Healthy Habits: Vitamins and Minerals

Wellesse and TwitterMoms would like to spread the word about making sure kids are getting enough Vitamin D (and other vitamins and minerals). Right now, Wellesse is sponsoring a Liquid Sunshine sweepstakes - just sign up and answer the Vitamin D question of the week for an entry.

You can find loads of information about helping make sure your kids are getting the nutrients they need, but here are my top five tips.

1 - For picky eaters, or just an insurance, consider a children's multivitamin. You can purchase these very inexpensively if you get store brand vitamins. It's even easy for me to get my toddler to take them; I crush up a chewable vitamin and mix it in flavored yogurt.
2 - Encourage fruits and vegetables as snacks. This is easier to do if you lead by example. If you're hungry, or your kids are, get out some apples and sprinkle them with cinnamon or dip in honey. Or use celery or carrot sticks and fun healthy dips.
3 - Use fruit and vegetable purees in baking. Some are easier to detect than others, so kids may not always go for it. It takes some trial and error, but it is usually very easy to put fruit purees (bananas, applesauce, etc) in place of oils or some of the eggs in baking. Casseroles and skillet dinners can easily have pureed or finely diced vegetables baked right in.
4 - Figure out what will motivate your own kids. If they like superheroes, play up the strength-building benefits. If they enjoy school, comment on the brain building benefits.
5 - Don't worry too much! If you think your kid is such a picky eater that they aren't getting any nutrients, then try to make sure you choose fortified foods. Also, keep in mind that nutrition is most important over the course of a few days; if one day is a little weak in a given food group, odds are it will get made up the next day.