Everyone loves a kid with a ravenous and non-selective appetite. Catering for a picky eater makes parenting more challenging than it already is, you need to find a way to fill their nutritional bank.
The good news is that even if your little one is a picky eater, Chewwies is here to help your kids receive the essential vitamins they need for healthy growth and development.
This article explores some key vitamins for toddlers, offering practical tips to make mealtimes more enjoyable and nutritious for your child. Read on, let’s embark on this quest for nutritional victory!
Table of Contents
Essential vitamins for picky toddlers
Here are some essential vitamins to keep your toddlers healthy;
Vitamin D
It is a crucial vitamin that plays a role in bone health and immune system function. While it is majorly from sunlight exposure, some diets have it in abundance.
Good food sources of vitamin D include fortified dairy products, fatty fish like salmon, and egg yolks.
If your child is not consuming enough of these foods, a vitamin D supplement is recommended by a paediatrician.
Vitamin C
Another essential vitamin is essential for supporting the immune system, promoting iron absorption, and boosting healthy skin and connective tissues. Vitamin C is also a key ingredient in supplements for beautiful hair and skin.
Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwis, and tomatoes are good sources of vitamin C. Experiment with different ways of presenting these fruits to your child, such as making fruit kebabs or preparing a homemade fruit smoothie.
Vitamin A
This is vital for healthy vision, immune function, and growth. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and mangoes.
Try incorporating these foods into your toddler’s diet by blending them into soups or purees, adding grated carrots to muffins, or making baked sweet potato fries.
Vitamins B
These vitamins are essential for energy production, brain development, and maintaining a healthy nervous system.
They are rich in whole grains, fortified cereals, legumes, and green leafy vegetables. Encourage your child to try whole-grain bread, include lentils in soups or stews, or add leafy greens to pasta sauces.
Iron
Iron is crucial for the production of haemoglobin and for ensuring adequate oxygen transport in the body. Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and fortified cereals are excellent sources of iron.
Supplements are more effective when they are rich in both iron and vitamin C. Hence, offer your child iron-rich foods alongside vitamin C-rich foods, as vitamin C enhances iron absorption.
For example, serve a citrus fruit salad with a small portion of chicken or beef.
Omega-3 fatty acids
These fatty acids are essential for brain development and cognitive function. Consider introducing fish in child-friendly forms, such as fish sticks or fish cakes, or incorporating ground flaxseeds into homemade muffins or pancakes.
Tips for getting toddlers to consume vitamin rich meals
Here are a few ways you could make eating a thing of joy for your picky eaters;
- Involve your child in meal planning and preparation, allow them to choose a new vegetable or fruit to try during grocery shopping.
- Make mealtimes enjoyable by creating a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
- NHS advises parents to avoid using food as a reward or punishment.
- Give your kids a variety of food, to expose them to different tastes and textures.
- Be a role model by eating a diverse and balanced diet yourself.
- Keep giving them the foods they reject, it may take several tries before they develop a taste for some foods.
- Give them a wide range of nutrient-rich foods.
- Appealingly serve meals.
- Make mealtimes fun, relaxing, and filled with talks and laughs.
These could set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
Take home
Sometimes getting picky eaters to consume a balanced diet may feel like a wild culinary adventure.
While it allows your toddler to thrive, it comes with twists, turns, and many unforeseen challenges. But fear not with patience, creativity, and a touch of nutritional know-how might be all you need to conquer the notorious villain called picky eater syndrome!
