"My kids have average eating habits but I have always felt the need to supplement their diet," says Julia. "My Mom always gave us vitamins and it makes me feel good to know that they are getting something good even if they have a bad day (food wise)."
"I don't bother with vitamin supplements for my nine-year-old," says Agatha. "She's a good eater and eats everything, so I don't give her any vitamins."
"I like to give my boys (aged seven and nine) Vitamin C, during the winter months," says Helen. "But when the spring rolls around, we stop the supplements till September."
Many children's food consumption is unpredictable. One day they may eat everything without thought, the next day they may not want much at all. As a parent, your job is to provide good foods and let your child sample and decide what and how much they will eat. This can be frustrating at times since you want your child to receive adequate nutrition. Everyone is born with the instinct to know how much they need to eat; however, problems occur when parents don't trust their child to make that decision, or when they feel their child might not be getting enough vitamins. The parent overrules the child's feelings, and the mealtimes really become crazy.
This is very important to keep in mind when you run into the dilemma of vitamin supplements and if they are necessary or not.
"Think about what foods you provide to your family," says nutritionist Allison Gamble. "Are you able to provide a variety of protein, dairy, vegetable, and fruit at your meals? Are you providing healthy snacks to your children? If yes, then your child is probably getting adequate nutrition provided you trust them to regulate their own needs."
However, what if your child's diet falls short of some vitamins and minerals? What are some of the important ones needed for growth?
"It would be unfair to say only some vitamins and minerals are the most important," says Gamble. "Since all vitamins and minerals are important. They all work together to maintain proper functioning in the body. But it would take a book to explain all vitamins and minerals and their functions."
