How to Choose Vitamins for Your Teen?
As the parent of a teenager, you may have run into some trouble trying to convince your child to eat more healthy foods rich in vitamin C or to eat their veggies before moving on to dessert.
Even though convincing a teen to eat more healthfully can be a challenge, in some cases, the real challenge is in figuring out what nutrients they actually need in the first place. Teenagers’ nutritional requirements are slightly different from those of adults, so if you want to provide your child with a well-rounded, age-appropriate diet, it’s important to understand the vitamins they need. Here’s how you can choose the right vitamins for your teen.
Consult With the Family Doctor About Your Child’s Health Conditions First
The exact types and levels of different vitamins your child may require could depend on his or her exact health condition. For instance, if your child has Brillia ADHD or has been taking homeopathic flu medication, the vitamins you give them might need to be adjusted a bit. After suffering an illness and eating little for a week, for example, your child might need replenished vitamin C and vitamin B levels. The good news is, it’s ok for teens to take vitamin supplements! This can provide an easy fallback in some circumstances.
Make Sure You Cover All the Essential Vitamins Daily
When choosing vitamins for your teens, make sure to hit the essential categories first and foremost. Though the amounts needed are likely to vary from adults’ requirements, teens require many of the same vitamins. Some of the important ones to remember are:
- Zinc, which boosts teens’ immunity
- Calcium, which teens need for bone and heart health
- Iron, which can help prevent anemia, especially in younger people
- B vitamins, which can help ward off fatigue and may support a healthier nervous system
Take Your Child’s Typical Diet Into Consideration and Fill In the Gaps
You know your teen and his or her diet better than anyone, so it may be wise to think about the vitamins required to fill in dietary gaps. For example, if your teenager is a vegan or vegetarian, you might want to provide them with a vitamin B12 supplement, since this vitamin is typically found in animal products like cheeses, meats, and fish.
If your child is picky about eating vegetables or fruits, a morning vitamin C tablet could be a good option. You can also lookup foods containing these important vitamins and try serving your family a range of new dishes until they find something they actually enjoy!
Although getting your teenager to consume enough healthy food can be a struggle, once you understand what their vitamin requirements are, you may be able to try out different dishes containing those vitamins that they might love. Given their age and developmental stage in life, teens’ nutrient requirements tend to vary a bit from those of young children or grown adults, so knowing exactly what they need can help serve as a guide to provide them with tailored, nutritious meals.
