could say the same for an adults diet.  Unfortunately, we cannot say that about our diets so why would it be ok to short change our children in the nutrient department?   The very same reasons for our need for 6 basic nutrients exists for kids, modern farming practices, food processing and ultimately food choices.   Little bodies absorb herbicides, pesticides, steroids, antibiotics, etc., the same as big bodies.  Their bodies store these chemicals away in vital organs, blood cells, bones, etc the same as big bodies.  Time is not a friend when synthetics are stored within a body and a child’s body is no different.

Kids are just little versions of adults and require the same nutrition and the same clean, whole foods that bigger bodies require.  Some nutrients are needed in smaller quantities and some in larger, but essentially the list of nutrients is the same – digestive enzymes, probiotics, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and whole food vitamins.  

We know that for babies who are colicky probiotics and digestive enzymes will work to help calm down the gut and therefore can help tremendously in this ailment.  We also know that for younger children who have graduated to whole foods essential fatty acids are crucial for the development of the brain, immune system, bones, cardiovascular help… the list goes on.  

Reasons for nutritional supplementation in children only comes from the lack of nutrients in their diet.  It is hard to get all the necessary nutrients from whole foods in today’s society.  Whole foods that are organically grown can be more expensive, not as readily available, and don’t have near as much marketing and advertising as quick foods (frozen dinners, fast foods, packaged foods, etc).  It is hard, but it is essential, especially for that future generation that is so precious to us.