Every parent wants their child to be healthy but it can be hard to know what vitamins and minerals are most important.Here is our list of favourite vitamins, minerals and food sources that are essential to your child’s growth and wellbeing:
- Calcium: Calcium is essential for developing strong bones and healthy teeth. Your child will get most of his calcium from milk and dairy products but it is also found in spinach, kale, and almonds and some breakfast cereals like Kellogg’s Coco Pops.
- Iron: Iron helps keep the blood healthy and is needed to deliver oxygen to the tissues. A lack of iron can result in anaemia (insert link to article on anaemia). Red meat, beans and iron fortified foods such as cereal are a great sources of iron. All Kellogg’s cereals provide at least 17% daily need for iron per bowl. Vitamin C increases the body’s ability to absorb iron, that’s why health professionals often recommend a glass of orange as part of a cereal breakfast. If you think your child may be suffering from an iron deficiency, speak to your child’s paediatrician to see if an iron supplement would be beneficial.
- Magnesium: poor intakes are linked to feelings of fatigue and tiredness. Magnesium can be found in whole grains, fish, nuts, potatoes, and dairy.
- Potassium: Potassium is required for normal muscular and neurological function and the maintenance of a healthy blood pressure. Potatoes, bananas, avocados and fish are all excellent sources of potassium.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is normally associated with keeping the eyes healthy; and the maintenance of healthy hair and skin. Vitamin A can be found in milk, liver, cheddar cheese, spinach and in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables.
- Vitamin Bs: The Vitamin B group helps with energy, circulation and metabolism. They are found in chicken, fish, nuts, eggs, dairy products breakfast cereals and soybeans. All Kellogg breakfast cereals provide at least a quarter of daily needs for the 6 essential B vitamins; B1, B2, niacin, folic acid,B6 and B12
- Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli are all wonderful sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron, that’s why experts recommend drinking a glass of orange juice with cereal breakfasts!
- Vitamin D: Together with calcium, vitamin D works to keep bones strong. The body produces more vitamin D when exposed to the sun but you can also get it through fortified milk.foods. In 2011 in response to the worrying trend that children in Ireland are not getting enough vitamin D, Kellogg’s decided to fortify all their children’s cereals to provide 25% daily needs for vitamin D in every bowl.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect the body from oxidative damage. Vitamin E can be sourced from nuts, safflower and sunflower oils.
- Zinc: This mineral is necessary for normal growth and development. It can be sourced from red meats, beans, whole grains and dairy products.
A varied diet helps ensure that you give your child a well balanced diet.Kellogg’s cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals, supplying around one quarter of these micronutrients to the average daily diet.
Read more: A guide to the food pyramid
