As a parent, you might be wondering exactly HOW to explain what a vitamin is to your child. Start by describing how everyone needs certain vitamins every day and how these vitamins are found in the food we eat especially fruits and vegetables, but may not always be produced in our bodies, or sometimes not in sufficient quantities. Human beings have to get these vitamins from foods or supplements because our bodies can’t make them naturally. Vitamins help us grow and they help us stay healthy.
The key point to remember is, kids are smart! They will absorb what you tell them, and showing and explaining why fruits and vegetables are important can get kids excited about eating them. They may even start looking for these foods on their own and make a game out of it! Explain how we need to eat fruits and veggies several times each day and it’s good to get a wide variety. That’s
why you may have heard that when it comes to fruits and vegetables, you should “eat the rainbow!”.
How To Explain Vitamins To Your Child?
RED – Peppers, Raspberries, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Watermelon Red fruits and vegetables naturally contain phytochemicals including lycopene, which is the pigment responsible for their brilliant red hue. These substances are only found in plants. These red fruits & veggies are high in vitamin C and can support heart, eye and skin health.
ORANGE & YELLOW – Carrots, Oranges, Lemons, Mangos and Sweet Potatoes are Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables containing beneficial carotenoids, which give them their vibrant, sunny colour. Orange and yellow fruits and veggies are full of fibre and contain vitamins A and C, two nutrients that are great for supporting your eyes and a healthy immune system. Carrots, mangos and sweet potatoes in particular are high in vitamins A and C.
GREEN – Broccoli, Kiwis, Spinach and Zucchini are all Green fruits and vegetables containing a pigment called chlorophyll, which is what makes them green. Green fruits and veggies are brimming with antioxidants, phytonutrients and fibre to support digestive health. Eating something green every day can help you keep feeling your best as it contains many nutrients such as vitamins C, E, A, K and including minerals such as calcium and iron.
BLUE & PURPLE – Blueberries, Plums, Eggplant and Blackberries are Blue and Purple fruits and vegetables packed with anthocyanins and resveratrol which give these foods their rich, deep colour. Blue and purple fruits and veggies provide antioxidant support, and help to support overall health and wellness.
WHITE – Bananas, Cauliflower, Potatoes and Onions. While it may not officially be a colour of the rainbow, white fruits and vegetables are also super healthy and should be a part of your everyday diet. White fruits and veggies get their colour from anthoxanthins, and contain minerals such as magnesium and potassium which can help keep your bones strong and healthy.
Remember, it’s vital to talk about vitamins. Ditamin vitamins and supplements for adults and kids all have no gluten, no dairy, and no artificial flavours…only naturally sourced fruit flavours will do! Teach your kids how taking their vitamins regularly will give them the nourishment they need to grow and help them stay super healthy.
