Foods Rich in Vitamin C
I'm happy to see that many of the parents I know are giving their kids less juice. It's really not necessary and is full of empty calories. There is one problem I see, however, and that's making sure that kids are still getting vitamin C in their diet, since parents have been able to rely on fortified juices for so long.
Our Pediatrics Guide, Dr. Iannelli, has a great list of foods that are rich in vitamin C. This is the best way to make sure your child is getting what he needs. As a last resort, use a vitamin supplement or multivitamin if you feel you're having a hard time getting enough of these foods into his diet. Keep working on it, though, because just like kids don't need lots of juice, the majority of kids who are healthy and eating well don't need a vitamin supplement either.
Comments
Hi Steph-
I give my kids fish oil and vit C regularly. I feed them a mean-mommy diet of wicked healthy foods, but still feel that since we don’t eat deep water salmon twice a week(who can afford that?) the fish oil is important. The vit C is water soluble, so they are peeing out any extra, and I feel it helps boost immune systems this time of year.
Amy
This is a very valid point and forgoing juice is certainly one way to go. My kids LOVE juice though, so I had to figure something out. Luckily, the market is starting to offer a few more options for healthy juice. One of these products, First Juice , actually has 50% less sugar than your typical diluted100% fruit juices made for kids. Each of the flavors also offers an excellent source of vitamins A & C, so all of us are happy! Plus, it’s organic, so I do feel better about offering it every once in a while.